Texans Just Don't Beat Contending Teams...

[Double Barrel]

Originally Posted by Dutchrudder

The 2011 Steelers are nothing like the 2010 Steelers.

And apparently the 2011 Texans are nothing like the 2010 Texans.

Some folks might take time to adjust.

[JCTexan]

Originally Posted by _superMario90_

Beat the Raiders... lol. I hear you, but don't believe what I'm hearing.


After 4 weeks, the NFL is starting to take shape and what I've seen so far is the Texans have played 1 really good team and lost.

Bright side.. I don't see another opponent as challenging as what the Saints offered during the regular season.

Dex's sig will fall apart this season. That's all but a lock. Our next true caliber test will likely be in the post season. Other than that, we either lose an "any given sunday" team or beat ourselves along the way, but at the 1/4 point... This should be a 10-12 win team.

What I would like to see is along the way, the Texans learn to play on the edge. This was a term that was discussed in the GB game yesterday, where the coaching staff wanted the Packers to put a full 4 quarters of "playing on the edge" together.

Texans biggest vise at this point is learning to play with a lead.

I would simply argue the Baltimore game being the next test. The Texans are 1-18 against winning teams on the road in Kubiak's tenure here. Baltimore won't be an easy game to win on the road.

[ziggy29]

Originally Posted by JCTexan

I would simply argue the Baltimore game being the next test. The Texans are 1-18 against winning teams on the road in Kubiak's tenure here. Baltimore won't be an easy game to win on the road.

I think so. I certainly haven't written that game off as a loss because I think the Texans can win it, but as long as this team shows up, plays hard and competitively for four quarters and doesn't beat itself with turnovers, dumb penalties or questionable play-calling, I won't feel too bad about leaving Baltimore without a victory. It just might make me even more optimistic about the rest of the season if they hang with the Ravens on the road even if they fall a little short.

(No, I'd never be happy with a loss. But a loss in *that* way at Baltimore would still leave me hopeful for the rest of the season, at least if they beat the Raiders along the way.)

[DBCooper]

Originally Posted by Double Barrel

And apparently the 2011 Texans are nothing like the 2010 Texans.

Some folks might take time to adjust.

You're right, man.

I'm just not ready to get all giddy about the Texans yet as if I was a Packer fan.

[Dutchrudder]

Originally Posted by thunderkyss

I think we are agreeing right?

Anyway, it will be up to our offense to get a lead & continue to build on it until they get completely away from the run game. I'm thinking 3 scores.

If we get a 17 point lead, they should start playing catch up.

If we can put together 10:55 drives, maybe sooner than that.

Eh kinda, I think the impressiveness of the win will be determined by how we get there. Shutting down the run-game of the Raiders, and winning 24-17 would be impressive to me, but a 38-35 shootout wouldn't be all that impressive to me. Kind of like the Saints game, where the team looked pretty good, but not great. Our offense should put up at least 28 points on the Raiders, but our D needs to keep their offense down, or force FGs. Oakland has 9 rushing TD's this year! That's a lot, and we need to see the Texans man up and play some tough run D in that game.

[ziggy29]

Originally Posted by DBCooper

You're right, man.

I'm just not ready to get all giddy about the Texans yet as if I was a Packer fan.

Yeah. This time it *feels* different, like all the pieces are really coming into place this time, but we've been kicked in the gut too many times to let our guard down completely.

[Double Barrel]

Originally Posted by DBCooper

You're right, man.

I'm just not ready to get all giddy about the Texans yet as if I was a Packer fan.

I know, man. I'm one cynical mofo, so believing is not easy for me, either.

However, I do see a lot of positives with this year's team, and one of the big positives was the never quit attitude they showed yesterday. And that defense. Oh man, that defense looks hungry, and that's the kind of football that I live to watch!

[JCTexan]

Originally Posted by ziggy29

I think so. I certainly haven't written that game off as a loss because I think the Texans can win it, but as long as this team shows up, plays hard and competitively for four quarters and doesn't beat itself with turnovers, dumb penalties or questionable play-calling, I won't feel too bad about leaving Baltimore without a victory. It just might make me even more optimistic about the rest of the season if they hang with the Ravens on the road even if they fall a little short.

(No, I'd never be happy with a loss. But a loss in *that* way at Baltimore would still leave me hopeful for the rest of the season, at least if they beat the Raiders along the way.)

Agreed. I would still be extremely hopeful if they lost that game and were 4-2 after it. However, going into Baltimore and coming away with a win is the next big test this season.

[DBCooper]

Originally Posted by ziggy29

Yeah. This time it *feels* different, like all the pieces are really coming into place this time, but we've been kicked in the gut too many times to let our guard down completely.

I like being 3-1 though.

And as good as the Ravens played yesterday I gotta remember the Tacks beat em.

[DBCooper]

Originally Posted by Double Barrel

I know, man. I'm one cynical mofo, so believing is not easy for me, either.

However, I do see a lot of positives with this year's team, and one of the big positives was the never quit attitude they showed yesterday. And that defense. Oh man, that defense looks hungry, and that's the kind of football that I live to watch!

