Texans clinch AFC South title

The Houston Texans clinched the AFC South title after the Indianapolis Colts were officially eliminated from playoff contention.

The only way the Colts could have passed the Texans in the season's final week was if eight specific games ended in such a way as to give the Colts the tiebreaker on strength of schedule. That didn't happen.

And it didn't matter, anyhow. Minutes after the Colts' season ended, the Texans wrapped up a 30-6 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The last time the Texans won the AFC South came in 2012, when the team earned the second of its back-to-back division titles - the only two division titles in franchise history.

The Texans rode a dominant defensive performance to Sunday's win, including three sacks from J.J. Watt in his first game since having the cast on his injured hand removed and three more from Whitney Mercilus. It's the first time in team history two players have registered three or more sacks in the same game.

It wasn't all good news for the Texans, however. The team reportedly lost left tackle Duane Brown to a torn tendon in his right quad. He is expected to miss the playoffs.

The Texans will enter the playoffs as the AFC's No. 4 seed.