Then stop staying the Texans haven't beaten anybody because they d-stomped the always-contending Steelers last year. Ah, so despite making one playoff appearence in the last five years and being 31-33 in their other four non-playoff seasons, including 8-8 last year, Chicago's 4-1 record is apparently legit but the Texans' 5-1 record isn't? Even though both of our losses this year are to the same team? Is it because they stormed through a murderer's row in their four victories this year against the Colts, Rams, Cowboys and Jags (collective record: 9-13)?
Not the same Texans defense as last year, at least from eyes it isnt. Last year's defense was a lot more active. The pass rush isn't there aside from Watt (who now is getting doubled and sometimes tripled), the secondary has been blown multiple times in games. The rush D has been solid (before Cushing) but still concerning, unlike last year. Chicago went to the NFC CG two years ago. Last year, they were well on their way to it being 7-3 but their two best players on offense got hurt (Forte, Cutler). Also, from what I've seen, the Bears defense is stronger than the Texans defense. Like I said, their core group has already proven they can get it done. Their defense over the past decade has been proven with their main guy being Urlacher.
Last year Houston was 7-3 when Schaub got injured, and the the 3rd string QB was playing, Andre Johnson and Foster were hurt during a part of the season, the three best players only played one quarter together. With Schaub instead of Yates, the Texans could've go to the championship game. Demeco Ryans played hurt too, and he could help the run defense now.
Difference is Schaub has never been to the postseason. Can't compare the Bears to the Texans when the Bears had gone to the NFC CG the previous year with the same core group. All of what you said could possibly have been true, but last years team is different from this years team. The defense isn't playing as high (so far) as it was last season as a whole. The offense has been shaky at times also, Foster is only getting 3.8 yds a carry also, which is down from last year. Until I see a great performance (and by great performance, it doesn't have to be a win) from this 2012 team against a top team, I'm not ready to give them an edge over a proven team like the Patriots.
So... "get it done" = win one playoff game in five years? If that's the standard, then the Texans have proven they can get it done, too. Here are Chicago's defensive ranks since 2007: 28th, 21st, 17th, 9th and 17th. They're 3rd this year. Points allowed: 16th, 16th, 21st, 4th, 14th. They're 1st this year. The only thing their defense has proven is that they've been routinely mediocre. Do you know how many times Jay Cutler went to the postseason before going to the postseason? Zero. It's true - you can look it up. Why is there this magical component attached to a playoff game? TJ Yates started and won one last year - it's not that big a deal. Do you think Schaub would crater from the intense pressure and drive the team into a ditch? They won a single playoff game. That's it. Same as the Texans last year. Stop ascribing it additional significance. I thought we were talking about the Bears? I would wager there are very few, if any Texan fans who would mark a "W" next the Patriot game in ink. They *can* beat them - but obviously the Patriots are very good and even better at home. So congrats - you're arguing with yourself about a subject no one disagrees with. But this idea that the Bears are more legitimate than the Texans is silly. They've beaten four teams with losing records and got curb-stomped by the Packers. Their 2012 resume isn't any more impressive than the Texans'.
If I recall correctly, there has only been two QBs who have been able to torch this Texans defense. And that's: Brees and Rogers. The offense showed up against NO last season and made that a close game, however they did not show up against GB. Simple as that.
crazy scary if he plays like this from here on out.. probably the best qb performance we'll see this year.
10–6 and 9-7 for the last two super bowl winners. You guys might want to chill the **** out and make sure to keep up on any blood pressure meds.
I don't understand what you're trying to argue here. What I said was, I'm not ready to call the Texans the AFC favorites until I see them beat a top team with this core group of guys this year. That's my opinion of this team until I see this team (which is clearly not the same team as last year) beat either Chicago or New England which are the two teams left on the Texans schedule that I feel can contend for a Super Bowl. As far as the Bears defense goes, I only go by advanced stats. I consider football outsiders to be a prominent website for that. So since 2007, it's been 10th, 7th, 21st, 4th, 4th, and 1st this year. It's not a magical component. It's called a playoff game, and it's very different from a regular season game. It's do or die. The Texans win last year was due to their defense, which IMO isn't the same as it was last year just by the eye test. I think it'll have to be more on the offense to win this year than the defense. The whole reason we were talking about the Bears was because I said we would either have to have to show a great performance against 1 of the 2 remaining SB contenders left on our schedule before I would pencil the Texans as the AFC favorites going into the playoffs this year. Feel free to disagree, but that's just my opinion. It's not going to change until I see that performance on the field.
Based on what eye test? They've given up big time points once this season, and that was against an Aaron Rogers in god mode. And once last season, against Brees. Sans this past Sunday night, this defense has continued to be dominate. Even with subpar play from the OLBs and JJ's disapearing act.
