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.