HOU-TEX
Ah, Football!
That's a good question, champion.
Keep Texans Talk Google Ad Free!
Venmo Tip Jar | Paypal Tip Jar
Thanks for your support! 🍺😎👍
Rick Gosselin's NFL rankings: Texans 9th
- Thread starter AcresHomesTexan
- Start date
That's a good question, champion.
ChampionTexan
Hall of Fame
Okay, then another good question might be who's better - Cincy or Baltimore? The Dolphins or the Jets?
HOU-TEX
Ah, Football!
Baltimore and Jets have had better records and more playoff appearances over the past few years.
I've been questioning our ability to hang with better teams outside our own division. Steelers, Ravens, Chargers, Patriots (previous to the last game of the season), Jets, etc
Gosselin is saying the team we field in 2010, is the 9th best team in his opinion. He's got the Ravens ranked #3, the Jets ranked 10th, the Steelers ranked 18th.
Thats a good thing, we are now being ranked up there with the big boys.
Now, if we can only play like the big boys.
We finished 9-7 just like the Jets, Ravens, Steelers, and Falcons.
Just sayin
I'm just saying we do play like they do. We win some, we lose some.
I'm offering more "proof" to the fact that we play like they do. We beat some of the teams they had difficulty beating. They lost to the same teams we lost to... even the 7-9 Jags.
My point, is that you give the Jets & the Ravens more credit than you give the Texans, even though there is very little difference to the way they played in 2009 (as far as the final W-L is concerned.).
Now, at first, I wasn't sure that you were saying the Jets & the Ravens are the "big boys" I was fishing with my first post. But every subsequent post you've made, made it clear, that the Jets & the Ravens are in the "big boy" club, and the Texans are scrubs & duds.
I understand the 8 year history of the Texans... & I understand where the Jets & the Ravens have been the previous 8 years. But I'm talking about how the Texans played in 2009. Gosselin is talking about what he expects from our Texans in 2010.
Do we belong in the same group as the Jets & the Ravens? I think so. As proof, I offer that there was no question who was the better team, every time we've played the Bengals, who swept the Ravens in 2009. & though it has been a struggle, we've beat Miami every time we've played. The Dolphins, who happened to have swept the Jets in 2009. & lastly, I conclude that we ended 2009 with the same W-L as the Jets & the Ravens.
Yu want to put the Jets on a higher tier, because they beat us.. (which is like saying the Dolphins are better than the Jets because they beat them twice, and we're better than the Dolphins since we beat them, consistently, so we're better than the Jets)... whatever.
Yu want to put the Ravens on a higher tier than us, because they beat us 2 years ago... (which is like saying the Bengals are better than the Ravens because they beat them twice, and we are better than the Bengals, because we have consistently beat them)... whatever.
Excuse me.
In my defense, let me say I don't think the Texans are better than what they are. Personally, I think the Jets & the Ravens need to be knocked down a notch. I don't think they are the "big boys." & yes, I am offended when Texans fans think the team the Jets had in 2009, or the team the Ravens fielded in 2009, are better than the team the Texans fielded in 2009.
b0ng
Bad Hombre
We haven't played the Steelers or the Chargers in about 3 years or so. I believe the make-up of each team is has changed dramatically (Especially Pittsburgh) and it would be folly to assume that we would automatically lose to either (San Diego probably, unless they are planning on going without Vjax or McNeil this season).
I really think that right now as a team we are in a position to beat any team on any Sunday. We can also lose to any team, where we are at.
I really think that right now as a team we are in a position to beat any team on any Sunday. We can also lose to any team, where we are at.
GP
Go Texans!
I'm just so excited to see power rankings.
I haven't been this excited since I collected baseball cards and would get the pricing magazines so I could see my investment rise or fall by literally PENNIES each week!
(In my best Jim Gaffigan voice) "Hey, mister...I collected baseball cards. Still do. You're just a fuddy-dud who bought bad cards, and now you're angry about it."
:rankingsRdumm:
I haven't been this excited since I collected baseball cards and would get the pricing magazines so I could see my investment rise or fall by literally PENNIES each week!
(In my best Jim Gaffigan voice) "Hey, mister...I collected baseball cards. Still do. You're just a fuddy-dud who bought bad cards, and now you're angry about it."
:rankingsRdumm:
Texan_Bill
Hall of Fame
I normally respect your takes. However, your full of shite here....
infantrycak
Hall of Fame
Two, both 10-6 teams.
The Patriots beat 3 winning teams last year - all 9-7 teams.
The Jets beat 3 including us and the week 17 Colts.
The Ravens beat 1 team with a winning record.
When is the last time the Texans have defeated any of these 3 teams?
b0ng
Bad Hombre
We beat the Patriots last year week 17.
infantrycak
Hall of Fame
Well the accurate answer is we are the last of these four teams to defeat one of the others.
More importantly to return to the original point, I was illustrating 9-7 and 10-6 teams don't tend to have lots of wins against winning teams. They beat poor teams, give marginal teams their non-winning seasons and beat a couple winning teams. But hey y'all can act like we aren't a decent team until we win 6 games against winning teams, which by the way would have made us 13-3 last year.
Indy Skinnz
Waterboy
I don't recall the exact circumstances but I do know that the # 3 & # 4 seeds were up in the air on the last week of the season and I really do believe the Pats felt they were better served with the lower seed. It is not the first time they pulled this either. The Doug Flutie drop kick was a similar end of the year situation.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2277308
Even if you think I am full of it, and I suspect my explanation will not change your mind, Brady not playing the entire game was certainly an aid to the Texans.
Reality is that the Jets, Ravens, & Steelers weren't all that in 2009. They are the "big boys" & their season was awefully similar to ours.
Bottom line.
Last edited:
dalemurphy
Hall of Fame
Considering that we lost out on the playoffs to the Jets, who were given their final two wins against Indy and Cincy, it's hardly worth noting that Brady only played about 75% of the snaps while the rest of their starters played the entire game.
dalemurphy
Hall of Fame
The Steelers lost "must-win" games late last season to:
KC
Oakland
Cleveland
that is a real embarrassment!
nero THE zero
All Pro
Poor choice of wording, I guess. It was a good, come from behind victory for us in which we really turned it on in the fourth quarter. Perhaps I should have said "impressive win" instead.
Regardless, my point remains the same. Considering the trajectory of the two teams, and the result of the latest match-up between the two teams, there's no absurdity in ranking us ahead of them.
Indy Skinnz
Waterboy
I think anyone with an ounce of football intellect can realistically see how the Texans can potentially be better than the Pats this year. There is a reasonable argument to make with that claim.
HOU-TEX
Ah, Football!
The reality is Jets, Ravens and Steelers have all been to multiple playoffs in recent years. They've also beaten the crap out of us in recent years.
Look, I think I'm painting a poor picture of what I think of our team. Especially if steelbtexan agrees with me (heh, heh, jk).
I DO think we're getting better and I DO feel optimistic about the future of this team. But, as I-Cak mentioned yesterday, we've got to learn to finish games where we have the lead going into the 2nd half. Our coaches need to have the players ready to play those good 3-4 teams that have whooped us in the past.
b0ng
Bad Hombre
Not just 3-4 teams, any teams. Preparation has been one of the downfalls of this regime (unless we are preparing for the Dolphins, for some reason).
HOU-TEX
Ah, Football!
True, but the 3-4 teams that run over load blitzes and other Ryan and Lebeau type blitzing really eat our lunch.
I completely agree. My only point is that those reasons do not take us out of the group of "good teams." The teams everyone easily agree are good team, the Ravens, the Jets, the Steelers, the Giants, the Falcons, the Patriots... all have those same (or similar) issues.
And that's ok.
