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Can the Texans be next season's Cards?

Wolf

Wolf

100% Texan
Houston Texans

The Texans were a somewhat trendy pick by a lot of pundits to make their first postseason appearance in 2008. The combination of a poor start, tough schedule, injury to their starting quarterback, weather complications and a porous defense proved to be way too much to overcome for a group that finished 8-8 for the second consecutive year.

Residing in the AFC South makes it extremely difficult for the Texans to be next year's Cardinals. But if Houston can somehow navigate its divisional gauntlet and find its way into the tournament, it has enough firepower to go on an Arizona-like run. The Texans have an outstanding group of young skill players who could make their offense lethal for years to come. Quarterback Matt Schaub proved down the stretch why Houston gave him that huge contract. Steve Slaton was a not-so-hidden gem in the third round. Owen Daniels is a stud at tight end. The receiving corps is led by Andre Johnson, arguably the best wide receiver in the NFL depending upon who you talk to, and yes, I am aware of Larry Fitzgerald. The offensive line is not dominant but it is at least as good as Arizona's.

The problem is the defensive side of the ball. Mario Williams and DeMeco Ryans are young studs and would become next year's version of Dockett and Dansby should Houston go on an extended run. But those two can't do it by themselves, so head coach Gary Kubiak has made changes to his defensive staff in an effort to get his defense up to speed.
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http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/ross_tucker/02/04/takes/index.html
 
If we're the Cards next season - we won't make the playoffs. They went 9-7 despite having two games each against StL, SF, and Seattle. If we play like them, we'll be right around where we finished this year or worse.
 
I'm pretty sure they were just talking about postseason success and coming out of nowhere and ending up in the Superbowl.

Regular season wise, we actually played better than the Cardinals.......if we had their schedule and played in that division we would of been in the playoffs last season with a record most likely better than 9-7. Texans had a tough schedule last year.
 
It's always a possibility in the off-season. We have the firepower offensively to compete with anyone but we HAVE to improve the defense to middle of the pack at least before we can look realistically at post-season play.

I however, am confident we can make those strides if we use our resources and personnel wisely this off-season. If we can get our DTs to play in opposing teams backfields instead of trying to hold the line like they attempted to this year I think we'll see much better results. What is going to hurt us most is playing in the division we do. IF we can go 3-3 in the division i like our shot at making the playoffs this coming year.
 
The good news about the Texans is that we always seem to play our best football at the end of the season. All we need to do is make the playoffs, and then all bets are off. If we make the playoffs, and have relative healthy players, I like our chances at the superbowl. Im just sayin
 
I'd rather just be next seasons Texans...whatever thats gonna be...

A better question though is, Next season can we beat the Cards...
 
Polo said:
I'd rather just be next seasons Texans...whatever thats gonna be...

A better question though is, Next season can we beat the Cards...
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We play them in Arizona and they have turned themselves into a really good home team (much like we have). I think we can improve as a road team next year but we will probably be average at best. Unless Warner retires the odds definitely favor the Cards.
 
Mr teX said:
is this what we've been reduced to? wishing to be the cardinals? The 2 playoff appearances in 60 years cardinals?
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Nobody is saying they want 60 years of futility in this thread. It is simply a comparison of two non-mainstream franchises, one of which, Arizona, made it to the big show this year. Why try and turn this thread into something else?
 
I really think we can. But that's my mentality every year. If you're not aiming for the Super Bowl then it's not worth it.
 
I don't think it'll be possible to be the Cardinals because the South has been a meat grinder the last few years. Playing Manning and Haynesworth twice a year is bad enough, throw in Jacksonville who can be a real Jekyll and Hyde from one season to the next the whole division is capable of winning from year to year.

Hopefully two of the teams not named "Texans" that play in the AFC South will take a step back next year and we have a shot. We have talent that can shine in the limelight, but the AFC is so treacherous right now that you have to be pretty unbelievable to beat the Pats, Steelers, Chargers, and Colts in playoff settings. All we have to do is beat at least one or a combination of those teams and we're good.

If we make it into the playoffs next year, I'm willing to bet that we have a double digit win total and most analysts will have to take us somewhat seriously.
 
This is our problem. instead of hoping that we are legitimately better than other teams, they have to take a step backwards for us to have a shot.

I legitimately think we'll be better than both jacksonville AND indianapolis next year. I also think we can beat Tennessee at least 1/2.
 
Carr Bombed said:
Regular season wise, we actually played better than the Cardinals.......if we had their schedule and played in that division we would of been in the playoffs last season with a record most likely better than 9-7.
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During the regular season, the Cardinals went 2-6 versus teams with winning records. The Texans went 3-6. The dissimilarity between the two teams is that Arizona didn't hiccup against the weaker opponents. The Texans had 2 losses to 5-11 teams. Nope, there's nothing inherent in the record that would suggest that the Texans, playing against the same schedule, would fare better than the Cardinals.

