NFL playoff picture: How the Houston Texans clinched a playoff berth in Week 17

Game result: The Texans have punched their ticket into the 2026 NFL Playoffs. They beat the Chargers on Saturday 20-16 to clinch their playoff berth. They head into Sunday a half game back of the Jaguars in the AFC South. They need a Jaguars loss to have a chance at winning the division, but even if Jacksonville wins on Sunday, Houston remains alive for the division title heading into Week 18.

The Houston Texans can punch their playoff ticket this weekend.

After starting the season with a three-game losing streak and running their record to 3-5 over the first half of the season, Houston enters the penultimate weekend of the 2025 NFL campaign riding a seven-game winning streak, with a 10-5 record. That has Houston on the cusp of a playoff spot, which they can clinch this weekend.

Here is how the Texans can book their spot in the NFL Playoffs.

The Texans take on the Los Angeles Chargers, a team that has already clinched a playoff spot, at SoFi Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Houston will clinch a playoff spot with a win or a tie in that game.

Even if the Texans lose to the Chargers, they can still clinch a playoff spot on Sunday. Houston is in the playoffs if the Indianapolis Colts lose or tie against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.

Speaking of the Jaguars, while Jacksonville leads the AFC South the Texans are still alive for a division title. Houston would need to win their final two games, and get a loss from the Jaguars in one of their final two games, to move into the lead in the division.

Here are the current AFC standings following the Denver Broncos’ win over the Kansas City Chiefs on Christmas night:

Here are the current AFC South standings: