Tough loss, but look at the schedule guys

[TexansSeminole]

We didn't play very well in Indy. A big chance for us to step up and make the stretch a little more comfortable. We-re 5-4 though, we are right on the bubble for the wild card in the AFC.

Our bye couldn't have come at a better time. With a huge loss in Indy, we will need extra time to recover emotionally from that game.

Our Monday night football game is finally here, and we are in the playoff hunt. Prime time game in November and we have a shot at the playoffs?

The Titans are down this year and VY is starting. I feel pretty confident about our ability to stop them from scoring more than 20. Our offense needs to adapt to losing Daniels, but I see them coming out sharp off the bye. Plus, the Titans defense this year isn't matching up well with our offense.

After that we have Indy at home, but even if we lose that game look at the rest of the schedule.

We are 6-5 if we split those two games.

Then we go to Jacksonville. We should win that game. This defense has changed since the last game.

We get Seattle at home. We should win.

We go to St. Louis, we should win.

At Miami. Toss up game sort of except we always seem to have the edge. You talk about Kris Brown not coming through in that Colts game, how many times has Brown beat the Dolphins?

Then the last test of the season at New England.

10-6 is not out of reach. We should be in the playoffs with that.

 

[TexCanada]

I completely agree. We are still in a decent position to put together a play-off run.

 

[ColtsInCO]

not trying to troll your board, but i agree... i really think you guys have a great shot at getting a wild card spot this year. your defense is for real, and the offense definitely has the personnel to put up points, especially if they can play solid for all 4 qtrs. i'm thinking texans and 2nd place team in the north will be the afc wild cards. anyway, good luck when we play again in a few weeks, and the rest of the year.

 

[keyser]

We didn't play very well in Indy. A big chance for us to step up and make the stretch a little more comfortable. We-re 5-4 though, we are right on the bubble for the wild card in the AFC.

Our bye couldn't have come at a better time. With a huge loss in Indy, we will need extra time to recover emotionally from that game.

Our Monday night football game is finally here, and we are in the playoff hunt. Prime time game in November and we have a shot at the playoffs?

The Titans are down this year and VY is starting. I feel pretty confident about our ability to stop them from scoring more than 20. Our offense needs to adapt to losing Daniels, but I see them coming out sharp off the bye. Plus, the Titans defense this year isn't matching up well with our offense.

After that we have Indy at home, but even if we lose that game look at the rest of the schedule.

We are 6-5 if we split those two games.

Then we go to Jacksonville. We should win that game. This defense has changed since the last game.

We get Seattle at home. We should win.

We go to St. Louis, we should win.

At Miami. Toss up game sort of except we always seem to have the edge. You talk about Kris Brown not coming through in that Colts game, how many times has Brown beat the Dolphins?

Then the last test of the season at New England.

10-6 is not out of reach. We should be in the playoffs with that.

I like the optimism, but I don't think 10-6 is going to get it done this year (in fact, I wouldn't be surprised if a team ended 11-5 and missed out!). I think realistically, we need to go 6-1 in our remaining games to make the playoffs. As you point out, this is very doable (especially if New England is taking it easy in the last week), but it's going go be tough.

 

[dalemurphy]

I like the optimism, but I don't think 10-6 is going to get it done this year (in fact, I wouldn't be surprised if a team ended 11-5 and missed out!). I think realistically, we need to go 6-1 in our remaining games to make the playoffs. As you point out, this is very doable (especially if New England is taking it easy in the last week), but it's going go be tough.

The only way 10-6 doesn't get us in is if Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, and San Diego all finish with 11+ wins. While that is possible, I think it is unlikely. There are a few tie breaking scenarios that could leave us out as well, if we are 10-6, but they aren't extremely likely at this point.

The NYGiants choking away that game yesterday didn't help though!

 

[RTP2110]

Looks like one wild card is definitely coming from the AFC North. That leaves the other 3 divisions fighting for 1 WC spot.

 

[DerekLee1]

I expect 6-1 over the last 7 games. I think the letdown is the Miami game.