Nobody's perfect.
HOU-TEX
Ah, Football!
Okay, so if we're going to put the Texans in the same group as those you listed, can't we at least consider ourselves as the red-headed step-child? At least until we put a whoopin on a few of them.
As a franchise, I agree with you 100%. We are not in that group.
But our 2009 team, and our 2010 team... IMO are equal to those teams I listed.
HOU-TEX
Ah, Football!
Hmm, I think we're almost getting to the point where we can both agree. You think we're already there. I think we're getting there, but want a little more proof that we belong there. Either way, with the schedule we have this year it'll either prove it or we'll lose it. Right?
My biggest point, this whole time, is that the Jets & Ravens aren't there. I also believe there is evidence that would support an argument that the Steelers, and Patriots are leaving "there".
I think "there" is where the Colts are, and have been for a long, long time, where the Steelers & Patriots have been for a long time as well, in recent history.
& yes, this season, this schedule, and how we do against this schedule will put a lot of things to rest.
HOU-TEX
Ah, Football!
Right on, not sure about the rest, but right on with the last statement.
/End Thread/ for HOU-TEX, at least
DexmanC
Hall of Fame
As much as we like to toss out our 9-7 record, and compare it to other
10-6 and 9-7 teams, we finished 1-(and freaking)-5 in the AFC South.
The Bengals, who finished 10-6, SWEPT one of the toughest divisions
in the AFC 6-0. The ONLY reason they made the playoffs, was because
they took care of their division.
Divisional play. That's the key. Beat the teams you play TWICE A YEAR,
EVERY YEAR. The Texans do that, and ALL the talk about whether-or-not
they are contenders will fade away. The Tacks, Colts, and Jags bring
the same thing to the table as the Bengals, Steelers, (I'll give ya the Browns),
as a group. No excuse for finishing 1-5 if you expect to see postseason.
10-6 and 9-7 teams, we finished 1-(and freaking)-5 in the AFC South.
The Bengals, who finished 10-6, SWEPT one of the toughest divisions
in the AFC 6-0. The ONLY reason they made the playoffs, was because
they took care of their division.
Divisional play. That's the key. Beat the teams you play TWICE A YEAR,
EVERY YEAR. The Texans do that, and ALL the talk about whether-or-not
they are contenders will fade away. The Tacks, Colts, and Jags bring
the same thing to the table as the Bengals, Steelers, (I'll give ya the Browns),
as a group. No excuse for finishing 1-5 if you expect to see postseason.
b0ng
Bad Hombre
Bzzzzzzzt! They had the best record in their division (out of all 16 games mind you) which is what put them in the playoffs. 10-6 was still 10-6 no matter who the wins and losses came against.
Do you think Rick Gosselin took that into account when he ranked our team as the 9th best in the league?
infantrycak
Hall of Fame
Oh good, this rant again after a season where any of the seven losses turned into wins would have put us in the playoffs OR we could have even traded our one division win for a win against the Jets and made the playoffs at 9-7. Horribly timed argument.
DexmanC
Hall of Fame
10-6 is INCLUDING their 6-0 division record.
You can NOT discount a SINGLE WIN in their division,
because a loss would have taken THEM out of the playoffs
and put the Steelers in. They were 6-0 in their division (which
gave them all tiebreakers against the Ravens and Steelers),
and 4-6 against everyone else.
DexmanC
Hall of Fame
Most definitely. 2010 should be a year of change. This should be the
year the Texans play like we all know they can.
ChampionTexan
Hall of Fame
And yet, the Jets are everyone's darling having only gone 2-4 in their division last year.
You're such a better person when you don't dwell on spilled milk.
DexmanC
Hall of Fame
No need to be mad at me. I still believe 2009 was subpar, due to this
team underachieving. I KNOW the Texans can be a serious contender,
I just want to SEE it. As for my argument being "horribly timed," I
LMAO.
