The Houston Texans’ playoff journey ended in the Divisional Round for the second consecutive year, falling 23-14 to the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday. While a trip to the NFL postseason would be a dream for many teams, it’s far from the ultimate goal for a squad with Super Bowl aspirations.
The Texans, fresh off a commanding win over the Los Angeles Chargers in the Wild Card round, entered their Divisional matchup against the defending champion Chiefs with high hopes.
As the game unfolded, it appeared Houston might have another comeback in store when they closed the gap to just one point late in the third quarter. However, the Texans were ultimately unable to pull off the upset, but instead of feeling discouraged, they remain optimistic heading into the 2025 season.
“We’re right there. I don’t care what nobody says,” edge rusher Will Anderson said in a confident statement on Monday. “This is a fantastic team. We’ve got our quarterback. We’ve got everything we need. We’ve got to keep stacking and keep persevering. We have a squad. We have a great team. We just gotta keep finding ways.”
Anderson’s confidence is well-placed. The Houston Texans’ defense, which played a pivotal role in their Wild Card victory, had once again been a standout throughout the season. The team’s four takeaways in the playoff win over the Chargers showcased their defensive prowess, but Anderson acknowledges that a more consistent performance throughout the season is necessary to reach their ultimate goal: a Super Bowl championship.
“It’s great, but we’ve got to win these regular season games so we can get home-field advantage,” Anderson added. “We can’t lose to teams like the Titans and Jets. We’ve got to beat Detroit. We can’t suffer losses. We’ve got to get home-field advantage. And that’s really going to help us. But if we don’t, we gotta find a way on the road to win.”
In the past two seasons, Houston finished with a respectable 10-7 record and won the AFC South, securing home playoff games. However, they’ve faltered in the Divisional Round both years — first in Baltimore in 2023 and now in Kansas City in 2024.
While home-field advantage would undoubtedly be a bonus, Houston’s playoff hopes hinge on fixing key issues and staying healthy. The Texans were forced to navigate a season filled with injuries, losing key players such as Stefon Diggs, Nico Collins, Tank Dell, and Joe Mixon. Despite the challenges, Houston showed resilience and a determination to compete at the highest level.
The offensive line, in particular, is an area that must improve. C.J. Stroud was sacked 52 times during the regular season, and the offensive line struggled in their postseason loss, with Stroud being sacked eight times, matching his career high. If the Texans are going to compete for a Super Bowl, addressing these weaknesses will be essential.
The 2024 season showed Houston that while they are not far from championship contention, there are still obstacles to overcome. Will Anderson and the rest of the team are now focused on making the necessary adjustments during the offseason to clear that final hurdle and take the next step in pursuing a Super Bowl.
The future is bright, but the Houston Texans must continue building and improving to realize their aspirations.