 

[nero THE zero]

We won't lose again this (regular) season.

 

[bckey]

Unfortunately that Indy game was for the division. The Texans had to win yesterday to most likely have a shot at the division title. Now they are stuck fighting for a wildcard spot. The top tier teams find a way to win those games. The Texans don't. Their last 3 losses have all been winable games that were lost at the end. Schaub threw a pick 6 to the Cards and a pick to the Colts on potential game winning drives. This has to stop for them to get to the playoffs. Both times they battled back only to piss it away in the end. Then there was the Jags game. Critical mistakes at critical times are killing the Texans. And it all falls on the offense and coaching. The defense has played lights out the last 6 games. Bush and his defense are why the Texans are even still sniffing playoffs going into the bye week.

AFC East Team W L
New England Patriots 6 2
New York Jets 4 4
Miami Dolphins 3 5
Buffalo Bills 3 5

AFC North Team W L
Cincinnati Bengals 6 2
Pittsburgh Steelers 5 2
Baltimore Ravens 4 4
Cleveland Browns 1 7

AFC South Team W L
Indianapolis Colts 8 0
Houston Texans 5 4
Jacksonville Jaguars 4 4
Tennessee Titans 2 6

AFC West Team W L
Denver Broncos 6 1
San Diego Chargers 5 3
Oakland Raiders 2 6
Kansas City Chiefs 1 7

Right now it looks like we have to worry about the Patriots and the Jets in the east. The Bengals, Steelers and Ravens from the north. The Jags from our

south division. And the Chargers and Broncos from the west. The Colts are the only team that is close to locking up their division and unfortunately that

is the division the Texans are in. Here are the remaining games from each potential wildcard team:

Patriots- @ Indy, Jets, @ Saints, @ Miami, Carolina, @ Buffalo, Jags, @ Texans

Jets- Jags, @ Patriots, Carolina, @ Buffalo, @ Tampa, Atlanta, @ Indy, Bengals

Bengals- @ Steelers, @ Oakland, Browns, Detroit, @ Minnesota, @ San Diego, KC, @ Jets

Steelers- @ Denver, Bengals, @ KC, @ Ravens, Oakland, @ Browns, Packers, Ravens, @ Miami

Ravens- @ Browns, Indy, Steelers, @ Packers, Detroit, Bears, @ Steelers, @ Oakland

Jaguars- @ Jets, Buffalo, @ 49ers, Texans, Miami, Indy, @ Patriots, @ Browns

Broncos- Steelers, @ Redskins, San Diego, NY Giants, @KC, @ Indy, Oakland, @ Philadelphia, KC

Chargers- Philadelphia, @ Denver, KC, @ Browns, @ Dallas, Bengals, @ Tennessee, Redskins


And finally the Texans remaining schedule. Tennessee, Indy, @ Jags, Seattle, @ St. Louis, @ Miami, Patriots

I'll leave it to you guys to figure out who is most like to make the playoffs.

 

[JWarren14]

All we can do is win every game week in and week out and hope for the best. We can't worry about the other teams, we can definitely root against them though.

Let the chips fall where they may.

 

[El Tejano]

I'm not sleeping on Tennessee. VY is looking pretty sharp and back to his old ways again. I'm sure he's been circling our game for some time now. Remember when he said he will remember if we didn't pick him? Well the stage couldn't be more set than MNF in Houston and with our playoff hopes pretty much on the line.

Matter of fact we better be ready for the next 3 weeks because Jville isn't looking too bad these days either. Say we do lose to the Titans and Jville wins again this week. We are staring at being tied with Jville and titans only like a game or two behind us in the division.

If we want to go to the playoffs, we gotta win in November. Bottom line.

Now as for VY coming to ruin the party. I believe our defense is way better and should be able to control him but you gotta agree that he has put up good numbers and he has a run game to go with his and they put it to the 9ers better than we did.

