The NFL and its networks are routinly braindead, with regards to assessing its own league and the schedule. It drives me BONKERS! There is no excuse for St. Louis or Jacksonville to be on primetime. Ever, really - unless they're legitimately good. They won 7 and 8 games last year. Small markets, pitiful fanbases, boring, faceless teams - it stuns me they each got multiple primetime games (Jacksonville got 3!?!). And if you want to throw Seattle a bone... give them an NFLN game; don't pollute ESPN or NBC with their stench. I don't care if they won a playoff game; they finished 7-9. I'm OK with "upstart" teams like Tampa Bay and Kansas City getting a look - but be cautious and realistic. KC was *obviously* a component of a weak schedule last year; don't give 'em three until they prove it wasn't a fluke. And I get that Miami, Minnesota and Washington are signature franchises - but all lost double-digit games last year - again, NFLN fodder. Given the Texans' offense (which, even last year, was more exciting that any of the teams listed above), I'm shocked they didn't at least get a MNF game. Granted, the NFL got hosed by the Colts; that was beyond their control. But the Jags being on 3 times is just indefensible.
I agree with everything you're saying, but just to play a little Devil's Advocate, look at the Jacksonville situation from the NFL's standpoint. This was an expansion franchise not all that long ago, and in order to justify their decision to put a team there, they need to do SOMETHING to boost excitement. By putting them front and center in primetime games, that might generate enough local (and national) support to revive flat-lining attendance numbers there. Also, I'm sure the Jacksonville owner probably begged for some help from the NFL front office and the networks. I think, like you said in another thread, next year the Texans are going to be on a LOT of television sets during primetime hours.
Great win and the Texans will get some much needed rest...I expect them to come back stronger and with a purpose to get that much needed respect...
I hear you man, but they were no less pathetic. A trip to the playoffs, and (God forbid) one or more... (notgonnasayit) would put to rest 17 years of football frustration in this town.
10000% AGREED I love the Texans dearly , however I wont let that love blind me. When the Raiders stacked the box against our offense...we were exposed. Keep in mind this is the same Raider team that got steamrolled by theBroncos. Yea I know we didnt have AJ , but we still had "offensive juggernauts" such as Foster, Daniels, Casey , Jones and Walter. The Saints game (Brees w/o Colston and Jonathan Vilma) we struggled in the RedZone with AJ several opportunities . We wont have that luxury in the playoffs. I like the love that members have for our beloved Texans, but to welcome the Steelers and Ravens in a playoff game is just stupid. Some even have the nerve to book us into the SuperBowl. With Schaub and Kubiak at the helm , be very very cautious. Its ONLY game for your life, and each blunder carries a TON of weight.
I would hard-pressed to believe they'd put the wellfare of one team - a non-descript, mostly mediocre one, at that - ahead of its league. They do themselves no favors outside of Jacksonville by putting them on primetime, and I doubt they get much traction in Jacksonville given how apathetic that fan base is.
Yes, I'm very concerned about the Texans. Sure, we have 7 wins.....BUT WHAT ABOUT THE 3 LOSSES??? <iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/y8Kyi0WNg40" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
No they were not; they were beaten - but not exposed. On a day most of us agree they played poorly, Schaub threw for 400+ yards; Rackers missed his first >50-yard FG in a year; Vickers dropped a WIIIIIDE OPEN touchdown pass; and they were mere yards away from from hanging 27 and beating the Raiders. Your sentence should have ended there. But without Foster. He's sort of good. What, exactly, is Matt Schaub doing to cause this ever-persistent fear? He's now played six games without Andre Johnson; the team is 4-2 and his QB rating is 93.75. He's thrown 8 TDs and 3 INTs for 1,518. Extrapolate over an AJ-less 16-game schedule: 21 TDs; 8 INTs; 4,048 yards and 11 wins. And during their current four-game win streak, he's thrown 1 INT and been sacked 3 times. Meanwhile, this offense - the one Kubiak built from scratch - is reaching juggernaught status and is playing without its best player (or second-best, depending where you land) - what should we be concerned about with him? I get that they've never been to the playoffs; but nothing that is actually happening right now should be giving anyone anything but hope.
Neither Tennessee nor Tampa were losing teams when we met; we beat them both, on the road, by a combined score of 78-16. It's getting to the point where competition almost doesn't matter if you're dismantling the competition this thoroughly.
I have no problem with this response. Its the "Texans to the SuperBowl" and the "Bring on the Steelers and Ravens" homers who need to drink a cup realism.
In fairness, the season, since week 7 and really through the rest of the year, wins aside, is pretty benign. Atlanta is an interesting match-up and Cincinnati might be a big game - but otherwise, it's a pretty boring schedule and the Texans are rolling their opponents. I don't blame anyone for looking ahead - especially now that they have a week off and there's no game to focus on.
Yes. Pittsburgh will , but Colts almost beat the Steelers. They had o-line from street playing against. However, I give Texans and Matt Schaub credit for pulling out the win once AJ went down. I rather not see, Pitt in the playoffs the second time around esp. since Antonio Brown is coming around. @DMagic I am a troll because I have a different view than you or Ric. Ok...whatever.
