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Many pundits have opined that the Houston Texans, despite being the worst team in the NFL in 2013, aren't nearly as awful as 2013's 2-14 record makes them appear to be. Typically, that theory is supported by a quick citation to J.J. Watt, Andre Johnson, Brian Cushing, Arian Foster, Duane Brown, and/or any other accomplished player on the roster who would seem to demonstrate that the Texans sport talent at several positions and thus aren't as doomed as most teams coming off a 2-14 campaign. That, plus the 2012 Kansas City Chiefs and 2011 Indianapolis Colts rising from holders of the first overall pick in their respective drafts to playoff teams the following season.
In actuality, as Grantland's Bill Barnwell writes in his season preview of the Texans here, there are several more detailed, data-driven reasons to be bullish on the 2014 Houston Texans (as well as a few reasons to ease up on ordering those playoff tickets). It's worth a read, as it highlights many of the statistically mind-boggling realities (e.g., Matt Schaub's historic pick-sixes in four consecutive games) the plagued the 2013 Houston Texans.
What are your thoughts after reading Barnwell's analysis? Namely, that several statistics portend a bounce back for the good guys this year? Are you buying it? Or are your expectations more tempered?