NFL Playoffs: Houston Texans and More Teams That Will Lose Early

Is it a fact that the Houston Texans, a team tied for the AFC-lead, is in danger of getting knocked out in their first playoff game?

The 2012 NFL playoffs are nearly upon us, as injuries and late season slumps could mean early round upsets for some of the teams that will find themselves in the postseason. There are also those teams that must also be concerned with having young, inexperienced rosters.

The Houston Texans are one of those teams facing late season drama. Losing two starting quarterbacks in Matt Schaub and Matt Leinart left the team starting rookie T.J. Yates. The team now attempts to hold their top spot in the AFC at 10-3 on the season.

These are the Houston Texans and three teams destined to be eliminated early in the 2012 NFL playoffs.

Houston Texans (10-3)

In two starts against the Atlanta Falcons and Cincinnati Bengals, rookie T.J. Yates has been able to help the Texans to two wins against two winning teams in the league.

Yates has thrown for 488 yards, three touchdowns and an interception in the two starts. These are numbers that prove he seems ready to play starting quarterback in the league, yet, his completion percentage has been especially low, yet to top 60 percent in a game.

Add to this that the Texans have running back Arian Foster struggling to put up consistent yards on the ground, and this is a Texans team destined to be eliminated early. Against a team like the New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers, the Texans will have to score points.

Detroit Lions (8-5)

Talk about a team slumping.

After winning the first five games of the season, the Lions are now 8-5 and have won just three of their last eight games.

What makes these losses all the more significant? All five losses have come against teams that will find themselves in the postseason—the San Francisco 49ers, Atlanta Falcons, Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers and New Orleans Saints—as these are teams the Lions will undoubtedly face.

Scoring points on offense has been a struggle for the Lions, as quarterback Matthew Stafford and wide receiver Calvin Johnson seem to be off their games as of late. The Lions have scored over twenty points just three times in the teams last eight.

Dallas Cowboys (8-6)

Tony Romo has helped the Cowboys to win five of the teams last seven games.

Yet keep in mind, all five wins come against losing teams. The best team the Cowboys have faced in its last seven games is the New York Giants, who they lost 37-34 to after giving up a 12-point fourth quarter lead.

Make no mistake, this is a playoff team. Winning games against losing teams and dropping their one game against a postseason squad, however, does not make the Cowboys a team that looks prepared to make noise in the postseason.