The 7-8-1 Panthers were bad, but at least they were kinda "hot" when they went into the postseason, as hot as a team can be that has a losing record. And of course the 7-9 Seahawks hosted (and won) a game against a much better Saints team, that was a very poor team with homefield advantage.
This Texans team is bad, their record is very deceptive. They are simply not good. That Cardinals team ntz referenced had a better defense than this year's Texans, people think they have a good defense, but they don't, Watt is in street clothes, and I don't think he would make much a difference anyway since their front 4 is not the problem.