berth. On January 9, 2016, Mercilus started his first NFL playoff game and recorded eight combined tackles and sacked Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith thrice during a 30–0 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Wildcard Game. 2016 season Mercilus entered training camp slated as a starting outside linebacker. Head coach Bill O’Brien named Mercilus and Jadeveon Clowney the starting outside linebackers to begin the season, alongside Brian Cushing and Benardrick McKinney. Mercilus started in the season-opening 23–14 victory over the Chicago Bears and recorded four combined tackles and made a season-high two sacks. Three weeks later, he collected a season-high seven combined tackles during a 27–20 victory against the Tennessee Titans. Mercilus was inactive for the Texans’ Week 15 21–20 victory against the Jacksonville Jaguars after aggravating a back injury. Mercilus finished the 2016 season with 53 combined tackles (36 solo), 7.5 sacks, and a pass deflection in 15 games and starts. Mercilus was awarded Second-Team All-Pro 2016 in recognition of his successful 2016 season. The Texans finished atop the AFC South with a 9–7 record. On January 7, 2017, Mercilus recorded seven combined tackles and sacked Raiders quarterback Connor Cook twice as the Texans defeated the Oakland Raiders 27–14 in the AFC Wildcard Game. The following week, he made four combined tackles and a sack in a 34–16 road loss against the New England Patriots in the AFC Divisional Round. 2017 season Defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel retained Mercilus and Jadeveon Clowney as the starting outside linebackers in 2017. They started alongside Benardrick McKinney and Brian Cushing. In Week 3 against the New England Patriots, Mercilus recorded a season high 5 tackles and his first sack of the season on Tom Brady during the 36–33 loss. During Week 5, Mercilus suffered a torn pectoral during a 42–34 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday Night Football. Three days later, the Texans officially placed him on injured reserve for the rest of the season. Mercilus finished the season with 10 combined tackles (nine solo), a sack, and a forced fumble in five games and starts. 2018 season Mercilus made his return from injury in week 1 of the season against the New England Patriots. In the game, Mercilus recorded 2 tackles during the 27–20 loss. In week 7 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Mercilus forced his first fumble of the season on Blake Bortles which was recovered by teammate