HOUSTON – The NFL playoff party is still several weeks away, but here we are with six games left on the regular season schedule and the Texans, who stand 4-6, are still mathematically alive in the AFC race.
Yes, you heard me correctly.
The Texans can make it to the playoffs if all things fall into place in the weeks ahead.
It’s a long shot, but it can still happen.
With Week 11 of the season about behind us after tonight’s "Monday Night Football" game, the seeds in the AFC are falling into place as the road to Minnesota will begin when the calendar turns to January.
The Texans certainly have work to do, as they are in the “still contending” category after beating Arizona 31-21 at NRG Stadium on Sunday.
Pittsburgh Steelers - No. 1 seed after Week 11
The top seed in the AFC currently is the Steelers, who are 8-2, fresh off a blowout win over Tennessee.
Pittsburgh will play the Texans at NRG Stadium on Christmas Day.
New England Patriots - No. 2 seed
New England currently holds down the second seed after routing Oakland on Sunday.
They also own a three-game cushion in the AFC East.
The Patriots schedule is also easy the rest of the way except for a date at Pittsburgh in Week 14.
Jacksonville Jaguars - No. 3 seed
The surprise team of the season in the AFC has to be Jacksonville, where the Jaguars are the third seed with a 7-3 record.
The Jags could finish strong with their only key game at home coming against Seattle.
Kansas City Chiefs - No. 4 seed
Kansas City started the year strong but now is only 6-4 and is the fourth seed. They end the season at Denver and there’s a chance the Chiefs could lose their AFC West title hopes if they continue to melt down like they did against the Giants on Sunday.
Tennessee Titans - No. 5 seed
The 6-4 Titans are the fifth seed and chasing Jacksonville in the AFC South. Tennessee has Indianapolis, Arizona and San Francisco on the road still, along with home games against the Texans, Rams and Week 17 against the Jaguars.
Baltimore Ravens - No. 6 seed
At 5-5, Baltimore owns the sixth seed after beating Green Bay. The Ravens host Houston Monday night and finish with four of their final six at home.
Outside looking in
On the outside looking in are the likes of the 5-5 Bills and a slew of teams like the Texans who are 4-6 and still in the hunt.
Stay tuned as the next six weeks will be fun to watch on the road to Minneapolis and Super Bowl LII.