http://fifthdown.blogs.nytimes.com/...tenders-and-super-bowl-blueprints/?ref=sports texans bit: Houston Texans (10-4) Super Bowl blueprint: 1990 New York Giants Backup quarterback? Check. Elite defense? Check. Dominant running game? Check. T.J. Yates will play the role of Jeff Hostetler, who guided the Giants to the Super Bowl after starter Phil Simms was injured late in the season. Houston ranks second in the league in rushing yards behind only the Tebow Broncos, and possesses an even better running game than the ’90 Giants. Defensively, Houston will finish the season in the top four in both points and yards allowed, and will end the year either first or second in net yards per pass attempt allowed. On paper, Houston is every bit a dominant team everywhere … except at quarterback. Why the blueprint fails: That quarterback thing is pretty important. Can T.J. Yates succeed against some of the best defenses and best defensive minds in the league? He might see Rex Ryan in the first round, Baltimore in the second round, Pittsburgh in the A.F.C. title game and Dom Capers in the Super Bowl. The Giants never asked their inexperienced quarterback to do too much. New York obliterated Chicago in its first game; against San Francisco, it was a one score game from wire to wire. Against the Bills in Super Bowl XXV, the Giants never trailed by more than 2 points in the second half. If Houston can keep every game close, T.J. Yates might not cost them. But against some of the top defenses and defensive minds in the league, there’s no margin for error.
Yeah its interesting, except they compared half the teams to a Giants team and Tebow to Brady. Aside from that, fun read.
true, but it feels good to have a real solid team. this has been a great season and whatever happens in the playoffs is gravy. it really is all on yates. if the game against carolina turns out to be his worst of the year then i think we will do some damage in the playoffs.
To be fair, those Oilers teams of the early 90s WERE Super Bowl contenders year in and year out. They just never got over the hump. The Texans have the pieces to be considered....and I'm not just talking about this year. I have a feeling the next 5 years in Texans Land is going to be
Ancient history. It feels good in the context of how this team was a laughingstock for much of its existence, and in the context of the "here we go again" regression last year. And in the context of how long it's been since we've discussed playoff football in H-town. Screw the Oilers.
Sure, the Oilers had their hysterical/brutal moments throughout their history, but that group would have won at least one Super Bowl if we didn't play in the same period as arguably the greatest team in history.....
many parallels ..... Jeff Hostetler played HUGE though .... had a vertical passing game. T.J. will have the advantage of Andre, but still just needs to be able to manage the game. And hats off to our defense. It is truly becoming a thing to behold and will take us far eventually, if healthy. It's asking an awful lot of that same D to get us there this year with all the injuries, but you never know ....
