Before the season, if someone gave you 12-4, you would've been ecstatic right?

[Say Watt]

It isn't about 12-4. Why don't you people understand this?!? 12-4 is great; 1-4 to finish the season while missing out on home field throughout the playoffs is abysmal. Combine the two, and it has been a disappointing season. Almost as disappointing (and maybe more) than 2-14.

[Thorn]

Originally Posted by Say Watt

It isn't about 12-4. Why don't you people understand this?!? 12-4 is great; 1-4 to finish the season while missing out on home field throughout the playoffs is abysmal. Combine the two, and it has been a disappointing season. Almost as disappointing (and maybe more) than 2-14.

No. Never. Whatever happens this post season it will never be as bad as 2-14.

The Texans are a damn good team. We are NOT a loser team. We're just not ready for prime time yet. That my friend is not even close to being 2-14.

I'm as pissed as everyone right now, but don't discount the fact that the Texans can still beat half to 3/4's of the teams in the NFL on any given day. That 2-14 team couldn't beat a troup of girl scouts.

[Say Watt]

Originally Posted by Thorn

No. Never. Whatever happens this post season it will never be as bad as 2-14.

The Texans are a damn good team. We are NOT a loser team. We're just not ready for prime time yet. That my friend is not even close to being 2-14.

I'm as pissed as everyone right now, but don't discount the fact that the Texans can still beat half to 3/4's of the teams in the NFL on any given day. That 2-14 team couldn't beat a troup of girl scouts.

I watched every game of that 2-14 season. Honestly after the first game or 2, I knew we were going to be terrible. I was prepared for it. That in itself made that season a bit more bearable FOR ME than this one.

There are few things I hate more than a team that underachieves. What the Texans have done the last few weeks has been inexcusable. I'd rather watch the team suck it up and at least have a high draft pick to look forward to than watch them crumble the way they have.

[Runner]

Given the weak division and the talent on the team, 11-5 looked realistic and 12-4 looked very good at the beginning of the year. In reality the division wasn't as weak as it appeared with the Colts improving from 2-14 to 11-5 (they didn't follow the rule that it takes years of incremental improvement to turn a team around), so that is in the Texans' favor. However, the end of season choke job when the pressure was on is a big negative.

Bottom line: this is the same old Kubiak led team of under achievers we've seen for years. I expected a very good regular season and an early playoff out, and I'm sure I posted that somewhere on the board. It remains to be seen how early the playoff loss occurs (ok - IF it occurs), but right now this team is meeting my expectations.

[Thorn]

Originally Posted by Say Watt

I watched every game of that 2-14 season. Honestly after the first game or 2, I knew we were going to be terrible. I was prepared for it. That in itself made that season a bit more bearable FOR ME than this one.

There are few things I hate more than a team that underachieves. What the Texans have done the last few weeks has been inexcusable. I'd rather watch the team suck it up and at least have a high draft pick to look forward to than watch them crumble the way they have.

The Texans are on a downhill slide and will exit early from the playoffs, no doubt in my mind about that. I blame Kubiak.

But I did have a wonderful season full of hope. It's been dashed on the rocks, but the season itself was fantastic. Sorry, but I'll take that over a putrid 2-14 team any day of the week.

[Porky]

Is it just me or does it seem like ever since they debuted the "Letterman Jackets" they've been playing just like a HS team?

I think it's a curse. It's the curse of the Letterman jacket. Those football demons must be exorcised. I say have a huge jacket burning bonfire. Not sure if football demons can be killed by fire though. Anyone have any football demon killing ideas?

[thunderkyss]

Originally Posted by Ranger Tom

With the history this franchise has, I would have asked, "What's the catch?"

Well, let's think about that.

It's disheartening that we don't compete with the elite teams. I wish it weren't different, but it isn't. We've got this idea, that it's easy to build a championship team. In reality, that's not the case.

Nobody wants to hear this. But I'm going to lay it out there. We are not the Patriots. We are not the Steelers. We aren't the Colts.

We're the Browns. You don't build a championship team over night & though no one wants to admit it, they are the team that most closely fits our situation. Expansion team. One play off appearance since 1999. We've already got that beat. This organization is built better than the Cleveland Browns. The Clevleand Browns shows us how hard it is to build this kind of organization. For all our flaws, in less time we have an organization that is heads & shoulders ahead of the Cleveland Browns.

Yes, I want to be the Patriots. Yes I want a Super Bowl. No, I am not happy that we are better than the Browns, just stating the facts.

Detroit. I 1999 was their last play-off appearance. They have not been a successful organization since.... if you count play-off appearances as a measure of success. They had a play off appearance last season, but fell short this season. Tough division, I know. But that's part of the game. It's not easy to build a winning tradition.

Arizona, 2 play off appearances since 1998. That's us. If this organization is not built correctly, then we've reached our peak & it will be all down hill from here. Some of you are saying that is where we are. & we may be. But the Arizona Cardinals also shows you how difficult it is to build a winning organization.

San Francisco. They're playing in the "difficult" NFC, but they're about where we are. They look better than we do now. But again, since 2002, only two play off appearances.

I know it's a "funny" way to look at it. But this is an elite sport, you're not supposed to be able to build something overnight. The Colts. They were 2-14 last season & now they're 11-4. They totally overhauled their roster. I get it. But that's different. What we see on the field, from the coaches down is only a part of the equation. There has to be a foundation that supports the team, to know what the right things are. To "keep them honest" to keep them from drinking the Koolaide..... that's what happened to the Jets. They struck gold with Ryan & started drinking the koolaide.

[mridge01]

Yes, they did better than I thought they would, but Geez when the number 1 seed is sitting out there for them to take and they play they way they have the last two weeks, it's beyound disappointing.

