I was on ESPN.com reading Kuharsky's blog and I came across this statement: [rquoter]"Barring another big injury, it should not be difficult for the Texans to win 11 games."[/rquoter] It got me thinking that before the season, many of us predicted a record of around 11-5, give a take a few wins. But now that we're 6-1 heading into the bye, we'd have to go 5-4 in the 2nd half and somehow that seems like it would be a little disappointing. To lose only one of our first 7 games then to lose 4 of our last 9, even if one comes in week 17 if we're resting our starters for the playoffs. So I thought I'd ask, now that we're 6-1, what do you believe our final record will be? A reminder of our remaining schedule and their current W-L. 11/4 - vs. Buffalo (3-4) 11/11 - @ Chicago (4-1) 11/18 - vs. Jacksonville (1-5) 11/22 - @ Detroit (2-3) 12/2 - @ Tennessee (3-4) 12/10 - @ New England (4-3) 12/16 - vs. Indianapolis (3-3) 12/23 - vs. Minnesota (5-2) 12/30 - @ Indianapolis (3-3)
W- 11/4 - vs. Buffalo (3-4) L- 11/11 - @ Chicago (4-1) W- 11/18 - vs. Jacksonville (1-5) W- 11/22 - @ Detroit (2-3) W- 12/2 - @ Tennessee (3-4) L- 12/10 - @ New England (4-3) W- 12/16 - vs. Indianapolis (3-3) L- 12/23 - vs. Minnesota (5-2) W- 12/30 - @ Indianapolis (3-3) 6-3 from here on out; 12-4 for the season. Should be more than enough for home-field advantage at least until the AFC championship.
I'm saying 13-3 as well. We'll lose one of Chicago or New England and maybe drop another. Detroit kind of sucks this year, I'm not predicting a loss against them.
I think we lose to NE and Indy II(resting our starters and Indy might have something to play for wk 17)
13-3. Although, that could be 14-2 since the Pats look beatable. That would basically be a three week layoff. I'm not sure if that works any more.
13-3 Losses @ Chicago and NE. No letting down. They will play through week 17 because they're going to have a bye week.
12-4 W- 11/4 - vs. Buffalo (3-4) L- 11/11 - @ Chicago (4-1) W- 11/18 - vs. Jacksonville (1-5) W- 11/22 - @ Detroit (2-3) W- 12/2 - @ Tennessee (3-4) L- 12/10 - @ New England (4-3) W- 12/16 - vs. Indianapolis (3-3) W- 12/23 - vs. Minnesota (5-2) L- 12/30 - @ Indianapolis (3-3) I see us resting starters and taking the L on the last game of the season.
I’ve always argued that, while not an excuse – the Texans were certainly handed a raw deal in that their launch coincided with the prime dominance of Peyton Manning. Between 2002 and 2010, the Colts never won fewer than 10 games and averaged 12 wins/season. Worse, between 2002 and 2008, the AFC South had at least two teams win 10+ games in five of those seven seasons, including 2007 when all three won at least 10. For an expansion team, to try and grow-up in that environment… it was going to be tough. But then when you widen your perspective, the Colts were actually the *second*-best team in the conference over that stretch as New England won 110 games to Indianapolis’ mere 109. Oh, and by the way, the Steelers won 93, including at least 9 wins every year dating back to 2004. Yeah, and they all won 5 Super Bowls and altogether played in the season's final game in 8 over those 9 years*. Collectively, those three teams turned in exactly four non-10-win seasons and one losing season. Meanwhile, they posted 16- and 15-win seasons, and five 14-win seasons. They won 12, or more, games 15 times in 9 seasons and went 312-120 overall. The Texans’ inauguration literally coincided with one of the most dominant AFC stretches in the history of the NFL. So to finally be good – really, really, Colts’ 2002-10 good – and have the AFC collectively hit a bit of a funk… I mean, the universe owes the Texans exactly nothing – but, man oh man, it sure does make up for the hell they had to endure. * Trivia – without looking it up, can you name the lone AFC team between 2002 and 2010 (regular seasons, so the 2003-2011 Super Bowls) that did not hail from Indianapolis, Massachusetts and/or Pennsylvania?
Sticking to 12. I think the range is still 12, +1/-2 I don't expect a clean sweep in the division. Those games are always a minefield. Chicago, Detroit, New England, and (shockingly) Minnesota are not sure things by any stretch. But wow, are we set up nicely going into the bye. Currently in the driver's seat.
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What I don't like is looking at the schedule, finding the only good teams left and then predicting losses in those games. Right now, the only team with a winning record that we've beaten is Baltimore. The only teams left currently with winning records are Chicago, New England, and Minnesota. If we're a legit contender, I gotta believe we're going to win at least 2 of those 3. Then it's just a question of if we're going to tank the last game and/or lose focus and lose to a team we should beat.
I would stay with my initial prediction of 11-5. Games to worry about is Patriots, Bears, Lions and I also figure they would lose a game to an in division team that should not of lost to. They Raven which I originally had them loosing and I had them going 2-2 against NFC north. Chicago will be a tough game, and the Lions I think we should be okay against, but I still worry about those two games, because they are good opponents.
It'll probably be 13-3 or 12-4 if we can stay healthy and take care of business. Possibles losses: @CHI, @ NE, @INDY @CHI, @NE - Two big time opponents on the road on national tv, it's possible. @INDY - If we decide to rest our starters, I can see this being a loss.
