After back to back disasters from the formerly reliable kicker, I see the Texans chances of making the playoffs go up in flame. Not here to stir up something because it still hurts my stomach to even think about the last 3 weeks. However taking a realistic approach I don't see the Texans having any legit shot at the playoffs. I have looked at all the angles and nothing tells me its going to happen this year. First lets look at the remaining schedule. 11/29 vs Colts 12/06 at Jaguars 12/13 vs Seahawks 12/20 at Rams 12/27 at Dolphins 01/03 vs Patriots Now 3 scenarios Dream scenario: Texans grow a pair and run the table all the way winning out at 11-5. Very possible considering they have lost 4 close games and could very easily be 8-1 with a few plays here an there. Now the problem with this scenario is even 11-5 is no guarantee to make the playoffs in the AFC, remember the Patriots last year went 11-5 and still couldn't get in. Also factor in the tough division with Colts taking the crown, the Jags at 6-4 and very little room for Houston to make a push. Realistic scenario: Loss to Colts and Patriots, both are high power offense with genius QBs at the helm and the Texans secondary is the weakest among playoff contenders. Win the rest and you're 9-7, official out of the hunt. Likely Scenario: Texans actually show up against the Colts and Patriots and actually win. Hooray! But then they lose a game they had no business losing like the one against the Seahawks or Rams which eventually bites them in the back and cost them the season. Final verdict:
one thing you didn't mention - no one in the afc is running away with either WC spot. i mean, as apocalyptic as we are right now... imagine being a steeler fan right now. denver is imploding; the jets are imploding; are the jaguars for real?... these past two weeks have certainly dented the texans' chances; but they're still just a game back with a game left against one of the two leaders in the clubhouse. it's looking more and more like 9-7 *might* get you into the postseason. certainly more likely than a month ago.
I posted this in the Texan/Titan thread but I think the finally part of the season will be torture. The Texans will probably be 9-6 going into the Pats game and be leading only to see Tom Terrific lead the comeback to knock us out of the playoffs. That would cap a 9-7 season, improvement but overall let down.
Yes and read what I said "9-7 and you're out of the hunt, no playoffs" This season was all about going to the playoffs I don't see that happening anymore. Too many good teams ahead of the Texans heck even Titans are ahead in terms of divisional standings. No way the 6 teams ahead just fold and collapse. Also you still have New England on the schedule.
Realistically, the teams in the mix are: Denver 7-4 Jax 6-5 Pitt 6-5 (assuming they lose) Balt 6-5 (assuming they win) Miami 5-6 NY Jets 5-6 Houston 5-6 Tennessee 5-6 Realistically, the Texans have to win out to have any shot (10-6). They can eliminate Miami with a win there, so let's take them out. Jets are a wreck right now, and still have to play Cinci and Indianapolis, so let's eliminate them for simplicity. Jacksonville has a crazy tough schedule left (Houston, Indy, New England) and doesn't look good as is, so we can probably eliminate them. Denver probably gets to 10 easily - they still have KC, KC, and Oakland as three easy wins. Beating Philly would seal it at 11-5, but they probably go 10-6. Pitt still has Oakland and Cleveland as easy wins, so that gets them to 8. Then they need two of Green Bay, Baltimore, and Miami. I'd guess they get to 10-6. Balt has three easy wins against Chicago, Oakland, and Detroit, getting them to 9. They need one of Pitt or Green Bay to get to 10. Tennessee would need a miracle to win 10 straight (including @Indy), but if they did, they'd eliminate Houston based on division record (and then eliminate themselves if there are still 3 teams for the 2 spots). Not sure who would win the tiebreakers with Pitt/Balt/Den/Hou - it all depends who they each lose to. Green Bay is the Texans' best friend right now, which the potential to give both Pitt and Baltimore a much needed loss. Of course, this all changes if Pitt comes back against Baltimore tonight, but right now it's still possible for the Texans to at least get in the tiebreaking mess, especially if NE has nothing to play for in Week 17.
Best case scenario: Take advantage of a lifeless, half empty Jags stadium and play knowing that our season is finished if we don't win. Take care of business against the Seahawks, Rams, and Dolphins - they simply aren't as good/talented as this team, so long as we show up and play a full game of ball (which, sadly, we've failed to do in any game this year). Come home and face a Pats team that has cemented its seeding in the playoffs and is resting its stars. It is conceivable for the Texans to have a dream run and sneak into the playoffs as the final wild card spot. Honestly though? I question their heart - they haven't displayed the desire to put 4 quarters together yet and typically run out of steam at halftime. Can they play 100% for 20 quarters? Can Kubiak pull that out of them? I think odds are less than 50-50 that they pull it out against Jacksonville, especially with MoJo being the type of nightmare matchup that exposes our defense (in particular, the fact that our D-Line has to be bailed out by the LB corps on nearly every rushing down). I think they drop 1 of the 3 in the Sea-Stl-Mia stretch in a typical hairpulling letdown. I think the Pats will have something to play for, with the other division leaders (Chargers, Bengals) keeping too much heat on them for the 2nd Bye.
I can't see us going 10-6. I think 9-7 is very possible, with another 8-8 season looking frighteningly possible. I think we rebound well vs the Jags, handle the Seahawks and Rams, win a tough game against Miami, then probably fall to the Pats who probably run the score up on us.
KC beat the steelers and Oakland beat the Eagles. I'm not sure how you can chalk those 3 games up as easy win for the Broncos. They haven't showed me that they are any better than the Steelers and definitely not a better team than the Eagles. I say denver goes 2-1 over that stretch, at best.
And those games were considered huge upsets and total flukes. KC and Oakland are regarded as two of the worst teams in the league. The Broncos, whether you think they are as good as their record, are not. They *should* be easy wins. That's not to say upsets aren't possible, but if you're going to project out, then the Texans are much more likely to lose any of their remaining 5 games than the Broncos are to lose any of those 3.
yeah, gotta suck hard being a steeler fan right now. i mean, they haven't won a superbowl in almost 10 months! and only 5 championships in franchise history before that? sucks for them! by the way, their next 2 are against the browns and raiders. and they finish up at with packers, ravens, and dolphins, 2 at home, and 1 on the road. they are going 10-5 at minimum. so there is one wild card team. now, we just have to finish ahead of jacksonville, tennessee, denver, baltimore, miami, and the jets! so, good job, kubes! you're worth every penny. i mean an outside chance at winning a 7-team race for the 2nd wildcard spot is all a fan can really ask for, right?
I feel bad for the Jag fans. They're still in the hunt, but games are blacking out and theres always the creeping horror of the team moving.
