The Texans will go to the Superbowl IF....

[Rey]

1) The defense steps it up another level

2) Kubiak does a better overall job coaching

3) Matt Schaub steps his game up/Shows up big in crucial moments

4) The O-line plays better

5) Arian takes it up a notch

6) The WR's/TE's get open more

7) We get home field throughout

8) ST's significantly improves

9) We have a few lucky bounces

10) Other



Poll coming.

Positive thread. Time to get some positive thoughts going guys. It's Friday. Football Friday. I realize that more than one of these these will likely have to occur, but what one thing happening will make you feel better (even better) about our Super Bowl chances?

[dream_team]

Easy. #4. The OL playing better will help all aspects of this team.

[Señor Stan]

O Line.

Without the running game, this team is going nowhere.

[mussop]

Where's the ALL ABOVE option.

[brakos82]

Originally Posted by mussop

Where's the ALL ABOVE option.

With "Other" being Bill letting out a massive nausea-inducing fart inside Reliant as the opponents begin their final drive.

[Thorn]

Originally Posted by Señor Stan

O Line.

Without the running game, this team is going nowhere.

Yep. Even if Kubiak makes some silly decisions, if the O line is doing a good job the entire offensive scheme works so much better.

If our offense is clicking, and our defense just plays up to itself, we can hang with any AFC team.

[2slik4u]

Originally Posted by Thorn

Yep. Even if Kubiak makes some silly decisions, if the O line is doing a good job the entire offensive scheme works so much better.

If our offense is clicking, and our defense just plays up to itself, we can hang with any AFC team.

This is the main problem. Other than Watt, our defense has shown to take SEVERAL steps back over the past 6 games.

I think if the defense steps up and starts playing lights out like they once were then that will be the cog in our machine. Key third down stops, sacks, defended passes, QB knockdowns, RB stuffs, and increased 3 and outs then equates to a loud crowd and then the "Big Mo". I truely believe that the defense is the key to our success...(i.e. the arrival of Wade Phillips = two back to back playoff appearances)

[JCTexan]

Originally Posted by dream_team

Easy. #4. The OL playing better will help all aspects of this team.

No, no, no. #1 & #3 are much easier to pick over #4. Matt has to play big in huge games and the defense can't get exposed against Brady/Manning to get this team to the Super Bowl.

[Rey]

Originally Posted by JCTexan

No, no, no. #1 & #3 are much easier to pick over #4. Matt has to play big in huge games and the defense can't get exposed against Brady/Manning to get this team to the Super Bowl.

I haven't picked yet...

Easy to look at the O-line and say them, but did our O-line perform terribly against the Pats and Packers? In some of the other games where we've had problems has the O-line been atrocious?

I definitely want them to play better, but if I'm having to pick one thing I'm leading towards having Matt be big in clutch moments and upping his game, or the defense going to another level...The O-line choice is calling me too...I also have a problem with how this team has come out and performed under Kubiak...They seem to get jumped on far too often....If he can step up the coaching on gameday and having the team prepared to play that would be huge too IMO...

It's a tough choice for me...Need to hear more opinions...

[Thorn]

Originally Posted by Rey

I haven't picked yet...
...

In truth, a lot of those are good choices and would help us win.

[thunderkyss]

Originally Posted by Rey

I definitely want them to play better, but if I'm having to pick one thing I'm leading towards having Matt be big in clutch moments and upping his game,

I think we probably need to define clutch. To me, clutch isn't just when we're down by 4 & need a touchdown to win the game. But anytime we get into the red zone, or on third down, or when we want to take a shot downfield & Andre has his guy beat by a hair.

Those moments that change the game.

That way, we aren't in that position where we need him to be "clutch" in the last few minutes of a game?

Originally Posted by Rey

I also have a problem with how this team has come out and performed under Kubiak...They seem to get jumped on far too often....If he can step up the coaching on gameday and having the team prepared to play that would be huge too IMO...

It's a tough choice for me...Need to hear more opinions...

far too often?

I'm not seeing it. I'll give you our three losses & the Denver game. That's four games where we were "jumped on" four out of 15 games isn't any worse than any other coach has done so far this year. Looking at the Patriots & Broncos, if you consider their losses + 1... which I think you can make that argument. The Patriots lost 4 plus the Jags had them for half the game.

Now if you're going to say the four I gave you (losses + 1 (Broncos) then add the Detroit & Jags game making 6 of 15 games... I'd say you have a point. But I don't think the Lions or Jags jumped out on us, especially the Jags. We bottled them up early. Our mistake was knocking Gabbert out of the game early & bringing in an "unknown" at the most important position.

Detroit, again... I don't think they jumped out on us, but they're as talented as we are. They are a good bunch of players, but they shoot themselves in the foot too much.

[Speedy]

IF they win the next 3 games they will go to the Super Bowl.

[Rey]

Originally Posted by Fiddler

I think we probably need to define clutch. To me, clutch isn't just when we're down by 4 & need a touchdown to win the game. But anytime we get into the red zone, or on third down, or when we want to take a shot downfield & Andre has his guy beat by a hair.

Those moments that change the game.

That way, we aren't in that position where we need him to be "clutch" in the last few minutes of a game?

To me clutch moments are the moments where you 'feel' like....ok WE HAVE TO HAVE THIS...Even if it isn't true in the long run....

It's those high pressure/tension moments where you feel like it's make this play or it's going to suck really bad...

Not scientific, I know.....

far too often?

I'm not seeing it. I'll give you our three losses & the Denver game. That's four games where we were "jumped on" four out of 15 games isn't any worse than any other coach has done so far this year.

A couple weeks ago when Kubiak said he ripped the players, I ripped him. I wasn't just talking about this year. If you think back over the years, there have been too many times (IMO) where the team has come out and underachieved.

[thunderkyss]

Originally Posted by JCTexan

No, no, no. #1 & #3 are much easier to pick over #4. Matt has to play big in huge games and the defense can't get exposed against Brady/Manning to get this team to the Super Bowl.

I picked getting homefield. Hoping that will allow Matt to sort his issues out & play championship football, & allows the OL an extra week of practice to get it figured out. Together, I think those are the most important factors.

As far as the defense getting exposed by Brady & Manning, that's going to happen. That's what those guys do. But if our offense start out strong, we'll be ok. That's what happened when we played Denver earlier this year. Peyton figured them out in the second half, but we had such a good lead, it worked out for us.

Same thing happened to Brady against the 49ers. Offensively, the 9ers started strong & their defense got torched in the 4th qtr. But since SanFran had such a big lead... it didn't matter.

But... it's important that we confuse them & give them fits early.

[JCTexan]

Originally Posted by Fiddler

I picked getting homefield. Hoping that will allow Matt to sort his issues out & play championship football, & allows the OL an extra week of practice to get it figured out. Together, I think those are the most important factors.

As far as the defense getting exposed by Brady & Manning, that's going to happen. That's what those guys do. But if our offense start out strong, we'll be ok. That's what happened when we played Denver earlier this year. Peyton figured them out in the second half, but we had such a good lead, it worked out for us.

Same thing happened to Brady against the 49ers. Offensively, the 9ers started strong & their defense got torched in the 4th qtr. But since SanFran had such a big lead... it didn't matter.

But... it's important that we confuse them & give them fits early.

Agreed, but it can't happen to the tune of 6 TD passes like Rodgers had against Houston or 21 points on three possessions like Brady did. They simply can't get exposed like that if Houston wants to win.

[Showtime100]

Originally Posted by dream_team

Easy. #4. The OL playing better will help all aspects of this team.

Same.

Originally Posted by JCTexan

No, no, no. #1 & #3 are much easier to pick over #4. Matt has to play big in huge games and the defense can't get exposed against Brady/Manning to get this team to the Super Bowl.

I think if the O line plays better it will help Schaub immensely. If he's getting harrassed all day he'll be ducking his own shadow by midway through the 1st quarter, jmo.

[thunderkyss]

Originally Posted by JCTexan

Agreed, but it can't happen to the tune of 6 TD passes like Rodgers had against Houston or 21 points on three possessions like Brady did. They simply can't get exposed like that if Houston wants to win.

Did you see the 49ers & Patriots game? Brady did the same thing to them that he did to us. The only difference is that he did it to us in the first qtr & to them in the 4th.

So it's not the fact that it did happen, it was more important when it happened.

[JCTexan]

Originally Posted by Fiddler

I picked getting homefield.

This is probably the darkhorse and true deciding factor of how far the Texans go in the playoffs. The road to the Super Bowl is much easier if it's played in Reliant Stadium. They wouldn't have to play against Cincy in the Wild-Card game and then travel to New England to take on the Patriots. Instead they would just stay at home and wait for the Ravens/Colts.

[mussop]

Originally Posted by Fiddler

I picked getting homefield.

Im kinda wondering if getting home field could be a bad thing. Hear me out. There is a high probability for snow the next few weeks in Denver and NE. That should favor the better running team. Would you rather face Manning in an open stadium with snow coming down or in a closed loud stadium with good conditions? Same goes for Brady but he has experience in it. I don't like the fact that we will have 2 weeks off either if we get home field. Not the way we have been playing.

I know it's crazy! Dammit I wish Denver and NE would get eliminated in the first round!!!!!! Seems like time is standing still right now. HURRY UP PLAYOFFS!!!!!

[thunderkyss]

Originally Posted by mussop

Im kinda wondering if getting home field could be a bad thing.

Not the way we have been playing.

Playing the way we're playing, the only team we would beat, is the Colts. We need to get healthy, we need extra time, extra practice.

If we end up getting soft & stale because of the extra time off, then we're no better off imo... We're not going to get better just because we want to.