Rick Gosselin's NFL rankings: Texans 9th

[ArlingtonTexan]

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcont...s.3a223bc.html


9. Houston

The Texans have never made the playoffs in their eight years of existence. But Houston has strung together three consecutive nonlosing seasons, highlighted by a 9-7 finish in 2009. The Texans have a Top 5 offense, featuring the game's best WR in Andre Johnson, and some defensive standouts in DE Mario Williams, LBs DeMeco Ryans and Brian Cushing and SS Bernard Pollard.

[JB]

I am a bit surprised he has NO at #8 and NE at #11.

[False Start]

Originally Posted by JB

I am a bit surprised he has NO at #8 and NE at #11.

Thats a good thing, we are now being ranked up there with the big boys.

[HOU-TEX]

Originally Posted by False Start

Thats a good thing, we are now being ranked up there with the big boys.

Now, if we can only play like the big boys.

[No More 8-8's]

With big press, comes big responsibilities. Take care of business.

And for the people, who are saying "its just one journalists opinion" keep in mind that Gosselin is one of the most highly regarded football writers in America.

[False Start]

Originally Posted by HOU-TEX

Now, if we can only play like the big boys.

That's what I'm hoping/praying for, lol.

[Thorn]

Interesting reading his take on all the teams. Doesn't mean much though.

As to the Texans being ranked 9th (or really the ranking of any team) it's to early. Indy being predicted to take it all this year makes me laugh. The Forehead only has one SB ring. Other than the Colts owning us, I don't believe in the magical powers of Manning anymore until he gets a few more rings.

[beerlover]

Rick needs to take a closer look at the Texans schedule.

#1 Indianapolis (Twice)
#2 Dallas
#3 Baltimore
#5 San Diego
#10 Jets (who beat Texans badly @ home in last seasons opener, this time in NY)
#13 NY Giants
#14 Tennessee (Twice)
#16 Philadelphia

let's just imagine the Texans sweep the rest of schedule, which is harder than it appears that's six wins & split w/teams #10-#16 thats another couple wins which = 8. to reach 10 W's the Texans must at least split with #1 Colts & beat either Dallas, Baltimore or San Diego.

anything is possible but I don't think its very realistic, hope I'm wrong & he's right

[IDEXAN]

As we know the best team in each of their respective conference doesn't necessarily make it to the SB. For example, isn't it accurate to say that most would feel the Vikings were better than the Saints last year but the home-field advantage was the margin for the Saints ? That and the Vikings mistakes, because they practically dominated the game.
Regarding his prediction for the Texans, I sure hope he's right but that seems very generous to me ? Who knows though, maybe some of us Texans
fans have been so use to having a team that does not succeed that we don't recognize a playoff team when it's under our own noses ?

[infantrycak]

The Cowboys will need all of that to survive a schedule that includes games at Indianapolis, Green Bay, Houston and Minnesota.

Yeah we have a tough schedule but we are finally at the point where we are on other teams' oh crap list for tough games.

[No More 8-8's]

I know this is somewhat unrelated, but i think its a real nice sign that the Texans are being picked for National TV games on the ROAD. It used to be the only reason, primetime games would come here was because of Reliant, now they want us because of the level of competition we play.

[Second Honeymoon]

Originally Posted by HOU-TEX;

Now, if we can only play like the big boys.

totally agree
put up or shut up time for the whole organization

[drs23]

Originally Posted by IDEXAN

As we know the best team in each of their respective conference doesn't necessarily make it to the SB. For example, isn't it accurate to say that most would feel the Vikings were better than the Saints last year but the home-field advantage was the margin for the Saints ? That and the Vikings mistakes, because they practically dominated the game.
Regarding his prediction for the Texans, I sure hope he's right but that seems very generous to me ? Who knows though, maybe some of us Texans
fans have been so use to having a team that does not succeed that we don't recognize a playoff team when it's under our own noses ?

Yeah, that!

[thunderkyss]

Originally Posted by HOU-TEX

Now, if we can only play like the big boys.

We finished 9-7 just like the Jets, Ravens, Steelers, and Falcons.


Just sayin

[dalemurphy]

Originally Posted by beerlover

Rick needs to take a closer look at the Texans schedule.

#1 Indianapolis (Twice)
#2 Dallas
#3 Baltimore
#5 San Diego
#10 Jets (who beat Texans badly @ home in last seasons opener, this time in NY)
#13 NY Giants
#14 Tennessee (Twice)
#16 Philadelphia

let's just imagine the Texans sweep the rest of schedule, which is harder than it appears that's six wins & split w/teams #10-#16 thats another couple wins which = 8. to reach 10 W's the Texans must at least split with #1 Colts & beat either Dallas, Baltimore or San Diego.

anything is possible but I don't think its very realistic, hope I'm wrong & he's right

This is confused thinking. He is rating teams from best to worst. That list has nothing to do with scheduling. He's not predicting records. Certainly a team can be the 9th best but finish with the 11th best record. Or, a team with the best record could conceivably not be the best team in the league.

[b0ng]

Rick Gosselin is okay by me.

[Jagsbch]

Originally Posted by No More 8-8's

With big press, comes big responsibilities. Take care of business.

And for the people, who are saying "its just one journalists opinion" keep in mind that Gosselin is one of the most highly regarded football writers in America.

It is way too early to be formulating power rankings, especially ones that have the Texans ahead of the Patriots to the point of taking the Patriots out of the top 10. Really? With this Grusome schedule, and with your DROY suspended for the first 4 games of the season?

The Huge reason why the Texans have not made it to the play-offs is because they have been in one of the knarliest divisions in the league. In the past 5 years only one division has had 3 teams with 10 wins or more, you guessed it the AFC South.

Check out this article

The best division in the NFL

[HOU-TEX]

Originally Posted by thunderkyss

We finished 9-7 just like the Jets, Ravens, Steelers, and Falcons.


Just sayin

And have we beaten those teams recently? Nope! As a matter of fact, we had our ass handed to us by those teams.

How many teams with a winning record did we beat this past season?

Just sayin

[Jackie Chiles]

Originally Posted by Jagsbch

It is way too early to be formulating power rankings, especially ones that have the Texans ahead of the Patriots to the point of taking the Patriots out of the top 10. Really? With this Grusome schedule, and with your DROY suspended for the first 4 games of the season?
The best division in the NFL

My prediction for the first 4 games before the Cushing suspension was 2-2. After Cushing its still 2-2 so even though I'm pissed he can't play I don't think it impacts our record at the end of the day. Obviously I could be wrong and we do worse but I'd say there is opportunity to be 3-1 after those first 4 as well.

[nero THE zero]

Originally Posted by Jagsbch

It is way too early to be formulating power rankings, especially ones that have the Texans ahead of the Patriots to the point of taking the Patriots out of the top 10. Really? With this Grusome schedule, and with your DROY suspended for the first 4 games of the season?

The Huge reason why the Texans have not made it to the play-offs is because they have been in one of the knarliest divisions in the league. In the past 5 years only one division has had 3 teams with 10 wins or more, you guessed it the AFC South.

Check out this article

The best division in the NFL

Uh? The same Patriots that we beat handily in week 17 of last year? I don't see why it's so absurd for us to be ranked ahead of them, considering the trajectory of the two teams.

I know they have the reputation, but reputation doesn't win games for them anymore.