With the start of the new season only 24 hours away, the Texans find themselves in uncharted territory. Just two years removed from a dismal 2-14 record, the Texans finished with a franchise best 8-8 last year. Most would agree that the Texans would have made it into the play-offs if injuries didn't play a key role in stopping them. They lead the league last year with 17 people on the injury list. Despite having so many people out last year, only 3 remain on the IR from last years team. Good news heading into the new season.
There are, however, a few key things the Texans are going to have to do if they want to improve from last years record and take the next step in becoming a play-off team. It's not going to be easy, but it can be done.
1. Division wins- The Texans finished 1-5 in divisional games last year. Granted the AFC South is probably the toughest division around, but you need to improve on your win/loss record within your own division. This is the overall breakdown since 2002. Colts 1/11, Jaguars 7/5, Titans 2/10
2. Stay Healthy- Schaub (QB) missed 5 games and part of two others last year. Johnson (WR) missed 7 games. Robinson (CB) missed 7 games. Green (RB) only 216 yards. Still, even with all the injuries the Texans had, they still managed to set franchise records in- points, average yards per play, touchdowns, passing touchdowns, total yards per game, kick-off returns, punt returns, and sacks. Not bad!
3. Protect the ball- We all know that turnovers kill a team, and the Texans have had problems in the past with turning the ball over.
4. Touchdowns not Field Goals- Not to take anything away from Kris Brown, who is probably the best Kicker out there, but the Texans need to score touchdowns in the red zone to compete with higher caliber offenses.
Expectations could not be higher for this team and the fans. Coach Kubiak has made some good moves, but there are still a few pieces missing from the puzzle. Dunta Robinson will be a big help on the defensive side when he returns in six weeks. Steve Slaton (RB) has shown some skills in the preseason. I think he will be a difference maker and help the running game out tremendously. Mario Williams is coming off a season high 14 sacks and should only improve on that. The addition of some new key players are going to make this a team to watch. 2 months ago I said the Texans would finish 8-8 again this year. I hope they can prove me wrong.
I see them possibly sneaking into the #6 seed, but I think they'll miss it with, as you said, an 8-8 record. They'll have to contend with the Bills and Jets (possibly Browns also) for that spot. If they were in the NFC, they would be an easy playoff team, if they were in any other division (in the AFC), they would be so much closer to a playoff spot.
Texans could conceivably be a playoff team. From a results standpoint, only, since I am obviously not as up on your team as you are:
1. Houston has six brutal division games. I do not see them in the playoffs unless they split those games 3-3. It will really help if two of those three wins are over Tennessee.
2. They will be competing for that playoff spot also with Cleveland. They need to beat the Browns.
3. That last playoff spot in the AFC is probably going to go to a 10-6 team, again. I figure other than the Division games and Cleveland, the three toughest tests for Houston will be Pittsburgh, Green Bay, and Minnesota. If they lose all three, they need to mop up on the other games. For all of those games, Houston appears at this time to be the superior team. Beat Green Bay and/or Minnesota, and it gets to be a lot easier for Houston.
4. And no, quite naturally, I give the moo-cows no appreciable chance at this point to win their first game!
the possibility of being a playoff team starts in about 12 hours. IF you beat the Steelers, you have a great chance, BUT if and WHEN the Texans lose to the Steelers, the road to the playoffs gets WAY harder! the wildcard will be out of yours and our division, unless the texans sweep our division, then all three wild cards would probably come out of your division.
sorry my fellow sports fan as a c-boy fan but first an nfl fan i hate to burst ur bubble on the texans being a playoff team they may have all the talent that they have yet q.b. is going to be suspect an the texans i would feel better if they would of put up a fight for chad pennington before shaub but he has prospect in him once he finally finds his niche in h-town maybe he will thrive but till then keep the tylennol close! much love "GO COWBOYZ"!!!!!!!!!!!
Hello all, my name is P_REZ. I have always been involved in sports. From playing, to coaching, to watching, and betting. I am a native Houstonian. Which means I take Houston sports very seriously! The Astro's, Rocket's, and Texan's (Oiler's) are my favorite Teams! I don't always agree with some of the moves they tend to make (via trades, play calling, moving a franchise) but I do support them. Make no mistake about that! I think I am pretty knowledgeable when it comes to sports. I have written a few blog's and will be writting a lot more in the future (or at least when I think certain things need to be addressed) I'll let you be the judge. So feel free to post a comment on my blog's and let me know what you think. Thanks! T/C until next time......... ..........PEA CE!
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