So before I begin my main point of interest, let me make a few notes about Thursday's game. The protege defeated the master. Coach Gary Kubiak and his Houston Texans manhandled the Kubiak's old team, the Denver Broncos, 31-13.
The Texans held the Broncos' sixth-ranked rushing offense to only 72 yards all night. The Texans' secondary had their hands on the ball all night, deflecting passes and making plays in crucial moments, and the defense held the Broncos to only 4 for 12 third down conversions.
And then there was the offense. Texans' quarterback Matt Schaub sat out for the second straight game with a shoulder injury, and his backup Sage Rosenfels came in and got the job done once again. Rosenfels threw for 200 yards and a touchdown, and ran a smooth offense due to the production of the running game. Rookie running back Darius Walker came in and rushed for 66 yards and running back Ron Dayne scored a touchdown and had 67 yards rushing. Wide receiver Andre Johnson had 87 yards and a touchdown, and a little known fact, Johnson has the highest receiving yard average a game with 102.8, coming in above Moss and Owens.
The main thing about the Texans' offense is that they are able to stay consistent. Houston has scored at least one touchdown in the first quarter in six consecutive games.
And now that the Browns and Jaguars won, the Texans need a miracle to make the playoffs. However, no matter what happens for the rest of the season, you have to be excited for the direction this team is heading.
Now we need to get straight to the fact that Texans' defensive end Mario Williams has gone into a league of his own on defense, especially Thursday in Houston. Williams recorded 3.5 sacks, bumping his season total up to 13, good for first in the AFC and second in the NFL.
"I know this kid is a tremendous football player," Kubiak said. "It’s a great example of a young guy and the pressure he went through last year and the pressure that was on him as a very, very young man."
Williams came at the Broncos' offense from both ends of the defensive line, leaving Denver confused for the most part. He is making it impossible for offensive linemen to go at him one-on-one and even defeating double teams. I don't want to bring up last years draft again, but I don't see Vince Young or Reggie Bush looking all that promising at this point.
"I’m just so much more comfortable now. As the week goes on, I take a look at the plays and see how they work," Williams said.
Now Williams needs to get ready for a Pro Bowl selection. And Williams is aware of the talk, even creating a hula dance after one of his sacks on Thursday night.
"I would like to go. Obviously, it would be a great accomplishment, but the most important thing is the last two games, definitely," Williams said.
So despite the success of Williams this season, and the overall improvement of this young team, the Texans are probably not going to get to the postseason. However, as I stated last week, you have to wonder what they could have done if they were healthy this year. With that in mind, I can't wait to see what this team is going to do in years to come.
This Sunday the Texans are on the road in Indianapolis to take on the Colts. It would be a great end to a great season if the Texans could win out and finish 9-7. The first step is this one, taking on the AFC South champions, I just don't know if they will be able to without all the pieces.
My prediction: Colts 27, Texans 20.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Hanging By A Thread
Let's face it, there are a lot of "what-ifs" for the Texans this late in the season. The Houston Texans really are still in this thing. With Sunday’s 28-14 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Texans put themselves back into the playoff hunt. They now sit two games behind Cleveland for the final wildcard spot in the AFC. So needless to say, this is about to get interesting.
On Sunday, the Texans managed to score a touchdown in every quarter, and led the entire game. Quarterback Sage Rosenfels filled in nicely for the injured Matt Schaub, throwing for 209 yards and a touchdown.
Rookie running back Darius Walker made his debut, and although he only rushed for 46 yards, he kept the defense honest and brought the speed in the background that the Texans have been looking for all season. Running back Ron Dayne sat out most of the game with an injured back, but the Texans offense kept rolling, converting 10-of-17 third downs.
And with 35 minutes of possession, the Texans kept their defense rested and off the field. Defensive end Mario Williams added another sack, bringing his total to 9.5 for the year, which is good for second in the AFC.
Which brings me to my first note. Can we have talks of considering Mario WIlliams for a pro bowl nomination? Williams has a sack in each of the last four games and has been a complete beast on the line.
Williams and linebacker Demeco Ryans should be in the pro bowl this year and I would also throw kicker Kris Brown in the mix.
Now back to the game.
The Texans didn't lose the turnover battle, and being dead last in the NFL in turnovers explains a lot of their problems. However, when the Texans can protect the ball, we truly see what they are capable of.
You have to also consider the fact that the Texans have the most players in the NFL on injured reserve, and are still in the hunt to make the playoffs. What could this team possibly do if they were a healthy team? Who knows?
With the win, the Texans matched their win total for last season. They also finished off the NFC South, with a 3-1 record against that division. The Texans have a short week facing the Denver Broncos at home on Thursday, which might as well be can’t-see-TV with game being televised on the NFL network.
Matt Schaub might be good enough to go, although if Rosenfels has to start, I don't think anyone will complain. The Texans, then will go against the Colts and Jaguars to finish off the season, but have a very good chance to make a playoff run, which would be a Texans’ first.
