Hey guys, it’s Ari Alexander with your Texans newsletter and this week we’re really just asking one two-word question...now what?
NOW WHAT?
Recommended Videos
Cardinals coach Dennis Green once said “they are who we thought they were,” and at this point that applies to the Texans. We know they’re better than most if not all the bad teams in the NFL, but have shown very little proof they’re better than the good teams.
They’re in the upper middle class. They’re definitely a playoff team, but they’re the playoff representative from the worst division in the AFC, maybe in all of football.
The Texans are 1-5 vs. winning teams, and 8-2 vs. losing teams. That was not the case last year, when they went 6-4 vs. winning teams and 5-4 vs. losing teams (playoffs included). For all the talk of a “tougher schedule” or a first place schedule, the Texans played significantly more teams with winning records last season. 10 vs. 6.
They have one regular season game remaining vs. a losing team, and then as many games as they can get in the playoffs vs. all winning teams. The Colts could finish 9-8 and make the Texans record vs. winning teams look better, but we kind of know the deal at this point. The Ravens game was a not-all-that shocking reminder where the Texans are - good, but not that good.
WHAT CAN BE GAINED NEXT SUNDAY?
Playoffs-wise, nothing. The Texans are locked into the 4 seed. Confidence-wise, hopefully a lot. The Texans are facing a Titans team that already beat them. Let me be clear - the Titans are not good.
The Texans should absolutely beat the Titans. But it’s the NFL, any given Sunday, etc. etc. and they lost the first matchup. If the Texans enter the playoffs on a 3-game losing streak, which would include getting swept by a Titans team that can finish the year with a max of 5 wins, that would be obviously very bad for the team’s confidence.
If they can beat the Titans, get to 10 wins and finish the year on a high note, maybe they can take that resulting feeling into their first round matchup against (probably the Steelers) their opponent.
WHAT’S NEXT
Relax, Texans fans, the damage has already been done. It’s a Sunday without Texans football, and the team gets to rest a few extra days after their grueling 3-game stretch. Next week Azeez Al-Shaair returns from his suspension and the Texans wrap up their season in Nashville.
READ MORE:
