2011 Texans Watch-Another Historic Win In Indy?

The Texans have had a groundbreaking season in terms of going where previous Texans squads have never been.  They have won double digit games for the first time ever.   They have won their first AFC South Division title, clinched their first playoff berth and are in the hunt for the Number 2 AFC playoff seed and a first round bye.  

And tonight they can accomplish something else no Texans team has ever done.  Sweep the Indianapolis Colts for the first time in franchise history.  

They can also accomplish something else they've never done in nine tries by getting their first ever win in Indianapolis tonight as well.

That would definitely be a nice early Christmas gift for us Texans fans.

So after the upset loss to Carolina, they are determined to redeem themselves by winning tonights game. 

They also wish to finish strong and keep themselves in the running for something else the Texans have never accomplished as a franchise in going unbeaten in AFC South division play.

Go Texans!

2011 Texans Watch-Cratering Against Carolina

The Texans went into their game against the Carolina Panthers riding a seven game winning streak, having clinched their first playoff berth and AFC South Division title and in the thick of the race for one of the two AFC playoff byes. 

When it was over they were staring at a 28-13 loss and a short workweek to sort out some problems that have cropped up with turnovers and redzone scoring.

The Texans started slow, and that was fatal against a Carolina team that has a tendency to race out to big leads but can't hold them.   The defense had an off day as well.   The only good thing about this loss was it being a non conference game.

They better set the alarm clock for their return game Thursday night at Lucas Oil Stadium with the Indianapolis Colts.   The Texans have never won in Indianapolis and this is probably their best shot at doing so in franchise history, especially with an NFL Network television audience watching.

2011 Texans Watch-Time To Play Carolina

The 2011 AFC South Division Champion Houston Texans (yes it sounds so good to say that) are in Reliant Stadium kicking off in mere moments against the Carolina Panthers and number one overall pick Cam Newton.

The Texans will being going for their team record eighth consecutive win, trying to extend their season record to 11-3 and stay in the thick of the race for  the AFC first round playoff byes.

The number one ranked Texans defense will have their work cut out for them in trying to contain Cam Newton.  Their thoughts will also turn in the direction of the nearby Texas Medical Center as defensive coordinator Wade Phillips recuperates from gall bladder surgery he had on Thursday.

Just fits the theme of this special Texans season so far in the next man up.

2011 Texans Watch-AFC South Division Champs!

My fave NFL ballers entered this game with the Cincinnati Bengals on a six game winning streak, with the number two defense in the league, and a chance to clinch the franchise's first playoff berth ever with a win and a Tennessee Titans Traitors loss. 

As we Texans fans watched the scoreboard Part One of that playoff equation was playing out in Nashville as the New Orleans Saints were beating the Traitors. 

But the Texans got off to a slow start offensively with two turnovers leading to 10 Bengals points and my favorite NFL ballers trailing at the half 16-3.    

Then came the number two ranked defense to the rescue.  Connor Barwin's early third quarter sack of Houston area native Andy Dalton deep in Bengal territory forced a fumble the Texans offense converted into a Joel Dreesen touchdown to narrow the deficit to 16-10.  After letting Cedric Benson run wild in the first half for 92 yards on 13 carries, he had eight more carries for minus 1 yard to finish with 91 yards for the game and the Bengals were held by the Texans defense to 3 points.  

Then the offense got it together in the fourth quarter.  A Texans 83 yard 13 play drive led to a 33 yard Neil Rackers field goal that narrowed the deficit to 19-13.

And then came The Drive.  The Texans went on a 13 play 80 yard march in 2:31 with no timeouts to get the game winning touchdown on a 6 yard TJ Yates strike to Kevin Walter with two seconds left.  It lifted the Texans to a 20-19 win and erased years of frustration for Texans fans and players.  

It was the team's record stetting tenth win of the season and extended their winning streak to another team record seven games.

Best of all, with the Team Formerly Known As The Houston Oilers losing to the Saints 22-17, it clinched the AFC South Division title and our first playoff berth for an NFL team playing inside Harris County since the Oilers were playing NFL ball in the Astrodome back in 1993.  

There are three games left in the regular season with a home game in Reliant next week against the Cam Newton led Carolina Panthers, the winless Indianapolis Colts and a season ending ballgame at Reliant against the Tennessee Traitors.   But we know for certain the Texans will be playing football beyond New Year's Day 2012.

2011 Texans Watch-Potentially Historic Game Against Bengals

The Houston Texans march into Paul Brown Stadium on a team record six game winning streak, have a 9-3 record and with the number two defense in the NFL.

They also have a chance to do what no Texans team has ever done in franchise history- win ten games.

A win against the Cincinnati Bengals today would not only extend the team win streak to seven games and give them that tenth victory, if the New Orleans Saints help some footballing brothers out and beat the Tennessee Titans Traitors, it would clinch the team's first ever playoff berth and AFC South Division title.

So there will be a lot of anxious people watching the game in H-town to see if the Texans handle their football business today.

2011 Texans Watch-Six In A Row!

The Houston Texans went into Sunday's game at Reliant Stadium against the Atlanta Falcons with a five game winning streak, tied for the best record in the AFC at 8-3 and possessing the NFL's number one ranked defense.

They were however stepping into this game with rookie quarterback T.J. Yates making his first NFL start and a Falcon team that was a sparkling 8-0 against rookie QB's starting their first NFL games.

Make that 8-1 now.   The Texans were pissed about the fact they were considered an underdog in this home game and given no chance to win it. 

Win it they did with a gritty 17-10 victory in which the defense harried and harassed Matt Ryan all day and picked him off twice while the Texans ground game relentlessly chewed up yardage and the clock on the league's number two ranked rushing defense with Arian Foster having another 100 yard rushing day.

It still took a gritty defense stand to salt away this victory in front of a raucous and loud Reliant stadium crowd    However it was a costly win as once again Andre Johnson went down with a hamstring issue.  This time it was his left hamstring and not the surgically repaired one.

Fortunately the MRI came back and stated that Johnson was day to day on this one, so he may not miss much time.and possibly play on Sunday.  

That's a concern, but that's been the story of the Texans this season.  One man goes down, another steps up to take his place and excel in the process.

The Texans win moved them to 9-3 on the season and they stay tied with the Steelers and Ravens for the best record in the AFC.   They also extended their team record winning streak to six consecutive games.

It also put them one step closer to clinching their first playoff berth and AFC South title with a win in Cincinnati Sunday combined with a Tennessee Titans Traitors loss.