The fanbase of your Houston Texans generally thought this was going to be the year. The year of what, you might ask? Some people (this humble/moronic blogger included) thought this would be the year the Texans finished with a winning record. Others thought this'd be the year the Texans finally snagged a wild card spot. No one, and I mean NO ONE (that I remember, anyway) thought there was a chance that this season could rival the horror of 2005. Of course, no one counted on a hurricane shuffling the team's 2008 schedule, either.
Now, I'm not saying we're headed for a two (2) win season. This team, flawed as it may be, has far too much talent for that. I will, however, say this: Sunday's tilt hosting the Colts is quite simply the biggest game the Texans will play all season. Win, and the Texans are 1-3, with another three (3) home games in a row against teams that are probably not playoff contenders. The Texans have never won three (3) games in a row, so it's a gigantic leap of faith to call for them to take the next four (4) consecutive games. But taking three out of those four? I do not believe that's altogether crazy. Blurred by battle red glasses, perhaps, but not outside the realm of possibility.
Lose on Sunday though, and that's 25% of the season gone with nary a single win. I'm no mathematician, but that would mean a winless Texans team would have to go 9-3 the rest of the season to post a winning record. Fandom and optimism aside, that's a very remote possibility. The most realistic, best-case scenario after starting 0-4, I'd think, would be .500 the rest of the way. And that would mean a final record of 6-10, which would be tough, if not damn near impossible, to call anything but a failure of a season.
Thus, here we are. Three (3) days away from the tipping point of the 2008 Texans season. Win, and the majority of the fanbase is likely still guzzling the Kool-Aid and chalking up the 1-3 start to quality opponents and/or bad luck. Lose, and...well, I don't even want to think about it, but rest assured that the bloom will be completely off the rose at Reliant Park.