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-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.

UH Joins Big East!

The long and agonizing wait for AQ conference status is over at Cullen Blvd. Starting on July 1, 2013 the University of Houston will say goodbye to their charter membership in C-USA that they've had since the breakup of the SWC in 1996 and will join the Big East conference in all sports 

Coming to the Big East with them will be fellow C-USA schools SMU and Central Florida and football only members Boise State and San Diego State.  

"Over the last 32 years, the Big East Conference has constantly evolved along with the landscape of college athletics," said Big East Commissioner John Marinatto. "The inclusion of these five great Universities, which bring a unique blend of premier academics, top markets, strong athletics brands and outstanding competitive quality, marks the beginning of a new chapter in that evolution. We are proud to welcome these schools to the Big East family.

"Much like the conference as a whole, the Big East name -- though derived 32 years ago based on the geography of our founding members -- has evolved into a highly respected brand that transcends borders, boundaries or regions. It's national. Our membership makeup is now reflective of that."

UH President and Chancellor Renu Khator had this to say about the Cougars joining the Big East.

“I am honored and very pleased to accept the invitation to be a member of the Big East family,” Khator said. “Our vision at the University of Houston is to be a nationally competitive university in every field: research, student success and athletics. This affiliation gives us an opportunity to play in a nationally competitive environment and to show our talents on a national stage.

“This is a game-changer for us, and I know everybody here is very excited.”

We sure are President Khator.  The addition of UH, SMU,.Central Florida, Boise State and San Diego State brings the number of Big East football playing schools to 10 members as it seeks to add the two additional schools the conference needs in order to host a Big East championship game.

The rumblings about the Big East losing their AQ status when the current BCS contract expires at the end of that season are the least of our worries right now since we have other institutions trying to hire Kevin Sumlin away from us. 

Joining the Big East may help us retain his services.

The AQ conference status will make it easier to continue the progress toward upgrading Hofheinz Pavilion and constructing the new football stadium as part of UH president and chancellor Renu Khator's push for UH to have Tier One status in athletics to go hand in hand with the Tier One academic status.

We UH alums along with the school administration and current students are ecstatic about the news that we're finally members of an AQ conference again starting in 2013 and look forward to seeing the Coogs competing in Big East play in all sports.