Why Lack of AFC South Championship Would Be Inexcusable for Houston Texans

The Houston Texans have been on the brink of the NFL postseason since 2007 and were considered division favorites heading into the 2011 regular season.

At the halfway point in the season the Texans are 5-3, including a 3-0 record over division foes and stand by themselves at the top of the division. It would be utterly inexcusable for Houston to not only get into the postseason, but establish itself as AFC South champions as well.

After a lackluster 2006 season, the Texans racked off consecutive 8-8 seasons before jumping to 9-7 in 2009. Accompanied by one of the league's worst pass defenses, the Texans took a step backward in 2010 to the tune of a 6-10 record.

After making a silent splash in free agency by signing sixth-year veteran defensive back Johnathon Joseph and bringing in former-Dallas Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips to reinvent the defense, the Texans have become one of the top defensive units in the league. 

Houston currently ranks No. 3 in total defense despite not having linebacker Mario Williams, who is out for the season. While their defense has improved by leaps-and-bounds, the offense's production has forced this team to be considered one of the most complete units in the league.

Star wide receiver Andre Johnson has been out since Week 4, but a mildly healthy Arian Foster has shouldered the load to the tune of a 3-2 record in that span. Their running offense is No. 4 in the league with a duo of Foster and Ben Tate averaging 141 yards per game. Due to a blistering running game, the Texans have allowed Johnson to recover and return completely healthy for the last portion of the season.

While Houston has injuries among their star players, the divisional rival Jacksonville Jaguars, Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans have been decimated in games played against the Texans. The Texans have outscored these three opponents by a combined 71 points, including a 41-7 thrashing against the Titans at LP Field.

With the Colts missing veteran signal caller Peyton Manning, the Jaguars starting rookie Blaine Gabbert at quarterback and the Titans getting no run support from $53-million man Chris Johnson the division is the theirs for the taking. 

The only question left to answer is can they finally take it?