Niner Noise
FanSided

NFL power rankings: Final post-Super Bowl LII standings around the league

By Peter Panacy

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - FEBRUARY 04: The Philadelphia Eagles celebrated defeating the New England Patriots 41-33 in Super Bowl LII at U.S. Bank Stadium on February 4, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - FEBRUARY 04: The Philadelphia Eagles celebrated defeating the New England Patriots 41-33 in Super Bowl LII at U.S. Bank Stadium on February 4, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
13 of 33
Next
SEATTLE, WA – OCTOBER 29: Quarterback Deshaun Watson #4 of the Houston Texans cheers as DeAndre Hopkins #10 scores a 72 yard touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks in the fourth quarter at CenturyLink Field on October 29, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA – OCTOBER 29: Quarterback Deshaun Watson #4 of the Houston Texans cheers as DeAndre Hopkins #10 scores a 72 yard touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks in the fourth quarter at CenturyLink Field on October 29, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images) /

team. 10. . . Previous: . Houston Texans. 21

Oh, what could have been in 2017?

The Houston Texans were one of those feel-bad stories from last year. Season-ending injuries to defensive tackle J.J. Watt, linebacker Whitney Mercilus and rising star, quarterback Deshaun Watson, demolished any hopes the team had for a playoff push.

That said, this team could be one to watch in 2018 if it stays healthy.

Watson and wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins might be a tandem on the level near the Steelers’ Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown, if it pans out well enough.

And that defense should return to full strength.

But the one thing keeping the Texans from climbing any higher in our NFL power rankings is the fact they gave up so much to the Browns to secure the rights to draft Watson in 2017. Houston’s first pick falls in Round 3, although the team does have its quarterback of the future.

With nearly $57 million in cap space, though, they have room to make things happen.

We’ll have to see whether or not head coach Bill O’Brien will finally be able to put it all together. If he can, Houston could be a team to watch this year.