Death to Google Ads! Texans Talk Tip Jar! 🍺😎👍
Thanks for your support!
If you were offered a 3-2 start at the beginning of the season, would you have ....
- Thread starter robroy72
- Start date
TheMatrix31
Hall of Fame
Most definitely.
My problem isn't the start. My problem is the injuries.
We must have killed some baby cows somewhere along the line.
My problem isn't the start. My problem is the injuries.
We must have killed some baby cows somewhere along the line.
robroy72
Rookie
Veal meat again ... don't know where ... don't know when...
Dread-Head
Hall of Fame
To paraphrase Homer Simpson "We're 3-2! We're still good! We're still good!"
Would I have taken a 3-2 start? Indy, Miami, Saints, Steelers, Raiders... yeah, I think I would. I voted no, because I am more upset about our offense not clicking yet. Yeah, I know Aj is special, but I always thought this was an offense that spread the ball around & getting everybody involved. I'm just not seeing that now...
I don't know, I think I'm still upset about losing the Raiders game. Losing to the Saints the way we lost to the Saints, I'm good with that, especially after following it up with a good win vs the Steelers. But to lose to the Raiders the way we did at home... I'm just not buying it.
I don't know, I think I'm still upset about losing the Raiders game. Losing to the Saints the way we lost to the Saints, I'm good with that, especially after following it up with a good win vs the Steelers. But to lose to the Raiders the way we did at home... I'm just not buying it.
Yeah that's the real problem. AJ maybe coming back but not having MW makes things difficult. Having Brooks Reed softens the blow somewhat but Mario demanded a double team that made it possible for the rest of the line to make plays.
I'm fine with 3-2, I think i even had us at 3-3 after the Ravens game. At this point we're still tied with the Titans for the division.
TexanBacker93
Veteran
There should be another option. I don't think they should go 16-0. I'd love to see it, but it isn't realistic. I still think they should have been 4-1 after 5 games. Most people thought they would lose to the Steelers. Even before the season I wasn't feeling the Steeler love. This team should be 12-4. The schedule isn't tough and if you are a playoff caliber team then all games should be winnable.
Look at the remaining schedule.
@ Ravens L
@ Titans L
Jaguars W
Browns W
@ Bucs L
@ Jaguars W
Falcons W
@ Bengals W
Panthers W
@ Colts W
Titans W
This is how I originally felt. Now, Tampa isn't playing well so that could be a W. You lose a home game you should win you need to pick one up on the road that most thought was a loss. The next 2 weeks are huge. The team can't come back from Tennessee with a 3-4 record. If they are sitting there and maybe a game behind the Titans the stands will be half full for the first half of the game. The players will play tight and we could lose another game we shouldn't. They have to find a way to win one of the next 2. Both would be best.
Look at the remaining schedule.
@ Ravens L
@ Titans L
Jaguars W
Browns W
@ Bucs L
@ Jaguars W
Falcons W
@ Bengals W
Panthers W
@ Colts W
Titans W
This is how I originally felt. Now, Tampa isn't playing well so that could be a W. You lose a home game you should win you need to pick one up on the road that most thought was a loss. The next 2 weeks are huge. The team can't come back from Tennessee with a 3-4 record. If they are sitting there and maybe a game behind the Titans the stands will be half full for the first half of the game. The players will play tight and we could lose another game we shouldn't. They have to find a way to win one of the next 2. Both would be best.
eriadoc
Texan-American
Honestly, it's about what I expected at the beginning of the season, and that's not good. I told myself if they finish 4-1, finding a way to pull out the Ravens or Steelers game, I'd be convinced they're a new team. At 3-2, I'm still not convinced they won't end up at the 5-7 mark at the end of November, which is just the same ol' Texans. We'll see. I'm still in wait and see mode. 4-1 would have put me in "unbearably chippy and optimistic Texans fan" mode. I almost remember what that was like, back in September of 2002.
TheMatrix31
Hall of Fame
The difference between 4-1 and 3-2 is enough to be the difference between the Texans being a new team and the Texans being one of the cursed, embarrassingly ridiculous failures in NFL history?
Ranger Tom
All Pro
This poll doesn't consider the possibility that we might have ended up worse than 3-2. I vote yes because of that.
eriadoc
Texan-American
No, but coupled with their history, it's enough to temper optimism. If you really, truly are honest with yourself, and you don't have a hint of apprehension in you about the Texans right now, you either haven't followed the Texans for the last decade or you're a way off the charts pollyanna. (not you personally, just a general you)
rush2112mn
Rookie
My problem is they should be 4-1 cause we gave that game away yesterday....plain and simple.....gave it as a present to the Raiders.
TheMatrix31
Hall of Fame
I have more than a hint of apprehension about the Texans because it's impossible to expect the same amount of success from a team that doesn't have their best defensive player going forward and a Top 10 NFL player for the next couple of weeks, not to mention the inexplicable lack of health from the deepest RB corps in the league and our FB that was expected to replace a Pro Bowl FB being out for the year as well.
People can say "injuries are excuses" all the want, but we're not in a position to be one of those "the great teams overcome injuries" teams. Especially when you look at who's missing and what those missing mean to what we do on offense and defense.
People can say "injuries are excuses" all the want, but we're not in a position to be one of those "the great teams overcome injuries" teams. Especially when you look at who's missing and what those missing mean to what we do on offense and defense.
Hervoyel
BUENO!
I love threads like this. Let's go back and look at this 3-2 start with lower expectations and you'll feel better (and if you don't then see how unreasonable you are!).
Bullshit.
I can only look at it through eyes that have seen the 5 games in question and I know that this team has no excuse for being anything less than 4-1 right now. They could very well be 5-0.
Bullshit.
I can only look at it through eyes that have seen the 5 games in question and I know that this team has no excuse for being anything less than 4-1 right now. They could very well be 5-0.
Coach Kevin
Coach Kevin
this
Hervoyel
BUENO!
Why not? Those teams backups are just backups until they're called on to step up and become more than that aren't they? Who says Brooks Reed can't finish the season with 8-10 sacks? He's a second round draft pick and they step up every year. Why can't this team expect that?
And if we're not in a position to have someone pick up the slack then who's fault is that? That we'd have no one to step in for Andre Johnson was not a given. Very good backups were everywhere this summer. We stood with Jacoby & Kevin. Why can't we expect Graham to step in for Casey? What's he been doing all this time if not preparing for this moment? Why can't we expect Vickers to step up? These guys aren't just scrubs picked up off the street. They're players our coaching staff chose to go with in these roles. Well, it's time to step up and do your part guys.
I don't get it. When the Patriots lose Bledsoe then Brady stands up. When Brady goes down Cassell steps up. We lose Andre Johnson and not one guy out of all the WR's we have can elevate his game for three damn weeks? We lose Mario and it's impossible that Reed might be ready. The NFL is full of guys who got their break before anyone thought they were ready and ran with it.
We have just as much right to hope for, even expect our backups to do something as the next teams fans.
TheMatrix31
Hall of Fame
We're not the Patriots.
That said, you touch on organizational depth, and that IS a problem. And that IS something you can point to the front office too. Jacoby Jones has no place on a good team's roster, let alone being the #2 wide receiver.
A team that is still learning how to win with its #1's will not have a smooth transition if they're forced to rely on #2's to fill in. Bottom line. If that's leadership's fault, then it is.
That said, you touch on organizational depth, and that IS a problem. And that IS something you can point to the front office too. Jacoby Jones has no place on a good team's roster, let alone being the #2 wide receiver.
A team that is still learning how to win with its #1's will not have a smooth transition if they're forced to rely on #2's to fill in. Bottom line. If that's leadership's fault, then it is.
Against a Colts team without Manning, a strong Saints team, a Steelers team obviously not up their level of years past, and two teams they supposedly "own"? No. Good teams win many more games than they lose. They don't hover around .500.
Even if the Colts and Steelers were as good as last year the Texans should have been 4-1 if they really are contenders. 3-2 is fine if they intend to be "pretty good".
TheMatrix31
Hall of Fame
If the Steelers are weak, and we beat them 17-10, and they turned around and beat the ever living **** out of the Titans....then what does that make the Titans?
TexanBacker93
Veteran
In the first full game without Johnson I'd say Walter stepped it up. He made a couple of big time catches and scored a TD. The problem wasn't with who would step into Dre's shoes, but would could then take his spot. Only 1 catch out of 11 targets for Jones. The passes were horrible, though. That's not all on him, although I don't know if he just wasn't where he was supposed to be or not.
Daniels and Dreessen have been more involved as well.
If anything was affected by losing Andre it was the run game because the Raiders could afford to stack the box. While the receivers made plays they forced Matt to hurry throws and kept Foster from going off.
Daniels and Dreessen have been more involved as well.
If anything was affected by losing Andre it was the run game because the Raiders could afford to stack the box. While the receivers made plays they forced Matt to hurry throws and kept Foster from going off.
TheMatrix31
Hall of Fame
Wow, a rational thought. I didn't know that was allowed here.
If we had lost to an obviously superior team.... The Saints, then you are right. We lost to some up & comers.
We're thinking we're on the verge of getting to that next level & we lost to the Raiders. I think it is appropriate to question this team at this point.
TheMatrix31
Hall of Fame
We're also up and comers. Like it or not, we're not on a level that's any greater or worse than the Oakland Raiders right now.
If we had Arian for the Saints game, not one person in here thinks we wouldn't have won that game.
You're right, we should be 5-0 right now & that is the source of all this frustration. We dominated the Saints for 3 qtrs & failed to finish. We dominated the Dolphins & pulled back the reigns. We dominated the Steelers..... got the W.
We should be 5-0 no question about it, if you watched all 5 games, there is no way you shouldn't be upset.
Being upset & giving up on the team are two totally different POVs mind you.
C
Ckw
Guest
This.
We as Texans fans sure do have low expectations. 3-2 hooray!!!!
How about 3-3 after the Baltimore game? And possibly 3-4 after the Tits game. So really, 3-2 makes you happy?!?
This team has the talent to slaughter teams like Indy, Miami, and Oakland, and beat teams like New Orleans and Pittsburgh. 4-1 is what I expected. 3-2 is good enough, but I'm not happy with just good enough. We've seen the way this team can screw the pooch. What convinces you that if they haven't shown you anything different so far this year that they are suddenly going to show you something different in late Oct and November?
Same old Texans. Same old Texans fans.
That's what is so hard to accept. We've been up & comers for the last 4 years.
C
Ckw
Guest
Amen
We've been "up and comers" for 4 years now!!!
Oh, looks like TK beat me to it.
TheMatrix31
Hall of Fame
Yes. That's a problem. But it's a reality, so expecting to beat the Raiders so handily acting like we're "way above them" is BS.
C
Ckw
Guest
Well, Jags and Colts and probably the Girls shouldn't have expected much different. But the Jets and Eagles have seriously underachieved. But you know what those teams have that we don't?
A PLAYOFF VICTORY!
When we get one of those, then you can compare us to the Jets and Eagles.
C
Ckw
Guest
Talent-wise, we are "way above them". There is no denying that. If the offense hadn't gone cold yesterday, we should have stomped them almost as bad as we stomped the Colts. If we had been creative with our offense instead of playing right into their hands by running the ball straight at them, we would have dominated them. But Gary Kubiak's our coach, so yeah I guess we should be happy with 3-2...
TdotTexas2Step
Rookie
It really depends on the circumstance though...
If that includes a Manning-led Colts and a Steelers teams with a proper o-line, then yeah I'd be totally fine with that.
But in all honesty, with even half decent execution, this team should be 5-0 right now. We forced enough turnovers (tough to do against Brees) and got into the redzone enough times to win the Saints game, and we're a better team than the Raiders even without AJ and MW. Not a matter of being "above them" or anything, but in a game where we do what we're supposed to do, we win.
Lack of execution has been our downfall. I walked away from both of our losses this season with that horrible feeling of "we let that one slip away". Whether it's failed redzone trips, or a fumbled routine catch by Dressen or Vickers, it's mistakes like these that's costing us.
I know all that matters is that "you get to the playoffs". But HOW you get there does play a significant role for a team that's never actually been there. Building good habits now will play dividends down the road.
If that includes a Manning-led Colts and a Steelers teams with a proper o-line, then yeah I'd be totally fine with that.
But in all honesty, with even half decent execution, this team should be 5-0 right now. We forced enough turnovers (tough to do against Brees) and got into the redzone enough times to win the Saints game, and we're a better team than the Raiders even without AJ and MW. Not a matter of being "above them" or anything, but in a game where we do what we're supposed to do, we win.
Lack of execution has been our downfall. I walked away from both of our losses this season with that horrible feeling of "we let that one slip away". Whether it's failed redzone trips, or a fumbled routine catch by Dressen or Vickers, it's mistakes like these that's costing us.
I know all that matters is that "you get to the playoffs". But HOW you get there does play a significant role for a team that's never actually been there. Building good habits now will play dividends down the road.
I don't get your point. The Texans should beat the Titans.
Or is your point the Steelers are the same as they've always been?
TheMatrix31
Hall of Fame
Even though the Saints game followed the usual blueprint for a tough second half Texans loss, I was willing to simply chalk that up to playing an elite team with an elite QB who could come back like that on any team in the league. I was willing to grant that maybe it wasn't the "same old Texans finding ways to lose" -- that it was just that the Saints were that good.
But I find it really hard to rationalize that way in the Raiders game. That one felt like "same old Texans" -- more talented, perhaps, down a couple of key players, true -- but the same blueprint for gutwrenching losses as we've seen far too often for far too many years.
C
Ckw
Guest
And boom goes the dynamite!
TheMatrix31
Hall of Fame
My point is that the Steelers are not a "weak" team, even if they're not AFC Championship level to start the year off.
C
Ckw
Guest
Yes. They have no Nnamdi, I think one of their starting DBs was injured, McClain got hurt in the game, etc.
Injuries happen. They aren't an excuse to suck. The fact that our offense couldn't figure out the following is what led to our demise:
A. Jacoby Jones is worthless on the field. We are better off giving Bryant Johnson a shot
and
B. When the defense continually stacks 8 men in the box, you combat that with screen passes
Yes, talent for talent, with or without Mario, AJ, Tate, and Ward, we are a better team than the Raiders. We just did exactly what they wanted us to do so they beat us by stopping our running game and kicking field goals. And we did nothing to combat that.
TheMatrix31
Hall of Fame
No argument from me on Jacoby's worthlessness and using screens. God knows how many times I said it in the game thread.
badboy
Hall of Fame
Exactly, I had predicted 4-1 with loss to Steelers pre-season. We should be 5-0.
Flat QB passes, JJ costumed appearances as a WR, no CB2, ridiculous plays (Victor Reeves), etc. We continue to find ways to lose. I am right back to where I was last season. Disgusted! As a long time fan of Kubiak, I fell off wagon last season and bruised and battered climbed back on. He keeeps kicking me over the side. I want to believe in this organization and roster but it sure ain't easy.
HTown2ATX
TexansMetalhead
+Rep
I agree. I know that we just need to get to the playoffs, but at the same time, I'm not a fan of the idea of getting by default as a winner of a crappy division and getting blasted in game 1 of the playoffs. (Please don't bring up Seattle beating the Saints in the playoffs.....even my dogs knew that was a fluke)
I'm just tired of the team being "on the verge" for however many frickin years only to be let down and then have a whole faction of fans that find this acceptable. It's mind numbing.
For once I'd like to have a Lions 4-0 breakout year, or the Bills, etc. A tema that comes out of nowhere and just wins.
And no, I am not saying the season is over, but some read what they want.
C
Ckw
Guest
Hey, we agreed on something! That's rep worthy man.
Yeah, it was pretty infuriating yelling at the screen for Gary to run a screen and take Jacoby out of the game only to watch us run it up the middle with Foster one more time for a 2-3 yard gain. The definition of insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
No, but at least they have some consolation to look back on. They have some fond memories of playoffs and playoff success. When we look back, all we see is more of the same "finding ways to lose" year after year -- and missing the playoffs.
& The Saints game was pretty much the same thing as the Raiders. You take out those 3 & outs, put some drives together, we don't even have to score, just kill the clock.... if we stay on the field, they can't score. 3 & outs & second half turnovers... we can't win like that & you shouldn't have to with an "elite" offense.
You have a very good point. Especially the how you win and good habits part, but you should fully expect those fine details to be lost on this fanbase. Many Texans fans seem to watch only the Texans and will simply be unable to comprehend trends and how consistent playoff teams do it every year.
So, with that said, it is quite obvious that you have not received enough Texans propaganda on how to celebrate mediocrity and you need to learn to accept that making it the playoffs is this franchise's goal.
Here's the Cliff Notes version:
Drink some juice
chant a chant 
and learn the Texans two step Now you're ready for some Texans football!
