Pass the Rolaids Please
Was this one of those let down type performances in which your vastly superior team is caught napping against a seemingly dead squad? Or is this a performance that sets off alarms about deep concerns you have about your franchise? The answer is yes. There's a little bit of truth in both questions.
It was supposed to be like driving down to the corner store to pick up a loaf of bread. Instead, the Texans almost saw their hopes of a winning season jacked by a depleted and desperate Rams team.
In one of the strangest games we've seen the locals play, they nearly fumbled and dropped their way to an embarrassing loss. Instead, the defense stepped up and the offense ran out the clock as the Texans ran out of town with a 16-13 win.
So here we are at 7-7 for the third straight year with another chance to get a winning season and a super-model-slim chance at getting into the post season. Houston needs more help than the 2008 banking system but sports are about hope and drama and we'll be watching to see if they can pull off a football miracle.
There are a few constants that need to be addressed. The Texans have too much trouble running the ball and they aren't finishing enough drives because of that and a tendency to cough the ball up.
Things to be encouraged about:
- The aerial attack is one of the best in the NFL with Matt Schaub pulling the trigger.
- Schaub has shown great leadership being vocal with his teamates, playing hurt and putting up ridiculous numbers.
- Since the first three games the defense is a top five unit against the run.
Things to be concerned about:
Not running the ball well.
Turning the ball over too much.
This has been a tough second half of the season with a four game losing streak and a way-too-stressful win at St. Louis. There is zero margin for error but at least the Texans enter the final two games of the year with something they have never had before; a chance to play in the postseason. It's not a good chance but they'll take it.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Better Late Than Never
Matt Schaub's 64 yard TD pass to Andre Johnson on the opening play of the game was like a giant tablet of Xanax to the Texans fan base. It served notice that Sunday would be a stress free afternoon and the best available remedy for a four game losing streak that probably cost the Texans a chance at a post season berth.
But, wait a minute. Pittsburgh somehow lost to Cleveland, Jacksonville fell to Miami and Denver lost at Indy keeping the Texans' paper thin playoff hopes alive. If you're a true fan you know you've found yourself doing crazy things like pulling for Detroit to beat Baltimore or rooting, in vain, for a Tampa Bay upset over the Jets.
Yes, Houston needs a warehouse of help to get to the postseason but as long as there is a pulse why not hope for a football miracle. After all, didn't the Bears stroll into Reliant Stadium for the season finale last year needing some ridiculous things to happen, have them all happen, then fail to get the win which would have put them in the playoffs?
The Texans need to keep fighting and hope that somehow when they kick the ball January 3rd against the Patriots they will have at least a snowball's chance of advancing. Considering all that has happened it's just about all we can ask at this point.
Arian Foster looked like he belonged, Bernard Pollard made even more money for next year with his third pick. And Mario Williams had two sacks which puts him two off the pace of hitting double figures for the third straight year. With Andre Johnson racking up nearly 200 yards receiving and Schaub getting within a stone's throw of 4,000 yards, the Texans are once again showing they are a tough team to beat. But they need to be flawless in the won-loss column the rest of the way to help ease the pain of the four game drought.
Matt Schaub's 64 yard TD pass to Andre Johnson on the opening play of the game was like a giant tablet of Xanax to the Texans fan base. It served notice that Sunday would be a stress free afternoon and the best available remedy for a four game losing streak that probably cost the Texans a chance at a post season berth.
But, wait a minute. Pittsburgh somehow lost to Cleveland, Jacksonville fell to Miami and Denver lost at Indy keeping the Texans' paper thin playoff hopes alive. If you're a true fan you know you've found yourself doing crazy things like pulling for Detroit to beat Baltimore or rooting, in vain, for a Tampa Bay upset over the Jets.
Yes, Houston needs a warehouse of help to get to the postseason but as long as there is a pulse why not hope for a football miracle. After all, didn't the Bears stroll into Reliant Stadium for the season finale last year needing some ridiculous things to happen, have them all happen, then fail to get the win which would have put them in the playoffs?
The Texans need to keep fighting and hope that somehow when they kick the ball January 3rd against the Patriots they will have at least a snowball's chance of advancing. Considering all that has happened it's just about all we can ask at this point.
Arian Foster looked like he belonged, Bernard Pollard made even more money for next year with his third pick. And Mario Williams had two sacks which puts him two off the pace of hitting double figures for the third straight year. With Andre Johnson racking up nearly 200 yards receiving and Schaub getting within a stone's throw of 4,000 yards, the Texans are once again showing they are a tough team to beat. But they need to be flawless in the won-loss column the rest of the way to help ease the pain of the four game drought.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Texans 2009: Critical Condition
As they Texans do the autopsy on another loss they will see plenty of missed opportunities. Had they taken advantage of some golden chances against Jacksonville they might be in the thick of a playoff chase. Instead, they are scrambling to find a way to stop a four game losing streak that has their fanbase up in arms and their coach in trouble.
Let's face it. This is year four of the Kubiak era and year eight of the franchise. The team is perhaps better than it's ever been but they it's not showing up on the scoreboard and the record is no better after 12 games than it has been the last two seasons.
A particularly disturbing part of the carcass from the most recent loss is the fact that the Texans had the ball inside the 10 three times in the second half and came up with only ten points and a turnover. That turnover came off the arm of Chris Brown who threw a pick off a halfback option that will live in infamy.
At one point in the broadcast I said "this is the Texans last stand." I believed they needed to win out to stay in the hunt. And the thing that makes this situation sting more is that every week they seem to get help as teams like Pittsburgh and Baltimore take damaging losses.
All that's left is the chance to somehow win four straight and get the first winning season in team history. If the Texans achieve that it will certainly make us feel a tad better because of the intoxicating effect of a long winning streak. But right now it's hardly a consolation to be wishing for a victory binge that will require a massive amount of help to bring the prospect of playoffs back into the conversation.
As they Texans do the autopsy on another loss they will see plenty of missed opportunities. Had they taken advantage of some golden chances against Jacksonville they might be in the thick of a playoff chase. Instead, they are scrambling to find a way to stop a four game losing streak that has their fanbase up in arms and their coach in trouble.
Let's face it. This is year four of the Kubiak era and year eight of the franchise. The team is perhaps better than it's ever been but they it's not showing up on the scoreboard and the record is no better after 12 games than it has been the last two seasons.
A particularly disturbing part of the carcass from the most recent loss is the fact that the Texans had the ball inside the 10 three times in the second half and came up with only ten points and a turnover. That turnover came off the arm of Chris Brown who threw a pick off a halfback option that will live in infamy.
At one point in the broadcast I said "this is the Texans last stand." I believed they needed to win out to stay in the hunt. And the thing that makes this situation sting more is that every week they seem to get help as teams like Pittsburgh and Baltimore take damaging losses.
All that's left is the chance to somehow win four straight and get the first winning season in team history. If the Texans achieve that it will certainly make us feel a tad better because of the intoxicating effect of a long winning streak. But right now it's hardly a consolation to be wishing for a victory binge that will require a massive amount of help to bring the prospect of playoffs back into the conversation.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Frank Reich has been an assistant with the Colts the last two seasons which happen to include the two 17 point blown Houston leads. Also, Tony Boselli was doing national radio for the last two games at Reliant. Just Sayin'
These are the times that try fans souls. Four weeks ago the Texans were 5-3 with the promise of a great second half season run on the horizon. Three losses later and Houston has dropped three straight while dropping to the cellar of the AFC South into a tie with Tennessee. The Titans are no small part of the story. The fact that they have won five straight with Vince Young at the helm during the Texans dive has not been lost on the sporting public.
Sunday was the best of times and the worst of times. The Texans had everything going for them but somewhere along the way lost their edge. Everything they tried in the second half felt like shoveling sand against a tsunami.
