The Houston Texans won their second straight AFC South title on Sunday after defeating the Dolphins and benefiting from a Colts loss.
This marks the eighth division title in the history of the franchise, all of which have come since 2011.
Coach DeMeco Ryans and quarterback C.J. Stroud are the only coach-quarterback duo in NFL history to win division titles in their first two seasons together.
“Clinching the AFC South is huge for us,” Ryans said Monday. “Great accomplishment by all of our guys. It’s always our goal. You want to make it in the postseason, you have to win your division, it starts there. And so, we’re just thankful for everyone who played a part in us reaching a first step of our goal and that’s getting in.”
This is the fourth time the Texans (9-5) have won consecutive division titles and the first time since 2018-19. This success comes after the Texans won just 11 games in the three seasons before Ryans and Stroud arrived.
The Texans won 20-12 on Sunday, thanks to a strong performance by their defense, which forced four turnovers.
Tua Tagovailoa lost a fumble on a strip-sack by Will Anderson Jr., and the Texans intercepted him three times, tying his career high.
Cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. sealed the win with two interceptions in the fourth quarter, both of which were thrown to star receiver Tyreek Hill.
“Just defensively our guys stepped up and did a really good job closing out the game the way we needed to,” Ryans said. “Stingley is playing just unbelievable football right now. Ask him to cover, man coverage, to go and get two picks versus a really good offense, that was huge for us.”
Stingley also recorded two tackles for loss on Sunday, making him the first cornerback in NFL history to have two interceptions and two tackles for loss in a game.
Stingley, the third overall pick in the 2022 draft, now has five interceptions this season, four of which came this month.
