Houston Texans

Why we’re going all the way The Texans had a great defense last year, and now they have the best defensive player in the league returning to the fold. If J.J. Watt resembles his pre-injury self, opposing NFL teams will have to deal with him, as well as a still developing, yet terrifying Jadeveon Clowney, and a grossly underrated Whitney Mercilus getting after their QBs. Add Benardrick McKinney, Brian Cushing, and what should be a stout defensive back group, and Houston’s defense has a chance to be the kind of unit that can make up for a mediocre offense.

The season is hopeless if [THIS] happens If the Texans do not get at least average quarterback play from Tom Savage or Deshaun Watson, they’re not going anywhere. It’s extraordinarily easy to see this team stumbling to a losing record in the event Savage or Watson cannot move the ball. The numbers say the Texans were quite fortunate last year to win the division with such an abysmal offense; they’ll need much better production out of that unit to nail down a playoff berth this season.

Who is your biggest rival and why? The Colts, and it’s not even close. Indy and Houston have been going back and forth over the last six seasons for who controls the division, but before that time period the AFC South ran entirely through Indianapolis. Now that the Texans have started to get some payback in recent years, the rivalry has really kicked up a notch. Tennessee and Jacksonville may end up being much bigger threats on the field this season, but no matter what, the Colts will always be our most-hated enemy.

Tailgate food that best describes your team? Brisket. It’s a Houston staple, and there is nowhere else in the country where you can get it any better than here. If you ever find yourself in Texas, and especially if you find yourself in Houston, make sure to consume as much of our brisket as you can. It’ll change your life.

What does your team do better than anyone else? Winning games while constantly switching quarterbacks. The Texans have gotten pretty good at it during the Bill O’Brien era, and everyone is expecting that there will be yet another QB change this season whenever Deshaun Watson is ready to take over the job. If and when that happens and the Texans win the AFC South again, that would mean that O’Brien will have pulled off three straight division titles in four seasons despite averaging just under three quarterback changes per year. If that’s not an impressive coaching job, then I don’t know what is.