No matter what anyone thinks will happen following the season we must remember there are still games to play. It's too early to write the obituary. Jacksonville is the last house on the left. If the Texans lose it's time to take a hard look at the future. You hate to put that kind of pressure on the team but they did it to themselves.
These are the times that try fans souls. Four weeks ago the Texans were 5-3 with the promise of a great second half season run on the horizon. Three losses later and Houston has dropped three straight while dropping to the cellar of the AFC South into a tie with Tennessee. The Titans are no small part of the story. The fact that they have won five straight with Vince Young at the helm during the Texans dive has not been lost on the sporting public.
Sunday was the best of times and the worst of times. The Texans had everything going for them but somewhere along the way lost their edge. Everything they tried in the second half felt like shoveling sand against a tsunami.
No matter what anyone thinks will happen following the season we must remember there are still games to play. It's too early to write the obituary. Jacksonville is the last house on the left. If the Texans lose it's time to take a hard look at the future. You hate to put that kind of pressure on the team but they did it to themselves.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
The most perplexing thing about the Texans through ten games is their inability to run the football. The fact that Steve Slaton leads the team in rushing with only 380 yards is tough to stomach. Chester Pitts and Mike Briesel are out but that alone cannot possibly be why the Texans can't get anything consistent going on the ground.
The running woes make what Matt Schaub has been doing all the more impressive. The last two games Schaub has been able to move his team in position for late ties only to watch missed field goals. He has thrown 19 TD passes and is third in the NFL in yardage behind Manning and Brady.
Eugene Wilson being out for the season is hard news to swallow. He's been quite a playmaker and his services would have come in really handy against the Colts Sunday. Bernard Pollard had two picks against Manning. Somehow the Texans will have to find a way to get to Manning. If the Reliant crowd can bring anything close to what they had Monday night it could make a big difference.
As difficult as it's been to digest the last two losses, the Texans showed they have the mettle to hang with Indy. Can they go toe to toe again and finish the job? That's why we love sports. It's unscripted entertainment.
The running woes make what Matt Schaub has been doing all the more impressive. The last two games Schaub has been able to move his team in position for late ties only to watch missed field goals. He has thrown 19 TD passes and is third in the NFL in yardage behind Manning and Brady.
Eugene Wilson being out for the season is hard news to swallow. He's been quite a playmaker and his services would have come in really handy against the Colts Sunday. Bernard Pollard had two picks against Manning. Somehow the Texans will have to find a way to get to Manning. If the Reliant crowd can bring anything close to what they had Monday night it could make a big difference.
As difficult as it's been to digest the last two losses, the Texans showed they have the mettle to hang with Indy. Can they go toe to toe again and finish the job? That's why we love sports. It's unscripted entertainment.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
"I'm in a glass case of emotion"
- Ron Burgundy, Me
Here is the link to the photo that will have Texans fans even more upset than they are right now...
http://www.life.com/image/93344787
- Ron Burgundy, Me
Here is the link to the photo that will have Texans fans even more upset than they are right now...
http://www.life.com/image/93344787
Monday, November 16, 2009
The AFC South is the best division in football again.
The Colts are undefeated. They stormed back in the fourth quarter against New England and took advantage of Belichick's bad gamble at the 28 yard line. Manning is 5-1 in his last six games against the Patriots.
The Jags are 5-4 and tied with the Texans after a nice road win over the Jets.
And the Titans are a winning team disguised as a 3-6 club. They haven't beaten great competition during this three game winning streak but their defense is back to turning people over and the offense has really cut down on the cough-ups.
Monday Night Football is going to be a war.
The Colts are undefeated. They stormed back in the fourth quarter against New England and took advantage of Belichick's bad gamble at the 28 yard line. Manning is 5-1 in his last six games against the Patriots.
The Jags are 5-4 and tied with the Texans after a nice road win over the Jets.
And the Titans are a winning team disguised as a 3-6 club. They haven't beaten great competition during this three game winning streak but their defense is back to turning people over and the offense has really cut down on the cough-ups.
Monday Night Football is going to be a war.
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