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The roughest thing to do is to blog about a lopsided loss. Wins? Easy. Close losses? It sucks, but you can usually find reasons why your team lost. Big-time losses? All I can do is shrug my shoulders. Everyone knows the Houston Texans are a good team. You do not win 11 games, including victories against Denver, Chicago, and Baltimore, by being bad. The hard part, especially in an article like this, is assigning blame.
I could easily just say get on these guys here, here, here, and here and be done with G.O.A.T.s. While I want the game to be put behind the franchise as they focus on and prepare for a division-clinching tilt against Indianapolis, I also want everyone involved to feel embarrassed and angry at the pitiful performance we witnessed last night. They need to have that chip on their shoulder.
As I draw on my fan database, I remember fondly the 1994 San Francisco 49ers. I remember the 40-8 pasting by the Philadelphia Eagles at home during the regular season. I also remember how the loss fueled their anger going ahead, ultimately ending as Super Bowl XXIX Champions. I know the 2011 New York Giants lost by 25 against New Orleans, the 2009 Saints lost three in a row to enter the playoffs, the 2007 Giants had two 20-plus point defeats, and so on and so forth. Every team needs adversity and Houston now has theirs.
Last time, the Texans responded from a loss by curbstomping Baltimore. Now, Houston will have to play their way to a division championship, first-round bye, and home-field advantage. For a team that seems to have lost its pre-bye way of dominance, it makes me feel better that they do not get to turn it off for multiple weeks. I like the fact that they will have to play hard for three weeks and earn a bye. This team needs to rediscover their edge and this loss could be the catalyst to do so.
In a sense, you could say that I am getting on this entire franchise and getting off my notion of clinching everything as early as possible. 11 wins or not, I know the Reliant fans will not be pleased with a slow start. If Houston has any dreams of any championships, this loss needs to be a wake up call, and this team better come roaring out of the gates for the rest of the season as they face teams with above .500 records for the rest of the year.
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