The Cardinals were able to convert yards gained into points scored. The Texans were not. The Cardinals only went 3 games where they scored under 20 points. The Texans faild to make it to 20 on 6 occasions. The Cardinals put up 30 in 7 games. The Texans did so in 3. And despite their much maligned defense, the Texans were able to win twice when held to 16 points or less. The Cardinals never won when scoring less than 23 points.

So can the Texans be the 2009 Cardinals? It would help if they could sweep their division, as Arizona did. Or at least win the division. Also, beat up on the weak sisters on the schedule. And turn those 1st downs into touchdowns. It can be done. It remains to be seen if it will be done. Whisenhunt turned his franchise around in 2 seasons. We'll see if Kubiak can do the same in his 4th.
 
I think we are better than the cardinals as it is....

There is alot to be said though for the types of intangibles that carry you through a post season. I dont want to be next years cardinals, now that we have had a non losinng season, nothing short of a Super Bowl Win will satisfy me.
 
Lucky said:
During the regular season, the Cardinals went 2-6 versus teams with winning records. The Texans went 3-6. The dissimilarity between the two teams is that Arizona didn't hiccup against the weaker opponents. The Texans had 2 losses to 5-11 teams. Nope, there's nothing inherent in the record that would suggest that the Texans, playing against the same schedule, would fare better than the Cardinals.

The Cardinals were able to convert yards gained into points scored. The Texans were not. The Cardinals only went 3 games where they scored under 20 points. The Texans faild to make it to 20 on 6 occasions. The Cardinals put up 30 in 7 games. The Texans did so in 3. And despite their much maligned defense, the Texans were able to win twice when held to 16 points or less. The Cardinals never won when scoring less than 23 points.

So can the Texans be the 2009 Cardinals? It would help if they could sweep their division, as Arizona did. Or at least win the division. Also, beat up on the weak sisters on the schedule. And turn those 1st downs into touchdowns. It can be done. It remains to be seen if it will be done. Whisenhunt turned his franchise around in 2 seasons. We'll see if Kubiak can do the same in his 4th.
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9-7 gets you a distant third place finish in the AFC South... By the way, NE finished 11-5 and didn't make the playoffs. Furthermore, Arizona could've finished 7-9 and still rested its players in week 17 in order to get ready for the playoffs. The Texans have to figure out how to be really good and really consistant if they want a trip to the playoffs.
 
dalemurphy said:
9-7 gets you a distant third place finish in the AFC South... By the way, NE finished 11-5 and didn't make the playoffs. Furthermore, Arizona could've finished 7-9 and still rested its players in week 17 in order to get ready for the playoffs.
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None of which addresses what I was speaking to. The hypothesis was that given an identical schedule, the Texans would fare better than the Cardinals. The facts suggest otherwise.

A case could be made that the Cardinals had a let down after clinching the NFC West in Week 13. That their record of 9-7 was misleading. On the other hand, the Texans didn't begin to win until they were eliminated from playoff contention. The notion that had the Texans played in the NFC West, they could have been a Cinderella Super Bowl story is absurd. The Texans aren't as good as the Cardinals. Yet.
 
Jackie Chiles said:
Nobody is saying they want 60 years of futility in this thread. It is simply a comparison of two non-mainstream franchises, one of which, Arizona, made it to the big show this year. Why try and turn this thread into something else?
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Obviously, but 60 years of futility is my point. They are perenial losers & you could argue that they only clinched the division & made the playoffs b/c of a soft division & schedule. Experts had been picking them as the team to break out for like 5 years running only to be disappointed. It was bound to happen sooner or later. Why hope to be a likely 1 hit wonder that's probably gonna take a step back next year just b/c of the SB jinx & cheap ass Bidwill alone?

I'm just saying If there's a team in the NFL that i want to be like It's the 1 that's in the thick of it year in, year out.....Not a team that just so happen to have everything break right for them this year & got a lucky SB appearance.
 
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Lucky said:
None of which addresses what I was speaking to. The hypothesis was that given an identical schedule, the Texans would fare better than the Cardinals. The facts suggest otherwise.

A case could be made that the Cardinals had a let down after clinching the NFC West in Week 13. That their record of 9-7 was misleading. On the other hand, the Texans didn't begin to win until they were eliminated from playoff contention. The notion that had the Texans played in the NFC West, they could have been a Cinderella Super Bowl story is absurd. The Texans aren't as good as the Cardinals. Yet.
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It's not anymore absurd than someone suggesting the Cardinals would've been there before last season. You can't factor in the Cards' letdown and yet not factor in mitigating factors regarding the Texans' schedule like the hurricane and the road gauntlet that started our season. The Texans have plenty in place to allow for the "possibility" of a season like the Cardinals had. Nobody is suggesting that it will happen, only that hope exists that it could. Of course it "could".

