Playoffs? Playoffs?

by Tim on Jun 28, 2008 1:10 PM CDT in News Comment 27 comments

If you thought this post was a thinly-veiled excuse to link to this epic rant, you're right. But it was inspired by this blurb from Pete Schrager's "15 Burning Questions" column:

7. Is this the year the Houston Texans finally make the playoffs?

Eh, probably not. Houston starts the season with games against four playoff teams from last season in their first five weeks, including the AFC South champion Colts and the AFC North champion Steelers. If they can win three of those five games, they'll be in good shape. If not, it could be another run at 8-8 for the Texans. The truth is, Houston, despite one of the most promising young defensive units in the league and an exciting passing game, still plays in the AFC's toughest division. They'll likely struggle to get past Jacksonville and Indianapolis, let alone Tennessee. It's a matter of timing. And from the looks of it, they may need to wait another one or two years to get over the hump (and out of the cellar), and surpass their rivals in the AFC South.

Off the bat, and I realize this sounds pathetic, I'm just happy that the Texans have evolved to the point where their playoff chances are being considered by the national media. "Houston Texans to the Playoffs" talk used to just be something the "cool kids" at my weekly Dungeons & Dragons games would chat about whilst on Cheetos and Oxy runs. But now? Now, it's legit. Your Houston Texans are a legitimate playoff contender.

Yet I don't see us breaking through to the promised land this year. The first five (5) games this season are simply brutal. And the AFC South is the best division in football. Yes, yes...save your e-mails and indignity, NFC East devotees. Your division is stout too. But I think the AFC South is tougher. Ultimately, I think the division schedule is why your Houston Texans fall just short of the playoffs in 2008. I think a playoff berth in the AFC will require an absolute minimum of ten (10) wins, and quite possibly may require eleven (11) victories. I'm just not sure if the boys are Reliant, with that brutal schedule, can get there this year.

That's my feeling right now, anyway. Training camp hasn't started, and anything can happen (including me getting overserved on the Kool-Aid and predicting the Texans go 19-0). I'll save my official prediction of the Texans' record for a later post, but in the meantime...share your thoughts on the Texans' playoff chances in the Comments below.

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YOU KNOW THE GIANTS WERE 8-8 THE YEAR BEFORE JUST SAYING.

Kidding, but yeah, once the Texans are above .500 more than a week I’ll wonder about the playoffs.

by b0ng on Jun 28, 2008 2:39 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Hey, come on

We were above .500 for at least three weeks last season…
1-0
2-0
2-1

by Tailgate Andy on Jun 28, 2008 3:23 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

Don't talk about playoffs! Playoffs!?!?

Still perhaps my all time favorite rant.

Anyway, at THIS point, before TC, before cuts, and before knowing who’s hurt going into the year and who’s not… I’m optimistic. But man, that schedule. I’m hoping that the Pittsburgh game will be like the Carolina game from last year… nobody really expected us to win, but we won in a rousing fashion.

Playoffs? I don’t know. I think the Colts will slip a bit, but not much, and I think the Jags are on the rise. Until this team proves it can play LIGHT YEARS better on the road, I’m not going to predict playoffs. Might change after TC, I dunno. It’s just too early right now.

by HoustonDiehards on Jun 28, 2008 2:41 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

re: Pitt like Carolina

but I’d prefer we not spot them 21 points

So you're saying that now I have to think of some witty Sig that will be applicable across all the SBN sites? Go Texan Horn Stros!

by Shake on Jun 29, 2008 9:18 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Rants

I prefer “Practice?! We talkin’ ‘bout some PRACTICE?!?” -A.Iverson

Yay, sports.

by MDC on Jun 30, 2008 8:22 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Just imagine...

If either of our respective teams were in the NFC South, or NFC West…or in the NFC at all..

We’d be talking about deep playoff runs…

-Chris

Big Cat Country!:: The Official Home of the Unofficial Blog of the Jacksonville Jaguars!

by River City Rage on Jun 28, 2008 2:46 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Just Imagine

I get angry whenever I think about the Texans being the NFC. The balance of power is shifted so dramatically to the AFC right now that it’s riduculous.

Looking forward to a day when being a Texans fan doesn't mean that April is the highlight of my season...

by Tim on Jun 29, 2008 9:36 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

A very realistic take

Tim, everything you said makes sense. There is no logical reason to expect the Texans to contend for a playoff spot, with the schedule and their division opponents stacked against them. That being said, the NFL, since the implementation of the “hard” salary cap (MLB and NBA caps are a joke) has more teams make meteoric rises and falls than any other pro sports league. At this time of year hope springs eternal for fans of all teams. While it may be illogical to expect success, we can at least dream for now.

Hope is a good thing. GO TEXANS!!!!!!!!!!!!

by oiler-texan diehard on Jun 28, 2008 6:24 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Yea well I think we have a good chance

This is year two with us for Schaub and Amobi (who was 11 or 12 years old last year) and I expect the big jumps to come there. We had more players in triage than on the field last year (unusual) and Mario is looking for some ass. I think Winston has now developed into a excellent tackle and Brown will be a significant improvement on the left. And Mr. Brisiel has shown he is now the man at guard. I think our backfield is light years ahead of what we fielded last year which will have teams guessing. Jacoby and Davis are also going into year 2 with our team (Davis of course with many years more experience) but the contributions should really start now, and that goes with Walter as a starter as well.
We may now have some pass rush opposite Mario on passing downs, and the biggest thing that keeps going under everybodys radar is the new ZBS and the new coaches. I think that is huge and it sounds like the team bought in and loves it.
I’m looking forward to the preseason with Dallas on game 3 for the goveners cup, and game 1 with Pit. I think if we’re to do it, we’ll make believers then.

by 1Texan on Jun 28, 2008 9:22 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

realisitcally speaking

We should take a step forward from last season, correct? So let’s break it down.

Last season we went 1-5 against the division. Would it be that much of a stretch to see us go 3-3 this year? I think we can take two at home and one on the road. Shit, I actually believe we can sweep the Titans this season. Just call that one a crazy hunch, and not realistic expectations. Nevertheless, 3-3 in division seems reasonable.

That leaves us ten other games, of which we would need to win seven for a realistic shot at the playoffs. Can we beat seven of the following: Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Miami, Detroit, Minny, Cincy, Cleveland, Green Bay, Oakland, Chicago?

I think we can, but seeing as how we tend to have a game like last year’s Falcons game a couple times a year, we’ll need to have focus and consistency like never before. For a young team, that’s a tall order; but it’s not impossible.

Then again, we also have games like 06’s upset of Indy and the magnificently-ridiculous 02 Pittsburgh game in which we won 24-6 despite being outgained in total yardage 422-47. Proof that anything can happen.

Gentlemen (and lady), I think it’s realistic we can win 10 in 08 and hope that the other pieces of the puzzle fall in our favor.

by BigTexBD on Jun 29, 2008 12:00 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Realistically Speaking

Wholly reasonable analysis, BigTex. I’m of the mind that the difference between nine and ten wins for the Texans in ‘08 is whether the hometown team goes 2-4 or 3-3 in the division. As you noted, 1-5 was what they did in ‘07, but recall that they did manage to go 3-3 in ‘06 with a vastly inferior team to what we put out there in ‘07.

I go back and forth. I’d really love to trumpet the Texans as a playoff sleeper, but I can’t get over the fact that (1) the division is absurdly tough; and (2) those games at Minnesota, Cleveland, and especially Green Bay (in December, no less) seem like they’re going to be awfully tall orders.

Looking forward to a day when being a Texans fan doesn't mean that April is the highlight of my season...

by Tim on Jun 29, 2008 9:35 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think you’re right, but it’s not a given that any of the three teams you mention (Minn, Clev, GB) will be good this year. Nobody expected the Packers to make it to the NFC title game, and the Vegas total for Cleveland was something like 7 wins. And with Tarvaris Jackson at qb, I’m not so sure that Minnesota is going to be that great. Plus, Aaron Rodgers is a huge unknown.

They could all turn out to be good, or they could all be average or worse—last year’s GB and Minn teams were surprising. Were the good seasons they had last year flukes? It’s possible.

I’m not so sure the Texans can go 3-3 in the division. I think a sweep of the Titans is possible (and would be oh-so delicious), but Indy and Jacksonville are very, very good. So I predict 2-4 in the division. That means they’ll probably have to go 8-2 outside of the division, which I think is a bit of a reach. So I’m going with 8-8 again or 9-7, despite a tangible improvement.

With another year of Smithiak at the helm, the Texans will draft wisely and use free agency responsibly and become a force next year.

