The NFLâs newest team still has not reached the playoffs, but it has made big strides toward playing in January. Kris Brown - the only player who has remained a Texan from the time the franchise was born in 2002 â seemed to be getting better with age. In 2007 and 2008, Brown made 54 of his 62 field goal attempts, numbers that would leave the likes of Adam Vinatieri and Nate Kaeding speechless. Brown even earned First Team All-NFL accolades in 2007 for his on-field accomplishments.
Then 2009 rolled around, and Brown swooned. He missed 11 field goal attempts on the season and sported the worst field goal percentage of any starting kicker in the NFL. For a team that teetered on the brink of a playoff berth, many wondered why the Texans showed such unabashed loyalty toward Brown. Against Indianapolis in a crucial division game, Brown missed a 42-yard attempt to tie the game as time expired. Just one week later against another divisional opponent, Tennessee, Brown had a chance to redeem himself. With the Titans leading by three, 20-17, and one second remaining in the game, Houston brought on its veteran kicker to try to tie the game with a 49-yard attempt. Brown missed that kick, too, and the Texans dropped another important decision. The nightmare didnât end there, though, as Brown missed 5 of his last 12 field goal tries to end the season.
While Brown is still on the roster for spring OTAâs, the Texans added former Cardinal Neil Rackers to the fold. Rackers solidified himself as one of the more reliable kickers in the league, missing a grand total of one field goal last season with Arizona. However, Rackers only had to attempt 17 kicks last year, thanks to Arizonaâs incredibly potent offense. He has proven to be a tad inconsistent when teams have had to rely on him for a high amount of attempts in a given year. In a tough division like the AFC South, the Texans will need points aplenty to hang with the Colts and Titans. Hopefully they can sort out their kicking situation without undergoing the same turmoil they faced in a 9-7 season last year.
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