I think that Kubiak will have his team ready for the short week ahead, and especially wanting to defeat the team that gave him his first shot at coaching. With Buffalo facing Cleveland next week, and San Diego having to play Detroit, the Texans could inch closer to a playoff spot with a win.
My prediction: Texans 20, Broncos 13.
On Sunday, the Texans managed to score a touchdown in every quarter, and led the entire game. Quarterback Sage Rosenfels filled in nicely for the injured Matt Schaub, throwing for 209 yards and a touchdown.
Rookie running back Darius Walker made his debut, and although he only rushed for 46 yards, he kept the defense honest and brought the speed in the background that the Texans have been looking for all season. Running back Ron Dayne sat out most of the game with an injured back, but the Texans offense kept rolling, converting 10-of-17 third downs.
And with 35 minutes of possession, the Texans kept their defense rested and off the field. Defensive end Mario Williams added another sack, bringing his total to 9.5 for the year, which is good for second in the AFC.
Which brings me to my first note. Can we have talks of considering Mario WIlliams for a pro bowl nomination? Williams has a sack in each of the last four games and has been a complete beast on the line.
Williams and linebacker Demeco Ryans should be in the pro bowl this year and I would also throw kicker Kris Brown in the mix.
Now back to the game.
The Texans didn't lose the turnover battle, and being dead last in the NFL in turnovers explains a lot of their problems. However, when the Texans can protect the ball, we truly see what they are capable of.
You have to also consider the fact that the Texans have the most players in the NFL on injured reserve, and are still in the hunt to make the playoffs. What could this team possibly do if they were a healthy team? Who knows?
With the win, the Texans matched their win total for last season. They also finished off the NFC South, with a 3-1 record against that division. The Texans have a short week facing the Denver Broncos at home on Thursday, which might as well be can’t-see-TV with game being televised on the NFL network.
Matt Schaub might be good enough to go, although if Rosenfels has to start, I don't think anyone will complain. The Texans, then will go against the Colts and Jaguars to finish off the season, but have a very good chance to make a playoff run, which would be a Texans’ first.
I think that Kubiak will have his team ready for the short week ahead, and especially wanting to defeat the team that gave him his first shot at coaching. With Buffalo facing Cleveland next week, and San Diego having to play Detroit, the Texans could inch closer to a playoff spot with a win.
My prediction: Texans 20, Broncos 13.
A Major Setback For The Texans
I really wanted to be enthusiastic about something when I wrote this. I wanted to be able to say the Texans would enter week 14 with a 6-6 record and be in a playoff race. Now technically, the team isn't out of it completely, but the 28-20 loss to the Titans on Sunday was definitely a major setback.
The thing that kills me about the Texans is the fact that they continue to beat themselves over and over again. Whether it is the turnover factor or poor play, the Texans have taken themselves out of it more than anything.
In the Texans' seven losses this season, I can count two of them (at Jacksonville, 37-17 and San Diego, 35-10) that we had no chance to win. The other five games, we fought until the end, and should have even won. And right now that is the difference between the team you see now, and what could be a legitimate candidate for the playoffs.
On Sunday, quarterback Matt Schaub went down once again, leaving the game in backup Sage Rosenfels' hands. The Texans held control of the game until this point, then seemed to have the life sucked out of them all over again. And even after the injury, the Texans still were within one score of the Titans in the fourth quarter. With 10:50 left, the Texans trailed 21-17 and forced Tennessee to punt. Of course, fate would have it out for the Texans, as receiver Jacoby Jones muffed the punt return and gave the ball back to the Titans. Tennessee then scored, putting the score at 28-17 and forcing the Texans to go into panic mode.
So it this point I have to be the bigger person and admit a mistake I made at the beginning of the season. This was an exact quote from one of my earlier columns: "No longer refer to Jacoby Jones as 'that guy from Lane.' After the preseason Jones is having, there is no question he will line up in that second receiver spot. It isn’t just the special teams play either, although the two punt returns for touchdowns in two games doesn’t hurt."
Well, go back to referring to Jacoby as "that guy from Lane." I am at such a point of disgust with him that I want him cut from the team. Jones has made nothing but big plays this season...for the other team.
One major bright spot on Sunday was watching Mario Williams get 2.5 sacks on Vince Young. If you aren't keeping track at home, that is 8.5 on the season which is good enough for third in the AFC and tenth in the NFL. So I want all talks of this guy being a bust to cease immediately.
Unfortunately, I can't come up with any other bright spot and this season is making me want to jog into oncoming traffic.
Next week the Texans take on the NFC South leading Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Houston. And as I said before, the Texans aren't completely down and out, but it would be a borderline miracle for the playoffs to happen now.
My prediction: Bucs 24, Texans 13.
The thing that kills me about the Texans is the fact that they continue to beat themselves over and over again. Whether it is the turnover factor or poor play, the Texans have taken themselves out of it more than anything.