 

[Hervoyel]

The simple truth people is that if the Texans can't get fired up over a MNF game against the Titans to start their final stretch run to the post-season then they aren't going anywhere. Lose that game and the rest of them don't even matter if you ask me. If they can't beat the Titans at home on a "Battle Red" day in front of a national audience then there's something broken with this team/organization.

This one isn't just for the sweep. It isn't just to keep the Vince Young fans at bay. It's for the season. We're either going to win this year or we're not and that will be decided in two weeks. There's not a doubt in my mind about that.

 

[Norg]

every game is winnable and lossable IMO there all tought games IMO

PLaying TENN INDY and JAX are all a toss up IMO since there divison games

Seahawks can score on u if u let them

St Louis is a good up and coming team IMO

Miami playing at MIA is no easy task

the only game that might be easy is the NE game if the play there backups and hell NE backups might be just badass IMO

 

[Hardcore Texan]

Sounds like we need to be rooting for Denver tonight.

 

[dalemurphy]

The simple truth people is that if the Texans can't get fired up over a MNF game against the Titans to start their final stretch run to the post-season then they aren't going anywhere. Lose that game and the rest of them don't even matter if you ask me. If they can't beat the Titans at home on a "Battle Red" day in front of a national audience then there's something broken with this team/organization.

This one isn't just for the sweep. It isn't just to keep the Vince Young fans at bay. It's for the season. We're either going to win this year or we're not and that will be decided in two weeks. There's not a doubt in my mind about that.

You are absolutely right. The only difference is that I'm not worried at all!

 

[False Start]

The simple truth people is that if the Texans can't get fired up over a MNF game against the Titans to start their final stretch run to the post-season then they aren't going anywhere. Lose that game and the rest of them don't even matter if you ask me. If they can't beat the Titans at home on a "Battle Red" day in front of a national audience then there's something broken with this team/organization.

This one isn't just for the sweep. It isn't just to keep the Vince Young fans at bay. It's for the season. We're either going to win this year or we're not and that will be decided in two weeks. There's not a doubt in my mind about that.

Very well put. If we come out and lay an egg on MNF the season is close to being done. I do however think we will come out blazing. The past two seasons have shown that this team is a good second half team. I think we will beat the Colts, and lose to Miami. As far as the Pats game, it all depends on where they are in the standings. They may have already locked up the division and a playoff spot, and may be resting their starters. Then again its Bill Belichick, that guy is hard to figure.

 

[dalemurphy]

Very well put. If we come out and lay an egg on MNF the season is close to being done. I do however think we will come out blazing. The past two seasons have shown that this team is a good second half team. I think we will beat the Colts, and lose to Miami. As far as the Pats game, it all depends on where they are in the standings. They may have already locked up the division and a playoff spot, and may be resting their starters. Then again its Bill Belichick, that guy is hard to figure.

I think we match up very well against Miami. On defense, they have a weak secondary and a mediocre pass rush. On offense, they want to run the ball. We pass the ball well and nobody runs on us. I think they are a tough team but it's a game we should have a good opportunity to win. Frankly, all of the final 8 games are games we should win. How about that?!

 

[HOU-TEX]

I think we match up very well against Miami. On defense, they have a weak secondary and a mediocre pass rush. On offense, they want to run the ball. We pass the ball well and nobody runs on us. I think they are a tough team but it's a game we should have a good opportunity to win. Frankly, all of the final 8 games are games we should win. How about that?!

Well, since we've only got 7 left I'd say phooey to that.

 

[dalemurphy]

Well, since we've only got 7 left I'd say phooey to that.

I've already budgeted for travel and tickets for the wild card game. I don't see how we shouldn't beat Denver, or Pitt/Cincy in January. That's why I'm planning a 1500 mile road trip... to watch them win! I am worried about the second round though. I think that late January in NE or another game at Indy is a tough matchup.

 

[bckey]

You're nuts if you think the Texans or their fans want to go to Pittsburgh in January for their 1st ever playoff game. If that happens just save the money you budgeted for next season. I'd rather see them go anywhere but there. We can beat Indy, Cincy, Denver, maybe San Diego. The only other place I wouldn't want the Texans to go is New England.