[Thorn]

We're not making it to the promised land with Kubiak as the head coach. But we will be better than average. We are not having a sub 500 season for many years to come. A lot of teams would love that.

This does not mean I am happy about it, because I'm not. It just means I'm being realistic about it. That's all.

[disaacks3]

Originally Posted by GuerillaBlack

If you would have told me this team would collapse like they did, then now. Being 11-1 and ending 12-4 is nothing to be excited about.

Originally Posted by ajohnson80

Anyways you put it going from 11-1 and a lock for the #1 seed to 12-4 and the #3 seed is a choke job. Every fan is right to be pissed.

We will see if they can redeem themselves in the playoffs, but at this point it is a huge disappointment to the fan base.

These sum it up for me. Losing your last 3 of four and blowing not one, but TWO straight chances to secure HFA is a colossal choke job.

[thunderkyss]

Originally Posted by Runner

Bottom line: this is the same old Kubiak led team of under achievers we've seen for years.

How are they underachievers if Matt can't take us to the Super Bowl. If Matt is not elite. If KDub is not a #2 reciever, if we're undermanned on the right side of the line? Or if we don't have LBs to be able to play man coverage on the back end?

[texanhead08]

I said 11-5 before the season. I thought we would lose @Detroit.

[Marcus]

If the OP was trying to get us to put things in perspective, he failed miserably.

And rightfully so.

If you offered me this type of 12-4 before the season, I would have taken 4-12 instead. This just freaking sux.

You want to know the biggest insult of all? This is what the Oilers always did. Choke City again.

[bo orlando]

Originally Posted by AndyWin

Funny how things work out...
Looking at the schedule BEFORE the season, I thought potential losses @Broncos, possibly @Jets, Packers, Ravens, @Bears, @Patriots... so if someone gave me 12-4 before the season, I'd be ECSTATIC.

Well, fast-forward to now... would we be better off at 10-6 (record based on above thoughts) going into the playoffs winning our last 3 games by blowouts with all cylinders firing?

These "if someone told you" tropes are the highest form of delusional thinking.

FACT: If someone told me before the season that The Texans would blow home field advantage and any realistic chance at the SB by losing 3 of their last 4 games in embarrassing fashion then I'd have been PISSED.

[fiasco west]

Originally Posted by Thorn

The Texans are on a downhill slide and will exit early from the playoffs, no doubt in my mind about that. I blame Kubiak.

But I did have a wonderful season full of hope. It's been dashed on the rocks, but the season itself was fantastic. Sorry, but I'll take that over a putrid 2-14 team any day of the week.

Agreed.

Can't believe some people think this is equal to being some loser team. Yeah you're not as mad about it you know why? Because the team sucks and anything good they do is a improvement. They can only get better.

The Texans have the 4th/5th best record in the NFL.

They are far from being a loser and some of the objectives people throw around here to talk about them. The disappointment comes because of the success they have had and now people naturally want more.

Simply because there is more on the line now. That is all it is to it. It's like how players would say they rather not make the superbowl if they are just going to lose. It's because they were so close and I think that is how a lot of people feel.

They feel this is a superbowl contender and something is holding it back. The coach, QB, or anything else. We've all heard the reasons.

[Double Barrel]

Originally Posted by Surreal McCoy

I had them at 9-7 yet still winning the division. 12-4 is the best record any Houston pro football team has ever achieved.

Tied for "the best record any Houston pro football team has ever achieved".

See the 1993 Houston Oilers who were also 12-4.

That Oilers team was also one and done in the playoffs.

[Runner]

Originally Posted by Fiddler

How are they underachievers if Matt can't take us to the Super Bowl. If Matt is not elite. If KDub is not a #2 reciever, if we're undermanned on the right side of the line? Or if we don't have LBs to be able to play man coverage on the back end?

Man, where has all the "Super Bowl contenders" hoopla gone?

The team - front office, coaching, players - have under achieved at critical times over the past few years.

Blame it on poor talent if you like; I'd be happy if Smith and Kubiak were finally held accountable for the team they built and nurtured through the years.

[mridge01]

Originally Posted by bo orlando

These "if someone told you" tropes are the highest form of delusional thinking.

FACT: If someone told me before the season that The Texans would blow home field advantage and any realistic chance at the SB by losing 3 of their last 4 games in embarrassing fashion then I'd have been PISSED.

This. Plus about 1 billion.

[Say Watt]

Originally Posted by Thorn

The Texans are on a downhill slide and will exit early from the playoffs, no doubt in my mind about that. I blame Kubiak.

But I did have a wonderful season full of hope. It's been dashed on the rocks, but the season itself was fantastic. Sorry, but I'll take that over a putrid 2-14 team any day of the week.

That's what is so neat about the human experience. We all have our own way of looking at things.

For me, I'd rather take the lumps early in the season, know what to expect, and be prepared rather than get all excited, think I actually might be rooting for a team with legitimate Super Bowl aspirations, only to have the feeling snatched away by a coach who turtles up when the going gets tough and a team that looks unmotivated and unprepared.

The depression I feel over 12-4 likely ending in a 1st round playoff exit is far worse than the depression I felt after 2-14. After 2-14, I had something to look forward to. After this season, I don't know where this team is headed.

Add to that, this season also led to the realization that Andrew Luck is the real deal, and we are likely about to go another 10 years without a win in Indy. Go Texans!!!

[eriadoc]

Originally Posted by Double Barrel

Tied for "the best record any Houston pro football team has ever achieved".

See the 1993 Houston Oilers who were also 12-4.

That Oilers team was also one and done in the playoffs.

And the city was pumped about that 12-4 team, because they started off 1-4 and then won 11 straight to end the season. This team reversed that, so people feel about this team the way they felt about those Oilers after 5 games. Timing matters.