Texans climb above 'happy fan line'

October 27, 7:11 PMHouston Texans ExaminerAlan Burge

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Chris Kelsay (90) and Marcus Stroud (99) will have Matt Schaub in their sights Sunday   (AP Photo/Rick Havner)

It's time for our weekly look at the AFC standings to see where the Texans stand relative to their most important competition.

By taking care of business last Sunday against the 49ers, the Texans earned it's first trip of the year above the venerable happy fan line.

Celebrate, good times come on! (channeling my inner Kool and the Gang from a generation ago). 

Enjoy it while you can.  Fame is fleeting.  Isn't it sad that we feel this way about a 4-3 record after 7 1/2 years?

Anyway, I started this feature as a semi-joke a few weeks ago but as long as I continue to get positive feedback and the Texans remain semi-relevant (and people tell me at tailgates that they read it and actually enjoy reading it) I'll continue to throw it out there every week.

Disclaimer:  the margin for teams like the Texans to stay 'above the line' is razor thin and a loss at Buffalo on Sunday would throw the team back into the maelstrom of mediocre-ness.

The Happy Fan Line

Six AFC teams will make the playoffs and there are currently seven  teams above the line which at this time of the season I'm still drawing just below the teams with winning records.

The Texans are tied with the Jets for the 6th best record in the AFC at 4-3 but 'if the season were to end today,' they would lose a head to head tiebreaker with Gang Green because of that woeful white out in Week One.

Here's how the AFC currently stacks up:

[6-0]  Denver, Indianapolis
[5-2]  Cincinnati, New England, Pittsburgh                                
[4-3]  NY Jets, Texans                                                                  (the happy fan line) 
[3-3]  Jacksonville, Baltimore, San Diego
[3-4]  Buffalo
[2-4]  Miami
[2-5]  Oakland
[1-6]  Cleveland, Kansas City
[0-6]  Tennessee  (chuckle...)

As you can see, the Texans have a shot to solidify their happy status on Sunday in Western NY and since this is an AFC contest (and the Jags and others are on your heels) it's important that they get this one if they want to continue to be taken seriously as a playoff contender.

I have to give credit to the Bengals.  After a dismal showing against the Texans, they came back in a big way, clubbing the Bears and reinforcing their 'we-belong' status in the AFC North.

The teams just below the line are still in good position to make playoff runs.  Miami needs to turn things around or they could be in trouble after winning the AFC East last year.

Here's what Texans fans should hope for this weekend in addition to a win over the Bills:

• Broncos over the Ravens (I keep waiting for Denver to slip - how about waiting a week)
• Dolphins over the Jets
• 49ers surprise Indy behind a rejuvenated Alex Smith and a smothering defense
• Raiders over San Diego ... I know ... fat chance
• Titans over the Jags (yes, I'm serious.... as much as I'm enjoying Bud's futility, this would help the Texans, plus I don't want the Titans to be winless when they come in here for MNF in a few weeks)