By the way, nobody is arguing that the Texans are as good right now as the Cardinals were during the playoffs. Why so many people freak out when a fan suggests reason for "hope"... I just don't get it.
 
Sure, why not. I think the Texans will win the division next year.

And yes, the Texans are better than the Cards, which we will get to prove next year.
 
Wow, some of you read some weird stuff into a simple question.

Obviously the question asks could we be the team no one expects to go far, but exceeds expectations, and makes the Super Bowl.

And yes, the Texans can be that team.

Smith and Kubiak have jettisoned Casserly's rejects, and kept Casserly's good picks. They've had two good drafts and picked up some good street free agents. With a few more good free agents, and a better plan on defense, this team might win 12 games, and go far in the playoffs.

Imagine the national press saying: How did this happen? or There's a team in Houston?
 
Lucky said:
During the regular season, the Cardinals went 2-6 versus teams with winning records. The Texans went 3-6. The dissimilarity between the two teams is that Arizona didn't hiccup against the weaker opponents. The Texans had 2 losses to 5-11 teams. Nope, there's nothing inherent in the record that would suggest that the Texans, playing against the same schedule, would fare better than the Cardinals.

The Cardinals were able to convert yards gained into points scored. The Texans were not. The Cardinals only went 3 games where they scored under 20 points. The Texans faild to make it to 20 on 6 occasions. The Cardinals put up 30 in 7 games. The Texans did so in 3. And despite their much maligned defense, the Texans were able to win twice when held to 16 points or less. The Cardinals never won when scoring less than 23 points.

So can the Texans be the 2009 Cardinals? It would help if they could sweep their division, as Arizona did. Or at least win the division. Also, beat up on the weak sisters on the schedule. And turn those 1st downs into touchdowns. It can be done. It remains to be seen if it will be done. Whisenhunt turned his franchise around in 2 seasons. We'll see if Kubiak can do the same in his 4th.
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All this is great, but it still does nothing to sway my thinking that Houston was the better regular season team when they only lost 1 less game despite facing a winning opponent % of .518 while St. Louis only won 1 more game while facing a losing opponent % of .486. Including Houston facing a winning divisional opponent % of .604 compared to St. Louis who faced a losing divisional opponent % of .271.....which is a absolute cake and having 6 games vs one of the worst divisions in the history of football is a gift.

I'm not saying Houston is a better team then a team that caught fire, flipped a switch, and made it all the way to the superbowl......I'm saying they played better during the regular season considering they pretty much matched records while having to face MUCH TOUGHER competition. There is no doubt in my mind that Houston would've went to the playoffs in they played in the NFC west. Does that mean they would've went to the superbowl....no, they could have easily been a 1 and done team.
 
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Carr Bombed said:
All this is great, but it still does nothing to sway my thinking that Houston was the better regular season team when they only lost 1 less game despite facing a winning opponent % of .518 while St. Louis only won 1 more game while facing a losing opponent % of .486. Including Houston facing a winning divisional opponent % of .604compared to St. Louis who faced a losing divisional opponent % of .271.....which is a absolute cake and having 6 games vs one of the worst divisions in the history of football is a gift.

I'm not saying Houston is a better team then a team that caught fire, flipped a switch, and made it all the way to the superbowl......I'm saying they played better during the regular season considering they pretty much matched records while having to face MUCH TOUGHER competition. There is no doubt in my mind that Houston would've went to the playoffs in they played in the NFC west. Does that mean they would've went to the superbowl....no, they could have easily been a 1 and done team.
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O.k....we all know what you meant.... and I'm sure you must have been tired when you typed this. ( I understand because I still call them St. Louis also)......But they are ARIZONA! St. Louis is that other incompetant NFC WEST team...Rams.
 
its anyones ball game during playoffs i have no doubt if we make the playoofs healthy we can make a good run IMO its just getting there and your seed that can help u along the way

heck i think just playing in the AFC makes it even more harder

so with that said no we cant be next years cards during the RS because we couldnt afford to lose like 3 games during the end of the season
 
just a fun fact when the cards played a AFC team during the RS they got smoked

New York Jets L 56-35 - u know if someone puts up 35 points on the texans (which i think is hard 2 do unless we turnover the ball like 3 times and Sage Rosenfels backstabbing us in the balty game) u think we could outscore that ???



New England Patriots L 47-7 - I watched this game and the cards didnt want to play this game and they showed it the game was over by the 2nd quarter
 
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