In the NFL, it's amazing how much one blowout victory over a division rival can do. In the latest NFL Power Rankings from SBNation, the Houston Texans have moved up four spots to No. 11 on the strength of their dominating 41-7 victory over the Tennessee Titans:
11. Houston Texans (4-3, LW: 15): Next four: Jags, Browns, Bucs and Jags. If the Texans are going to make their move, this is it. There is simply no excuse not to win this division.
Going into last weekend, the Texans' season was in jeopardy, as they had blown their lead in the AFC South and were reeling after losing Mario Williams and Andre Johnson to injury. A loss to Tennessee would have given the Titans essentially a two-game lead in the division and put head coach Gary Kubiak squarely on the hot seat.
Instead, Houston is sitting in first-place in the AFC South at 4-3; the only team in the division with a positive point differential for the season. And with a four-game stretch which features two contests against the 2-5 Jacksonville Jaguars, they could build a nearly insurmountable divisional lead by Thanksgiving.
For more coverage on the Texans, check out the SBNation's Battle Red Blog.