In the Texans' seven losses this season, I can count two of them (at Jacksonville, 37-17 and San Diego, 35-10) that we had no chance to win. The other five games, we fought until the end, and should have even won. And right now that is the difference between the team you see now, and what could be a legitimate candidate for the playoffs.
On Sunday, quarterback Matt Schaub went down once again, leaving the game in backup Sage Rosenfels' hands. The Texans held control of the game until this point, then seemed to have the life sucked out of them all over again. And even after the injury, the Texans still were within one score of the Titans in the fourth quarter. With 10:50 left, the Texans trailed 21-17 and forced Tennessee to punt. Of course, fate would have it out for the Texans, as receiver Jacoby Jones muffed the punt return and gave the ball back to the Titans. Tennessee then scored, putting the score at 28-17 and forcing the Texans to go into panic mode.
So it this point I have to be the bigger person and admit a mistake I made at the beginning of the season. This was an exact quote from one of my earlier columns: "No longer refer to Jacoby Jones as 'that guy from Lane.' After the preseason Jones is having, there is no question he will line up in that second receiver spot. It isn’t just the special teams play either, although the two punt returns for touchdowns in two games doesn’t hurt."
Well, go back to referring to Jacoby as "that guy from Lane." I am at such a point of disgust with him that I want him cut from the team. Jones has made nothing but big plays this season...for the other team.
One major bright spot on Sunday was watching Mario Williams get 2.5 sacks on Vince Young. If you aren't keeping track at home, that is 8.5 on the season which is good enough for third in the AFC and tenth in the NFL. So I want all talks of this guy being a bust to cease immediately.
Unfortunately, I can't come up with any other bright spot and this season is making me want to jog into oncoming traffic.
Next week the Texans take on the NFC South leading Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Houston. And as I said before, the Texans aren't completely down and out, but it would be a borderline miracle for the playoffs to happen now.
My prediction: Bucs 24, Texans 13.
Shoot Me In The Face
Over the past week, I made two mistakes. One, I under estimated the Cleveland Browns. And two, I gave the Houston Texans to much credit.
I over-hyped the Texans, thinking they could be a playoff contender, but I was sorely mistaken. As usual, the Texans went in reverse on Sunday bringing back their inconsistency on both sides of the ball. The Cleveland Browns had control of the game once the first quarter ended and never looked back. Quarter back Derrick Anderson found open receivers all day, and running back Jamal Lewis looked like his old self rushing for 134 yards and a score. Which brings me to a newly found mistake, I benched him in fantasy football.
The Texans lost their first game this season with Andre Johnson playing, but you wouldn't even notice he was there. Johnson had three receptions for 37 yards and couldn't be found because he was swallowed by the secondary. The Schaub was sacked twice although it seemed like 17, and could have been mistaken for David Carr with the way he was running around the backfield aimlessly. And a three-to-one turnover ratio was also difficult to overcome.
After the performance last week against the Saints, many would question if they were watching the same team. A Texans secondary, which shut down an explosive Saints offense last week, was completely lost on Sunday. An offense that ran smoothly on every aspect became helpless and lost.
So now the Texans sit at 5-6, still behind Cleveland and head to Tennessee next week. The only positive of the day, is that the Titans lost. But that could also be looked at as a negative, because had the Texans won they would have moved within a game of Tennessee. Don't count the Texans out yet, there is still hope and they are still in the hunt, but a goal for the playoffs is slipping out of reach.
My prediction: Titans 20, Texans 14.
I over-hyped the Texans, thinking they could be a playoff contender, but I was sorely mistaken. As usual, the Texans went in reverse on Sunday bringing back their inconsistency on both sides of the ball. The Cleveland Browns had control of the game once the first quarter ended and never looked back. Quarter back Derrick Anderson found open receivers all day, and running back Jamal Lewis looked like his old self rushing for 134 yards and a score. Which brings me to a newly found mistake, I benched him in fantasy football.
The Texans lost their first game this season with Andre Johnson playing, but you wouldn't even notice he was there. Johnson had three receptions for 37 yards and couldn't be found because he was swallowed by the secondary. The Schaub was sacked twice although it seemed like 17, and could have been mistaken for David Carr with the way he was running around the backfield aimlessly. And a three-to-one turnover ratio was also difficult to overcome.
After the performance last week against the Saints, many would question if they were watching the same team. A Texans secondary, which shut down an explosive Saints offense last week, was completely lost on Sunday. An offense that ran smoothly on every aspect became helpless and lost.
So now the Texans sit at 5-6, still behind Cleveland and head to Tennessee next week. The only positive of the day, is that the Titans lost. But that could also be looked at as a negative, because had the Texans won they would have moved within a game of Tennessee. Don't count the Texans out yet, there is still hope and they are still in the hunt, but a goal for the playoffs is slipping out of reach.
My prediction: Titans 20, Texans 14.
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