 

[Mr teX]

Looks like one wild card is definitely coming from the AFC North. That leaves the other 3 divisions fighting for 1 WC spot.

I agree about the AFC north but it gets better for us. If we wind up with the same record as Cincy, we win out b/c we beat them head to head.

 

[False Start]

I think we match up very well against Miami. On defense, they have a weak secondary and a mediocre pass rush. On offense, they want to run the ball. We pass the ball well and nobody runs on us. I think they are a tough team but it's a game we should have a good opportunity to win. Frankly, all of the final 8 games are games we should win. How about that?!

Good take. Oh yeah, I would love it if we won the rest of the games. I just think they will have a hiccup along the way. This is the Texans, and while they are better than ever, they still have they tendency to lose games that everyone thinks they are gonna win. They are getting there as far as being a consistent, great team, but I still think they have just a tad bit more to go to reach that elite level.

 

[dalemurphy]

Good take. Oh yeah, I would love it if we won the rest of the games. I just think they will have a hiccup along the way. This is the Texans, and while they are better than ever, they still have they tendency to lose games that everyone thinks they are gonna win. They are getting there as far as being a consistent, great team, but I still think they have just a tad bit more to go to reach that elite level.

I could definitely see them dropping one or maybe two... I just don't think they can lose three more games without catastrophic injuries.

 

[TimeKiller]

Not only do I expect a win on MNF, I expect a steamrolling of the Titans. I WILL NOT be satisfied with a regular ass win. The first rivalry game made eyes across the nation glance at the Texans and say, "Hmm...that was badass, I wonder if they're for real?" No better time to answer that with a resounding "HELL YES WE FO REAL!"

Indy at home HAS to be a win. I'd love to get that first one in Indy but I'll be thrilled with a split.

Jacksonville shouldn't be a problem but this is the game I'm wary of. They've never been anything less than physical and it'll be off of two games with high emotional and physical tolls.

Seattle. Win.
St. Louis. Win or you're all cut.
Miami. Win.

New England. This is too far for my super amazing crystal ball to see into the future but if we're playing backups and lose I just...I just...I just kick this piece of **** out the window.

 

[TexansSeminole]

I'm not sleeping on Tennessee. VY is looking pretty sharp and back to his old ways again. I'm sure he's been circling our game for some time now. Remember when he said he will remember if we didn't pick him? Well the stage couldn't be more set than MNF in Houston and with our playoff hopes pretty much on the line.

Matter of fact we better be ready for the next 3 weeks because Jville isn't looking too bad these days either. Say we do lose to the Titans and Jville wins again this week. We are staring at being tied with Jville and titans only like a game or two behind us in the division.

If we want to go to the playoffs, we gotta win in November. Bottom line.

Now as for VY coming to ruin the party. I believe our defense is way better and should be able to control him but you gotta agree that he has put up good numbers and he has a run game to go with his and they put it to the 9ers better than we did.

I agree with Hervoyel that we have to beat the Titans tw weeks from now. If we lose that game, our shot at the playoffs is over.

I'm not impressed with the Jags. They aren't blocking well even against bad teams. Their November 1st game against the Titans was poorly coached. Jones Drew didn't get a carry until the 1st quarter was almost over. He only carried the ball 8 times, and he had 177 yards. The guy ran a 79 yarder and an 80 yarder and he only gets the ball 8 times?

Look at their schedule and who they have beat. They beat the 1-7 Rams by 3 in overtime. They beat the 1-7 Chiefs by 3. They beat us when our defense was running around with their heads cut off and Tennessee.
3-5 Seattle beat them 41-0.

Sep 13 @IND L 14-12
Sep 20 ARI L31-17
Sep 27 @HOU W 31-24
Oct 4 TEN W 37-17
Oct 11 @SEA L 41-0
Oct 18 STL W 23-20 OT
Bye
Nov 1 @TEN L 30-13
Nov 8 KAN W 24-21