Playoff Pressure: Texans Face Postseason Atmosphere vs. Cleveland Browns

The Texans are facing the playoff pressure entering their Christmas Eve matchup against the Browns.

The Houston Texans still have three games left to clear a path to the AFC postseason. 

Make no mistake, Sunday's matchup at NRG Stadium against the Cleveland Browns might as well be a playoff game. So should the showdown between the Tennessee Titans and Indianapolis Colts to close out the year. 

It's win or go home from here on out for DeMeco Ryans' squad. As is the case for just about every team in the AFC playoff bubble. 

Consider these next three games a playoff for a playoff. One loss might be the nail in the coffin that stops conversations on January football. 

The Texans can't worry about who's suiting up for them and who's holding a clipboard. Cleveland is on their fourth quarterback, who was sitting on the couch three weeks ago. Joe Flacco is now third in the NFL in passing yards (939) since joining the squad in Week 13. 

Houston Texans quarterback Case Keenum (18) throws against the Tennessee Titans during the second quarter at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023 :: Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean-USA TODAY NETWORK

Do you think Cleveland fans care? So long as Flacco keeps winning, they keep smiling and praising his name,

The same goes for Case Keenum. And Jerry Hughes. And Noah Brown. And anyone else picking up the slack in place of a fallen comrade that must watch from afar and only offer up moral support. 

The Texans have already proven there's been an internal culture shift. Before Ryans returned home, Houston won seven combined games with David Culley and Lovie Smith. It's won eight games in Year 1 under the new regime. 

There's been growth across the board. Nico Collins' breakout season now has Texans' fans believing he's a legit No. 1 weapon. The same goes for Derek Stingley Jr. at cornerback, who's currently fourth in the league in interceptions with four. 

Players like Jonathan Greenard, Jalen Pitre, and Christian Harris are having career seasons. Meanwhile, offseason acquisitions like Dalton Schultz, Andrew Beck, Sheldon Rankins, and Shaq Mason have all been upgraded to positions of need. 

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Whatever Houston envisioned at the start of the season remains in reach. How long has it been since entering late December that seemed like a reality? 

A postseason berth? It's still alive. A division title? Yep, it's possible. 

A playoff win? With a healthy C.J. Stroud and Will Anderson in the fold, who would bet against the Texans right now? 

“It’s exciting for everyone to be playing meaningful football around this time,” Ryans said Wednesday. “And anytime you’re on the cusp, or you have the opportunity to make the playoffs, that’s always the goal every year, is to make the playoffs and have a chance there at the end."

Win the final three games; those preseason dreams are now postseason realities. Lose two of three and kiss it goodbye.

Keenum must play better than he did last week at Nissan Stadium in a win over the Titans if he expects to win against the NFL's top defense. Nineteen points might suffice against a franchise eliminated from playoffs, but it won't cut against Jim Schwartz's top-ranked secondary headlined by Greg Newsome, Denzel Ward and Martin Emerson. 

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The veteran passer can't do it alone. Stingley and Steven Nelson will have to step up in coverage. The offensive line must keep Myles Garrett from making his presence felt in the backfield, and the run game must keep the sticks pushing in a positive direction.

And yes, points must be scored. That's easier said than done against the Browns, who have only given up fewer than 20 points six times. 

Browns coach Kevin Stefanki also knows Keenum better than most, given their time together in Minnesota (2017) and Cleveland (2020-21). 

“Case knows the Xs and Os really well, has always been a playmaker throughout his entire career," Stefanski told reporters earlier this week. 

Neither team has secured a spot in the seven-team playoff picture yet. A loss could knock them out of the running. If not that, it turns Week 17 into a winner-take-all showdown against the Titans and Jets, respectively. 

Postseason football is still three weeks away. Postseason pressure — at least in Houston — has already arrived.