The Houston Texans are finally starting to garner national respect following their 27-20 win over the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 3.
In the latest USA TODAY NFL power rankings, the Texans finished No. 9 overall, the highest finish for any AFC South team and the fourth-highest for any AFC team. Their nine-slot jump is tied with the Detroit Lions for the largest jump of the week.
Steadily improving team once again shaping up as class of AFC South. Waterlogged Houstonians could once again use a welcome distraction.
The Texans beat a Pro Bowl caliber quarterback in Philip Rivers at home and overcame a 10-point deficit to do so. Furthermore, the Texans held onto their lead and didn’t surrender it, as was the case in Week 1 when they lost 30-28 to the New Orleans Saints on a Drew Brees game-winning drive to start the season 0-1.
The Indianapolis Colts, who are also 2-1, are No. 14. The Jacksonville Jaguars are at No. 19, and the Tennessee Titans are in the immediate slot beneath them at 20.
Ultimately, power ranking placement doesn’t qualify a team for the playoffs; tiebreakers and intra-conference wins like the Texans achieved in Los Angeles do. So far, Houston is off to a good start.
The Texans host the Carolina Panthers at NRG Stadium for a noontime kickoff in Week 4.
