2009 Playoffs

[flatoniakid]

Do you guys \ gals feel we have a good chance of getting to the playoffs next season ?
If so , how deep do you project us going ?
IMO, I see us making to the second round or deeper,if we stay healthy.

[dbruder44]

Unless we we have to face New England, there should not be another AFC team we can beat. (Not saying we would be incapable of beating them) but...

Both the Jags and Colts are losing coaching talent we are gaining it. With two years in a row of big injuries, I think we can have health's luck on our side finally and claim a wildcard if not challenge for the division.

From there I don't see us just flopping in any games. The best thing about last season was we were in every game, except 2-3 at halftime. We will have to go 3-3 or better to win our division. We have a excellent home schedule, but a brutal road schedule this year. We need to go 6-2 at home and 4-4 on the road, maybe 7-1 home and 3-5 road.

[zanth91]

I want a home playoff game! :)

[stontexan]

Playoffs! playoffs? are you kidding me? playoffs?

jk...we'll will have to do better than 1-5 in our division.

[msmith]

Playoffs! playoffs? are you kidding me? playoffs?

jk...we'll will have to do better than 1-5 in our division.

...hahaha. :)

[Texanf@n]

I don't think we will see the playoffs this coming season.
We are an improving team and I expect to see more improvement in '08 but we don't have the depth on our roster to get to and maintain any steam into the playoffs.

I think we are still a year away from being a serious contender.....I do think that when we arrive at contender status we will be there for a while because we will have a "deep" roster that Kubiak has put together. I see us becoming a team that players are going to "want" to play on.

[Texanf@n]

Just curious how you come to that conclusion? We finished 8-8 in the freaking AFC South after our starting QB and our star WR missed nearly half of the season and having an insane amount of starters on IR. Barring another season with an insane amount of injuries along with our allstar coaching staff, we should be a lock for the playoffs along with being serious contenders within our division this year. I do however agree with everything else you stated, just not the first sentence.

Well, I think that all of the other teams in the AFC South are going to improve also. I think (but I could be wrong) that Indy, Jax and the Hillbillies all have considerably more cap room than we do and I have no reason to think any of them are going to stay the same or get worse. The AFC South is going to emerge as THE conference in the NFL before this is all over with and that will be because our conference will be "talent heavy".
As far as the Texans go, I just feel like we still have some building to do before we become contenders.....we are getting closer but we just aren't there yet., we need more depth than we have right now....but it WILL happen! I just don't think it will be this coming season. Hey, I could be wrong and would love it if I were.

[GT]

I look for us to make a serious run at the wildcard.But in order for us to do so we will have to hand the Tacks two losses next year and split with the Jags.Now if we can split with the Colts who knows what is possible.With the addition of Gibbs and Rhodes this is a very real possibility, these two bring far too much knowledge to be ignored.What I know for sure is that Kubes has said the goal for this team next season is a run at the playoffs.....anything less would be a disappointment.;)

[Texanf@n]

With the addition of Gibbs and Rhodes this is a very real possibility, these two bring far too much knowledge to be ignored.What I know for sure is that Kubes has said the goal for this team next season is a run at the playoffs.....anything less would be a disappointment.;)

Gibbs and Rhodes should add up to at least 2 more wins next season IMO. And needless to say, Kubiak "playoffs or bust" attitude is going to account for even more sucess. You know, the AFC South is probably going to be nothing short of a "Dog Fight" in '08......I can't wait!!!

[Wolf123]

Definatly looking forward to the playoff push next year!

[Jwwillis1]

If we can have just ONE freakin season without 12+ peeps on IR, we will go to the playoffs.

[Towlie]

we must take out manning... Let's sign haynesworth

[Texanf@n]

we must take out manning... Let's sign haynesworth

I have a feeling Al is going to be back with the Hillbillies next year, they can afford to pay him.......mucho cap room!!

[GT]

I have a feeling Al is going to be back with the Hillbillies next year, they can afford to pay him.......mucho cap room!!I really hope Bud offers the man the moon, Fat Albert will not be the same as he was this year after he gets his money.This will be his last big contract and he knows this, so this year he really stepped it up.By the way the reason the Tacks have the cap room is because Bud does not spend money on his team......never has and never will.

[HydrOshocK]

I'm somewhat superstitious when it comes to predicting things so I'm not going to make any bold guarantees, but I will say that I expect us to make a serious push to get into the playoffs. In order for it to happen we MUST be more competitive in the AFC South, which I believe we will be, and continue our winning ways on our own home field. We were only a couple of games away this season so I see no reason why we can't do it next season.

But remember, getting to the playoffs and competing in the playoffs are two different things. I won't be satisfied with just getting there. If we make it we need to make a statement while we're there.

[Texanf@n]

But remember, getting to the playoffs and competing in the playoffs are two different things. I won't be satisfied with just getting there. If we make it we need to make a statement while we're there.

I agree with this statement 100%. It's a long, rough season and in order to make that statement when we get there, we need depth on our team and more weapons than a good passing game.

[ReliantTexan]

I really hope Bud offers the man the moon, Fat Albert will not be the same as he was this year after he gets his money.This will be his last big contract and he knows this, so this year he really stepped it up.By the way the reason the Tacks have the cap room is because Bud does not spend money on his team......never has and never will.What are you talking about?! He signed Eric Moulds, didn't he.:D

[GT]

I agree with this statement 100%. It's a long, rough season and in order to make that statement when we get there, we need depth on our team and more weapons than a good passing game.This is really more on the easyside than the get raw how you feel question.So even if we made the playoffs or have a chance to make the playoffs you would not want to play in that game even if deep down inside you knew we would get blown out?

Personally I would take the playoff appearance this upcoming season even if it meant a sure fire first round pack your bags and go home game.To me this is just another step forward.....**** i was tickled pink to reach 8-8 for the first time in franchise history.

As for serious contention we are two years out and I believe this to be true.This year we add a little more depth and the following we seriously pursue a few big FA's to help us contend.But hey this is just my .02 worth.

[GT]

What are you talking about?! He signed Eric Moulds, didn't he.:DLMAO good one :D

[stontexan]

By the way the reason the Tacks have the cap room is because Bud does not spend money on his team......never has and never will.

Ain't that the truth, and one of the reasons the Oilers even in their best years were always a day late and a dollar short.
I felt we should have split the Titians this year - they only made the playoffs because the Colts sat out.

[robertcraft]

I think its too early to be talking about playoffs. Rite now we should be talking about free agents and the Draft.

[GT]

Ain't that the truth, and one of the reasons the Oilers even in their best years were always a day late and a dollar short.
I felt we should have split the Titians this year - they only made the playoffs because the Colts sat out.Agreed 110%...What the Tacks have is a good defense which we should be able to handle this year. ;)

[coachdent]

I think we can all agree that we like the direction that the team is going. There seems to be a plan in action which is something that was definitely missing.

We begin to put more pieces to the puzzle together in free agency. Depending on how that goes and how well the #1 pick pans out, will determine if we are a playoff team next year.

I gotta think that we are certainly in the conversation next year and should very well be in the thick of it come November and December. If we played in any other division in football, our optimisim would grow a ton!

To compare to a team in my nekc of the woods...who would you rather be right now, the Texans at 8-8 or the Philadelphia Eagles at 8-8? Believe me, after talking to folks around my parts, they are finding it difficult to see much of a silver lining in their season, nor in the prospects for next year either. I think that speaks volumes to the direction to where our franchise is right now.

[oilerman99]

I see every team in the division with a very good shot at 10 wins let alone play-offs.....The AFC South imo is the best division in the league....I see the Colts dropping some, but Jax, Ten, and Houston are all on the rise.

[GT]

I see every team in the division with a very good shot at 10 wins let alone play-offs.....The AFC South imo is the best division in the league....I see the Colts dropping some, but Jax, Ten, and Houston are all on the rise.We need at least four wins in our division to make the playoffs and that will be a hard task to accomplish but it is possible.

[Rosstafarian]

Well the NFL being what it is, you have to think that at least a few teams in the league will surprise you. A few teams who should be improving will actually falter, and a few teams who many thought wouldn't be good will ascend. So with that, for the Texans to make the playoffs next year at least one team, and possibly two teams will have to falter in the South for the Texans to ascend.

My picks would be the Colts and the Jags. The Jags have shown a few times that one year they get to the playoffs, next year they don't. One year they're good, next year Jags fans want to murder the entire team. The reason I think the Colts will falter is nothing more than the fact that they have been on top for so long, that I think this will be the year they make it in on a wildcard.

