Why Texans fans should have most playoff hope among all 0-2 teams

The Houston Texans are 0-2 to start the 2026 regular season. It was a crushing loss in Week 1 to the Buffalo Bills that easily could've been a win, and a bleak Week 2 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals that has the 2026 season in question.

It's a rough way to begin the season, as the offensive line issues are still present, and now there are some defensive concerns on top of the Nico Collins injury. But Texans fans shouldn't give up yet.

In fact, as ESPN's Bill Barnwell highlighted, Texans fans should have more hope than all of the other fans of 0-2 teams. There are a few reasons why, one of the biggest being the rest of the AFC South.

Why Texans fans shouldn't give up hope for 2026 season yet

"1. Houston Texans. Chances of advancing to the postseason via ESPN's FPI: 41.8% (16th highest)," Barnwell writes. "... And after what happened in 2025, there isn't the same sort of panic after an 0-2 start that there would typically be for a team with championship aspirations."

There's no denying that this 0-2 start isn't concerning. It's never a good thing to be 0-2. But if there were ever a team that could overcome such a poor start, it would be this year's Texans.

They have already shown they can overcome such a deficit, coming back from an 0-3 start to the 2025 season to win the AFC South.

This year, the Texans are in good shape for another playoff run, even from an 0-2 standpoint. The Bills and Bengals are two of the toughest opponents they'll face this season, and their schedule lightens up a bit.

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In Week 3, they face the 0-2 Indianapolis Colts. With the 0-2 Tennessee Titans and the 1-1 Jacksonville Jaguars making up the rest of the AFC South, there's no reason why the Texans can't make up the ground needed to win the division this year.

Although their defense has not looked as elite as it did a year ago through the first two weeks, there's no reason to panic about the defense yet. Once Collins is back for the Texans and C.J. Stroud, the offense will be in much better shape as well.

Are there reasons to worry about this year's Texans team? Absolutely. The OL is still a question mark, and the defense might not be as elite this season as it was a year ago.

But, with a weak AFC South division and the team's strong defense, there's no reason why the Texans can't go on a run and make the playoffs this year. Among all the 0-2 teams, the Texans might be best situated to go on a run and make the playoffs this year.

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