Texans have a chance to take 'happy fan' status to new heights

November 7, 6:41 AMHouston Texans ExaminerAlan Burge

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This is what it's like if you fall below the happy fan line          (AP Photo/David Duprey)

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 Bills, the Texans solidified their position above the venerable happy fan line.

And unless the Texans get beat 42-10 on Sunday, there's a chance they stay above the line as they head into by week after Sunday's game at Indianapolis.

Although, the more I think about it, heading into the bye week at 5-4 and having to stew on a loss for two weeks might lead to more anxiety than happiness.  We'll see.

The Happy Fan Line

Six AFC teams will make the playoffs and this is the first week where I'm drawing the line above teams with winning records.  

The Texans have the sixth best record in the AFC and are a half game ahead of the Ravens and Chargers who have played one less game because of the bye week.  I'm thinking Chargers fans are more uneasy than they are happy.  Jets fans are downright nervous. 

If there was a 4-3 team to put above the line it would be Baltimore.  Ravens fans are probably more motivated than anything right now after their team's big win over Denver, and with an upcoming game against the division rival Bengals, they are ready to make a move.

Here's how the AFC currently stacks up:

[7-0]  Indianapolis
[6-1]  Denver
[5-2]  Cincinnati, New England, Pittsburgh                                
[5-3]  Texans                                                                            (the happy fan line) 
[4-3]  Baltimore, San Diego
[4-4]  NY Jets
[3-4]  Miami, Jacksonville
[3-5]  Buffalo
[2-6]  Oakland
[1-6]  Tennessee, Kansas City
[1-7]  Cleveland

Coming off three straight wins, the Texans have a chance to push their happy fan status to an entirely new level on Sunday.  If the Texans lose for the 8th straight time at Indy,  circumstances will dictate where they will be sit relative to the line during their bye week.

The teams just below the line are still in good position to make playoff runs.  Again, Baltimore looked especially strong last week with its demolition of Denver. 

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

• Bengals over the Ravens.  A Ravens win and a Texans loss would mean the Texans would be looking up at three teams from the AFC North. Although if the Texans and Ravens win, the Texans would jump Cincinnati and stay a half game ahead of the Ravens.  There's advantages and disadvantages to both outcomes but I would rather see the Ravens 4-4 instead of 5-3.  The Texans hold a head-to-head tiebreaker with Cincinnati.
• Denver over Pittsburgh.  For some reason I don't think the Broncos have staying power so a win over the Steelers, who I think will be a better team down the stretch, will help the Texans, especially if the Texans beat Indy.
• Chiefs over the Jags.  Maybe the expulsion of Larry Johnson will help morale.
• Giants over Chargers.   If the Broncos start to slip, the Chargers become more motivated.
• Pats over the Phins.  It's time to bury Miami.  The Pats will be there anyway.
• 49ers over Titans.  Nearly everyone in Austin is looking for their powder blue #10's that they stashed away more than a year ago.  What may be even tougher for them is once again coming to grips with the fact that football is played on Sunday,