Although the Texans are the fourth seed in the AFC playoffs, they rank first in total defense.

Behind the strength of a defense that played nearly the entire season without star defensive end J.J. Watt after he underwent back surgery for the second time this year, the Texans won the AFC South division title for the second consecutive year.

They allowed 301.3 yards of total offense per game, ranking ahead of the Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals gave up 305.2 yards per game.

The defense had one Pro Bowl selection in converted outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney, who recorded a career-high six sacks while lining up at defensive end.

Outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus led the defense with 7 ½ sacks.

And safety Quintin Demps intercepted a career-high six passes to rank second overall in the NFL, and first among all safeties.

"Yeah, it's been the key," Texans coach Bill O'Brien said. "To be able to play that type of defense, especially over the last 10 or 11 weeks of the season, it's been key to helping us win when we've struggled offensively. The defense has really come up big for us. That's the strength of our team is our defense playing at that level. It's helped us quite a bit to have a winning record and to be in the playoffs."