The Post-David Carr Era

Welcome to the post-David Carr era, Houston fans. I won't take any shots at the former quarterback, I will just say one thing. It must have been very uncomfortable watching a man in your previous jersey dominate your new team.

With that said, the Texans 34-21 stomping of the Panthers on Sunday proved something to me. It showed me that even I can underestimate this team. I had the Texans picked to lose seven games. Then, after watching them plow through the Chiefs a week ago, I thought a 10-6 record wasn't out of the question. I thought that one of those losses would definitely be coming in Carolina.

Well, Matt Schaub backhanded my prediction in the face. Schaub's 227 yards passing and one touchdown doesn't begin to explain what happened in Charlotte. After the Texans trailed 14-0 in the first quarter, they rallied off 34 unanswered points against the Panthers. If a previous Texans team would have gone down by two scored that early, they would have laid down and admitted defeat.

Not this team. They have that professional swagger about them that is letting everyone know, this isn't your sub-500 Houston Texans team. After Schaub connected on a 31-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Andre Johnson with three minutes left in the first quarter, things changed. The defense took over the game, shutting down the Panthers on every drive. The offense clicked, on the ground and in the air. Ahman Green looked five years younger as he found holes everywhere in the Panthers defense. And speaking of, how about that Texans offensive line? Who knew they were capable of blocking. The Panthers didn't see the end zone again until the four-minute mark in the fourth quarter, when they already trailed by 20 points.

So where does this bring the Houston fans now? Do Texans fans take this as the win that proved things are changed? Or is it too early to determine anything yet? I say if a team can have possession of the ball for 34 minutes and string together 16-play, 80-yard drives, then they are ready to compete. Don't hesitate to celebrate Houston. This Texans team is like nothing before. And if nothing else, at least enjoy watching internet clips of David Carr's priceless face during the game. Well, I almost made it through a column without a Carr joke.

Next week the Texans take on the defending Super Bowl Champion Indianapolis Colts. Houston split wins with
the division rivals last season, winning at home against the Colts 27-24. I have to believe they can do the same, with a much better team.

My prediction: Texans 28, Colts 24.

(This column appeared in the September 17, 2007 edition of The Huntsville Item.)