After that, I think the Texans still need to have a really strong offseason where they make a lot of good but cheap FA pickups (Like they are doing right now with the O-line in signing Stevenson, Okobi, and whomever else they've picked up), a great draft, and solid OTA's and TC.

So I think the Texans are definitely close enough talent wise to be able to make the playoffs, I think we just need a little outside help from our friends in the AFC South.

[kcwilson]

I don't think we will see the playoffs this coming season.
We are an improving team and I expect to see more improvement in '08 but we don't have the depth on our roster to get to and maintain any steam into the playoffs.

I think we are still a year away from being a serious contender.....I do think that when we arrive at contender status we will be there for a while because we will have a "deep" roster that Kubiak has put together. I see us becoming a team that players are going to "want" to play on.

You haven't seen what kind of moves we have made yet (Because they haven't been made) to determine depth as a sole criteria for us not being in the playoffs.

Seems a bit premature to say depth is an issue when we have yet to make those moves to improve depth.

[Vincesanity10]

Ain't that the truth, and one of the reasons the Oilers even in their best years were always a day late and a dollar short.
I felt we should have split the Titians this year - they only made the playoffs because the Colts sat out.

10-6 and putting yourself in position for the Colts to rest their players don't count...yeah

[Yosarian]

Oh yeah, we're winning the super bowl next year. Maybe even go undefeated.

:D

[stontexan]

Ain't that the truth, and one of the reasons the Oilers even in their best years were always a day late and a dollar short.
I felt we should have split the Titians this year - they only made the playoffs because the Colts sat out.
10-6 and putting yourself in position for the Colts to rest their players don't count...yeah

Cleveland had a better 10-6, Titans had to win that game to make it in, so yeah...I stand by that statement.

[Sportswriter79]

The case against making the playoffs: Although we were 8-8 last year, most of the wins were against losers like the Chiefs (4-12), Panthers (7-9), Dolphins (1-15), Raiders (4-12), Saints (7-9) and Broncos (7-9). The two wins that we had against winning teams - Bucs (9-7) and Jags (11-5) occurred as they rested starters. Our first breakeven season wasn't that impressive, as we finished a stunning 1-5 in our division, with the only win being against the Jags non-starters. Finally, our schedule gets tougher in 2008.

The case for making the playoffs: We were decimated by injuries too, and in spite of the obstacles, we managed to win 8 games. If we get our starters back, we could be a better team.

Personally, I don't feel that we really know what we have in Schaub yet. He has looked absolutely great at times but hasn't been able to stay on the field. If he can stay healthy and we get some help in key positions (RB, DB, O-Line, D-Line) then we should be able to compete against the AFC South. We need a running back very badly to exploit the rest of our offense though.

[GT]

For the Texans to make the playoffs they need grow some balls instead of losing the ball all the time!!!!!Glad to see you haven't change your outlook. :cool:

[Wolf123]

I see Schaub makeing a big jump in his 2nd year starting and the texans getting the wild card.

[Wolf123]

Obviously you were not aware that the Giants were 8-8 last year and won the Super Bowl this year. That means we are a lock to be Super Bowl Champs next year!

http://www.insidefurniture.com/insidefurniture/images/duh_can.jpg

Oh my mistake

[GT]

Get with the program man.You tell him dude.....go ahead.......tell him McClain said he believes we know the Texans are going to the big dance. :rolleyes:

[Wolf123]

I can't keep up with all these pie in the sky dreams

[GT]

I can't keep up with all these pie in the sky dreamsDon't worry I dream half of them and can't keep up myself. ;)

[Whiskeyrbl]

If Smith and Kubes can have another good draft as we have had the past two years, I expect the Texans to be a strong team. However our season will come down to how many injuries we have and how many turnovers we give up. We have good, young talent at MOST positions. And with all the injuries the past two years they have gotten valuable playing experience. If we can stay healthy, protect the ball, have a good draft, and make a lil' noise in FA we should be able to win 10 games. Is that good enough to make the playoffs? Yes, if 3-4 of those wins are in our division. We may still be one more year away from the playoffs, but I will keep that koolaid cold in the box and say we might just squeak in this year.