Me too, I love great D, and have been waiting a long time for us to have one.

[Hervoyel]

Originally Posted by JCTexan

Agreed. I would still be extremely hopeful if they lost that game and were 4-2 after it. However, going into Baltimore and coming away with a win is the next big test this season.

Disagree. Beating the Raiders who we have owned like nobody else other than the Dolphins for some reason and THEN going into Baltimore and coming away with a win..... That is the next big test.

3 in a row. Something (anything) that we can call a win streak. It's time to pull away from .500ish football and start winning regularly. It's time to start beating the good teams as well as the bad teams.

[thunderkyss]

Originally Posted by JCTexan

I would simply argue the Baltimore game being the next test. The Texans are 1-18 against winning teams on the road in Kubiak's tenure here. Baltimore won't be an easy game to win on the road.

1-19 after the Saints loss.


Just saying.

[DexmanC]

The Texans have never been 3 games over .500.
Regarding the Tacks, you gotta consider the fact
they won the division a handful of years ago with
Kerry Collins at QB.

I'd dare say that Hasselbeck provides their best QB play since
McNair. Don't get The Tacks and Jags confused, though BOTH
have owned the Texans dang near every season. The Texans
have to actually PROVE they are worth winning the AFC South.

[JCTexan]

Originally Posted by Hervoyel

Disagree. Beating the Raiders who we have owned like nobody else other than the Dolphins for some reason and THEN going into Baltimore and coming away with a win..... That is the next big test.

3 in a row. Something (anything) that we can call a win streak. It's time to pull away from .500ish football and start winning regularly. It's time to start beating the good teams as well as the bad teams.

I'm not overlooking the Raiders game at all but it is a game against a team Houston has beaten regularly in the past & it's at home. I expect a win here. Baltimore on the road will be a lot more challenging in my opinion.

[Norg]

if by week 12 we clinch a playoff berth and first round bye then im pretty sure we are resting starters for quarters at a time or even games with all the injuries that might happen this year due to no off season its who ever survives to wk16 is going to be the winner

so that game im sensing now is it does matter who u play the first team to clinch the divison wins da game after that shut it down

[hradhak]

Originally Posted by DexmanC

I'd dare say that Hasselbeck provides their best QB play since
McNair. Don't get The Tacks and Jags confused, though BOTH
have owned the Texans dang near every season. The Texans
have to actually PROVE they are worth winning the AFC South.

Not to mention that the week 1 loss was probably due to Hasselbeck not getting enough snaps with the team. He and his receivers and o line will get more of a rhythm as the season wears on. Losing Britt will certainly help us, but we haven't won the division by default as a lot of people have been saying.

[The Pencil Neck]

The Raiders are a tough team.

They have a great running attack. But they also are giving up over 400 yards per game on defense.

We should beat them and be 4-1 for the first time in our existence and 3 games over 500 for the first time in our existence.

But that game is not a gimme.

I'm not going to look past this game, yet.

[Trail.Blazr]

Originally Posted by JCTexan

I would simply argue the Baltimore game being the next test. The Texans are 1-18 against winning teams on the road in Kubiak's tenure here. Baltimore won't be an easy game to win on the road.

Maybe.. but I'm not sold on the Ravens this year. They are a very lopsided team that has relied HEAVILY on defense and Turnovers this year, and fortunately for them have a winning record, because their Offense is not sharp at all. Look at who they have played to date...

wk1 - PIT - Ravens win convincingly thanks to 7 turnovers. It's becoming apparent that Pittsburgh is not the measuring stick of a solid win this year.
wk2 - TEN - Got whipped by Hasselbeck
wk3 - STL - Ho hum...
wk4 - NYJ - Jets can't even hike the ball.

Looking above, realistically, I see 3 teams that are struggling on the OL big time. The one team that you can't say that about, the Ravens got whipped.

Flacco is very inconsistent from one game to the next so far. Our D should pressure him into mistakes. I've seen nothing from him to suggest he's the 2nd coming of Brees.

I don't think the Ravens can dominate our OL. They ARE a "tough" team, and playing them at home... definitely a test, but not at the level of the Saints. This game is very winnable. Challenge Flacco, run the ball and don't turn the ball over... All things we can and should do, to walk away with a W.

[Trail.Blazr]

Originally Posted by JCTexan

I would simply argue the Baltimore game being the next test. The Texans are 1-18 against winning teams on the road in Kubiak's tenure here. Baltimore won't be an easy game to win on the road.

This line is one I'd like to dissect separately.
It's a very misleading statistic. Sure it's a very lopsided one, that makes short work out of most argument, however, it's excluding a simple fact... THIS Texans team is 3-1 overall and 1-1 on road. Comparing this team to the two seasons past is weak.

I get it.. in the past we sucked!! no argument there. For those on here who can't recognize our LONG awaited transition from SUCK to ROCK....

I feel sorry for you.

THIS is the time you've been waiting for... JUMP ON!

[Allstar]

Originally Posted by thunderkyss

1-19 after the Saints loss.


Just saying.

Saints haven't clinched a winning record yet.