Sports Magic Numbers @SportsMagicNum
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Houston Texans (HOU)

AFC South • Record: 0-3 (.000) •16th in the AFC
Race:

Seed Chasing Broncos for the No. 7 seed (2 games back)
Numbers Magic path: chasing a wild card — 11 rivals contending for 3 spots
Magic # 15
Tragic # 13
Division titleMagic 15 · Tragic 13
No. 1 seed (bye)Magic 15 · Tragic 12
Playoff odds 3.7%
Division 2.9% • Wild card 0.8% • Bye 0.0%
Full league odds →
Magic counts down to clinching — drops as you win or bubble teams lose. A tie is half a game.
Tragic counts down to elimination — drops as you lose or the chaser wins.

This week's rooting guide — Week 4


Live rooting guide — it updates as games go final, so items may disappear.
Showing this week's remaining games that can still affect your numbers.
Your game
  • If Texans beat Cowboys this week, your Magic number -1.
    Magic -1
  • If Texans lose to Cowboys this week, your Magic number -1 and your Tragic number -1.
    Magic -1Tragic -1

What-if explorer

Drag the sliders — the numbers recalculate instantly using the site's real playoff math.
If Texans go 0-5 while Broncos go 3-2:
Magic # 15 → 10Magic -5 Tragic # 13 → 8Tragic -5
Assumes these games come against teams outside your race; every other rival's record stays as-is.

Draft order outlook

If the season ended today they'd hold pick No. 4 in next year's draft — the NFL has no lottery, so the worst record picks first.

Full projected draft order →

Frequently asked questions

What is the Houston Texans magic number right now?

The Houston Texans magic number is currently 15. Any combination of Houston Texans wins (a tie counts as half) and losses by the team chasing them that adds up to 15 clinches a playoff spot.

What is the Houston Texans elimination number?

The Houston Texans elimination number is 13. When it hits 0 the team is mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. It shrinks when the Houston Texans lose or when the team chasing them gains ground.

What are the Houston Texans playoff odds?

Based on 10,000 simulations of the remaining schedule, the Houston Texans make the playoffs in about 3.7% of outcomes.

What is a magic number in football?

A magic number is the combined total of team wins and chasing-team losses that guarantees a playoff spot — a division title or one of the three wild cards in the conference. A tie counts as half a game. When it reaches 0, the spot is clinched no matter what happens in the remaining games.

When did the Houston Texans last make the playoffs?

The Houston Texans last made the NFL playoffs in 2025 — the most recently completed season.

When did the Houston Texans last win the Super Bowl?

The Houston Texans have never won the Super Bowl.

How often are these numbers updated?

Standings and magic numbers on Sports Magic Numbers refresh throughout the day and after every NFL game, so the numbers here reflect the live playoff race.

Full guide: how magic numbers work →