The Texans currently have the last wild-card spot (6th seed) in the AFC at 3-2 and a 2-0 conference record.

But if they beat the Colts on Thursday Night they'll be in 1st place in the AFC South at 4-2 and own any potential tiebreaker with the Colts for the time being. This is a must-win game if the Texans have any chance to make a run at the division.

If the Texans lose they can still make a run at the wild card but it would be a dog fight. The Ravens, Patriots and Steelers are also 3-2 and not currently in the playoffs. The Texans have a better opportunity to simply beat the Colts and control their own destiny in the AFC South than they do worrying about finishing ahead of those other three really good football teams.

I know it's still early enough, not even halfway through the season, but these games magnify in December when you need that one more win. That could be the difference in making the playoffs or not. The Texans want to own the tiebreaker with as many teams as possible. If they can beat the Colts on Thursday Night and the Steelers on Monday Night they'll be sitting pretty at 5-2 and a 4-0 conference record.

These next two games are the games you have to win. I mentioned it before but losing a couple of road games to NFC teams isn't the end of the world. Losing to the Colts or Steelers would be a huge step back for this team. That would pretty much end our season in my eyes.

What are your thoughts about this game, draino?

Two more nights away. NRG Stadium will be loud and a sold-out Houston crowd will fuel an amazing atmosphere on National TV (CBS and NFL Network). There aren't many games that I can truly say will define what the Houston Texans are all about but this is one of them.

With the exception of the two wild-card home wins over the Bengals, and even the two divisional round losses against the Ravens and Patriots on the road, this game on Thursday Night against the Colts is probably going to be the biggest game the Texans have ever played in their 12-year history. At least in terms of a regular-season game.

This one game on Thursday Night can literally fuel a potential playoff run if we win or end our 2014 season if we lose.

I'm doing my best to support Ryan Fitzpatrick despite his 5 TDs and 6 INTs this season. He's 3-2 and battling, I'm not happy with some of the struggles that I've been seeing offensively but we have to keep grinding and roll with it. I believe in Bill O'Brien's coaching for the long haul.

Phil Simms once won a Super Bowl with the New York Giants during the 1986 season, throwing more interceptions (22) than touchdowns (21) starting all 16 games. He got hot in the playoffs (8 TDs and 0 INTs) and won it all. Sometimes you just need to keep playing hard and things will fall your way. You'd be surprised how fast things can change.

Our defense is nowhere near as dominating as that 1986 Giants team but I believe they can become a very special unit once Jadeveon Clowney returns and starts to play at the high level we expect him to play. He's our version of Lawrence Taylor and I believe he can become that special of a player. He'll be back soon. Tomorrow night's game against the Colts should be the last game that Jadeveon Clowney misses.

Whitney Mercilus just has to step up for one game. THiS GAME. I know he has sucked starting in place of Clowney for the past four games, but we need him to step it up on Thursday Night. He has to be good for at least one start at outside linebacker. My goodness gracious he was a former first-round pick out of Illinois. You would think he has at least one good game inside of him.

Everything is on the line tomorrow night. Barely 3 AM on a Wednesday morning. It still feels like a long time away. I'm pumped. I'm ready. The entire city of Houston is ready for this game. Football games don't get any bigger than this!!!!! It's time to shine or continue to be pretenders. I expect to see a complete team effort tomorrow night. Better than what I've seen all season long. Better than how hard they played against the Cowboys in that overtime road loss.

This post was edited by Madmartigan on Oct 8 2014 01:54am

Biggest game of the season tonight. I don't want to be "hoping" we can make the playoffs.
A win tonight does something about it. Or I should say it's a huge step in the right direction.



After tonight's game the Texans don't play again until Monday Night at Pittsburgh on October 20.
The anticipation of Jadeveon Clowney's return along with a 4-2 first place record in the AFC South.
That would make waiting 11 days for the next game a lot more enjoyable if the Texans win tonight.

i love jj watt

Making my way to the stadium. Gonna be s great game