I hope.

by tehGrindCrusher on Jun 30, 2008 8:26 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Texans 16-0!

You heard it here first!

What?

Naysayer….

Got Texans? Visit BattleRedBlog.com for the latest on your Houston Texans!

by SOLIS on Jun 29, 2008 11:12 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Road games.

I’m tellin’ ya. Until we get tough on the road, all this playoff talk is just that. Hopefully we’ll improve the awful turnover numbers, and the road games will follow.

by HoustonDiehards on Jun 29, 2008 1:55 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: The Road

Ain’t that the truth. I think the home schedule is exceedingly manageable, but the road portion is beyond Thunderdome. It’s going to take a duplication, or near duplication, of last year’s home record to offset the likely road finish.

Looking forward to a day when being a Texans fan doesn't mean that April is the highlight of my season...

by Tim on Jun 29, 2008 10:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

New equipment

Branching off Tim’s Thunderdome metaphor, I propose that the Texans linemen, both offense and defense, wear Road Warrior-like shoulder pads.

Got Texans? Visit BattleRedBlog.com for the latest on your Houston Texans!

by SOLIS on Jun 30, 2008 9:29 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good idea

And I nominate we draft Oderus Urungus to line up at DE opposite Mario. Should improve our pass rush.

by tehGrindCrusher on Jun 30, 2008 10:13 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

running game to be the difference...

I think you’ll see a true dedication to the running game this year, which might benefit us more than we could possibly imagine. If effective, this should keep Shaub from taking the big shots because teams will need to respect the running game, while making our play action passes more effective. It will also keep our defense off the field, while keeping games close, which should keep our young secondary from constantly being thrown at (though there’s never a guarantee of this).
I really see those things as being huge factors in any win, and if we can do those things, we should be able to compete (and beat) any team we face.
Of course, all this has been said countless times before, but we never had Gibbs.

Will the off-season ever end?

by beefy on Jun 30, 2008 11:51 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

one thing about our division…..it’s definitely not intramurals

by papabear on Jun 30, 2008 9:29 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

What's that?

It must be rainin’ in Oklahoma.

/end inside joke

So you're saying that now I have to think of some witty Sig that will be applicable across all the SBN sites? Go Texan Horn Stros!

by Shake on Jun 30, 2008 11:39 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

just looking at the division schedule

i think we can take the for 1 game. we always have good games against the jags. i think indy will spot us one as well, and if we can sweep the titans then we are talking about 4-2 in the south and overtake the last spot of the playoffs like the titans did last year. also more important than our conference schedule is WE NEED TO STAY HEALTHY. and that stat is something houston has never been able to keep up with. keep shaub upright and a. green in rotation with our young guys and we have a recipe for something special

by kcc28 on Jun 30, 2008 2:06 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Green

I’ve heard rumors that he exists, but have never seen him to confirm.

Yay, sports.

by MDC on Jun 30, 2008 2:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Generally...

Green can be found in various financial institutions around Houston pulling a Scrooge McDuck in their cash vaults. I know that burns your a$$ to hear.

Will the off-season ever end?

by beefy on Jun 30, 2008 2:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Honestly I think 4-2 is a bit optimistic, but I would be glad to be proved wrong on that score.

I’m apparently one of the few people here who doesn’t dislike Ahman Green; I think he’ll do a good job for us. The key, of course, is if he can stay healthy. In order to make sure he and all the Texans do that, I’ve gone to the Texans practice facility and re-buried all the bodies that lie underneath it. Who knew that it was built on an old Indian burial ground? I thought it was old strip clubs and crack houses.

So there should be no injuries this year.

by tehGrindCrusher on Jun 30, 2008 3:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

re:green

@grind: I’m cool with Green also. He was the best RB on our team last year, and is again this year. Getting hurt in week 1, after having a very solid pre-season will apparently turn plenty of stomachs. I just like giving matt the business about him.

Will the off-season ever end?

by beefy on Jul 1, 2008 9:27 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I have no problem with Green.

My problem lies in paying the GNP of Argentina for each carry.

Yay, sports.

by MDC on Jul 1, 2008 12:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Pedictions

Defensive player of the year
Coach of the year
Texans 11-5…..hey some folks thinking the positive thoughts
http://www.nepatriotsdraft.com/2008/07/nfl-hardware-predictions.html

by 1Texan on Jul 3, 2008 6:01 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs