The Houston Texans<\/strong> have clinched a postseason berth, becoming the first team since their 2018 squad to make the playoffs after an 0-3 start. According to reports, only five teams in the expanded playoff era have achieved that feat, highlighting the improbability of Houston\u2019s turnaround. The Texans secured the spot with a win over the Chargers, a game that also eliminated the Colts from playoff contention.<\/p>\n The Indianapolis Colts<\/strong> join a historically short list of teams that started 7-1 and still missed the playoffs. They are just the sixth team since the merger to suffer such a reversal, underscoring a dramatic second-half collapse.<\/p>\n The Denver Broncos<\/strong> are AFC West champions for the first time in a decade, ending the Kansas City Chiefs’ long-standing grip on the division. This victory marks a dramatic turnaround and qualification after several seasons of underperformance.<\/p>\n On the NFC side, the Chicago Bears<\/strong> have officially wrapped up the NFC North title \u2014 their first since 2018 \u2014 thanks to the Packers\u2019 loss. After finishing last in the division for three consecutive years, Chicago now secures a home playoff game and vindicates its organizational rebuild. Meanwhile, the 49ers, already playoff-bound, are guaranteed no lower than the sixth seed.<\/p>\n Las Vegas Raiders defensive cornerstone Maxx Crosby<\/strong> has been placed on season-ending injured reserve and is expected to undergo offseason knee surgery. Per ESPN, the procedure will sideline him into the 2026 offseason, effectively ending a strong individual campaign prematurely for the struggling Raiders.<\/p>\nInjuries<\/h2>\n