Training camp is A MONTH AWAY! If now ain't the time, I don't know
when there is a better time. Again... LMAO
We all feel the same way. I can't think of one person who feels any different.
DexmanC
Hall of Fame
The Jets whipped the Texans on opening day to ELIMINATE them.
Let's not gloss over the importance of divisional play, is all I'm saying.
ChampionTexan
Hall of Fame
Exactly - if we'd won that non-division game against the Jets, we're still 1-5 in the division, but also in the playoffs. (This is what the previous poster was telling you when he said they got in because the were 10-6 overall, not because they were 6-0 in the division).
Add to that thought, that we could have gone 5-1 in the division, if we were still 9-7, including that loss to the Jets, we still would have been out of the play-offs.
This is an interesting tidbit from Kuharsky
http://espn.go.com/blog/afcsouth/post/_/id/12404/key-for-texans-divisional-play
http://espn.go.com/blog/afcsouth/post/_/id/12404/key-for-texans-divisional-play
SAMURAITEXAN
All Pro
Looking at our future or past. I rather look at our future. What ifs, could of, should of? PLEASE.
Go Texans!!!
Go Texans!!!
DexmanC
Hall of Fame
My argument is, the Texans have done well the last 3 seasons OUT
of the division. They go 5-1, WHILE MAINTAINING their 7-3, 8-2 type
NON-DIVISIONAL performances, we'd be in post season with no problem.
However, they've been sucking IN the division for the last million years
running, and if they'd go 5-1 in the division, JUST ONCE, I'd be ecstatic.
Yeah, TK. You knew what I was saying all along, but it's part of the
game.
Let's hope the dream comes true in 2010.
Yeah, TK. You knew what I was saying all along, but it's part of the
game.
Let's hope the dream comes true in 2010.
Yeah..
b0ng
Bad Hombre
Again, Bzzzzzzzzt! 6 Wins could have come from anywhere else on their schedule and they could've gone 0-6 in division play and guess what? They still would've gone to the playoffs. As long as they were 10-6 they would've been at the top of the division, it doesn't matter if all 10 wins came against the Rams.
But please, continue to talk about how division wins weigh more in the schedule when there were no ties record-wise in the AFCN.
Basically the most important thing is wins. Wins in division, wins in conference, wins against the NFC. Doesn't matter where they come from or how you get them you need wins to go to the playoffs. You can't go 6-0 in the division and 0-10 against the rest of your schedule and expect playoffs just as much as you can go 0-6 in the division and 10-0 against the rest of your schedule and still have a decent shot. The division games are important, but they aren't really any more important than the other 5/8ths of your schedule. It is baffling how we can beat every team on our schedule except the Jets and the Cards and do so crappily against our division, but our play overall in 2009 is what sank us including division games, not singularly because of our division games.
He understands that. But 1-5 in the division is pretty bad.. pathetic even. 1 more win in the division, against the teams we play the most isn't really asking for a whole lot. Outside the division, our record is plenty good.
Consider only two teams in our division had a winning record. We were one of them.
b0ng
Bad Hombre
Meh. Last year almost every one of our games was a shootout and that to me is not a great way to play football because a bad (or good) call against you or a shanked FG can lose you the game. We've done well enough in our division that I don't think history is going to repeat itself to a T of last year. Kubiak knows how important each game on the schedule is, and I don't think we're going to have so many problems with the Jaguars this coming up year. Not going to say anybody got lucky, but I do see we have been working on two of the problems we had last year (Kris/Chris Brown) with our divisional foes. Do we split or sweep the Colts this year? I don't think so, but I do think we perform overall better against the Titans and Jags. Transform the 1 to a 3 and I think we'll be fine in divisional play.
Besides, how many times have you seen divisional games in other divisions go completely not the way it should have on paper? Hell even in our division teams burp up a loss for no apparent reason so my thinking is as long as the defense continues on it's improvement then we will have a better handle on the other teams.