It was a nightmarish beginning of the season for Bill O'Brien and his Houston Texans. Dropping four of their first five paired with a quarterback controversy kept Houston anchored in the bottom of the AFC South for the most part of the season. Now, we find ourself in week 12 and the Texans are 5-5, and their star studded defense Is finally playing up to their potential.

This D is just littered with talent. Stars like JJ Watt, Brian Cushing, Jonathan Joseph, Jadeveon Clowney and Vince Wilfork lead a defensive that has slowly grown into a force these past few weeks. Houston defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel did something that most coaches wouldn't dream of doing after a slow start. He made the defensive more complex. He Challenged this team and they have responded positively, lead by defensive captains JJ Watt and Vince Wilfork.

The combinations of D-line stunts and a multiple defensive front has triggered the Texans and they have benefited from these necessary changes. Crennel who is famous for his 3-4 look for so many years in New England then in Cleveland was universally known as a stubborn coordinator who would expect his players to adjust to his scheme.

He shocked a lot of football minds when he started showing different defensive looks and occasionally going with a four-man front to utilize both his dominant pass rushers in Watt, and Clowney.

As we look at the Texans upcoming schedule it doesn't get any easier for the defense when they will host Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints, who despite a difficult season, are a ticking time bomb offensively and can explode for 50 points any given Sunday. They will face the best offensive in the league when they host Tom Brady, Bill Belichick and the defending Super Bowl Champion, the New England Patriots.

So there is no rest for the weary Houston Texans who will depend on their defensive playmakers to not only keep the opposing offense off of the field but look to score on the defensive side of the ball to help make up for a dormant offense. Don’t be surprised if this Houston defense leads the Texans to an AFC South title and a home playoff game when this season is all said and done.