DX-TEX
#TomSavageDontCare
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/16027068/resilient-texans-flying-higher-but-below-afc-radar
Halfway through the season, nothing much has changed in the NFL. Green Bay is still the team to beat in the NFC, while the AFC holds weekly auditions for its favorite.
For the moment, Baltimore is that club, thanks largely to the Ravens' two-game sweep of Pittsburgh, and it should be. But what about this time next month? I've heard people suggest the Jets, New England and Pittsburgh ... maybe even Buffalo? ... as possibilities before the season is over, but I'm still waiting for someone to come around to the Houston Texans.
So let me do it.
The Texans are off to their best start in franchise history, are a cinch to win their division and, like Baltimore, knocked off Pittsburgh. But this is what I like best about these guys: They can do it all ... run, pass and play defense ... and if you don't believe me, check out this week's numbers. They're eighth in overall offense and second in rushing. They lead the league in team defense, are fourth vs. the run, second vs. the pass, third in points allowed and fifth in the takeaway/turnover differential.
That's the definition of a complete football team, folks, and that alone should make them a factor come playoff time.
But there's something else. The Texans are on a three-game roll, and while that doesn't exactly make them unique, this does: They're doing it without their star playmakers on either side of the ball. That would be wide receiver Andre Johnson and linebacker Mario Williams. Williams is lost for the season, while Johnson hasn't played in over a month. Yet the Texans have survived, going 3-2 without Johnson and 3-1 without Williams ... and, yeah, that has my attention, too.
So does this: Some opponents accuse them of being "dirty" now, claiming they play outside the rules, and that happens when you're good. It doesn't happen when you stink. Look back at the Texans' history, and tell me how many times opponents charged them with being too rough or downright dirty. They didn't. That's because they weren't any good, so opponents didn't care.
Well now they do. And so should you.