December 31, 2012
Slumping Texans Host Wild Bengals
by Bob Hulsey

Most NFL teams would rejoice at a 12-4 record, a division title and a third seed in the AFC playoffs, but that isn't true for the 2012 Houston Texans. That's because they were in the driver's seat for the first seed and a first-round playoff bye the entire season until a 1-3 slump to end the year forced them to play a first-round game fans were expecting to avoid.

In Houston, a city that has experienced plenty of bizarre football letdowns, what was a confident fan base is now back in the same mood they were when Gary Kubiak's squads were 8-8 and missing the playoffs.

Last year, the Texans overcame injuries to Matt Schaub, Mario Williams and Andre Johnson to win the AFC South and, as a reward, hosted the struggling Cincinnati Bengals in the first playoff round, whom they beat before losing the next week in chilly Baltimore.

This year, the Texans appeared to overcome the loss of Brian Cushing but entered the playoffs with no other major injuries, yet the offense has stopped clicking and the defense has become vulnerable to big plays and third-down meltdowns.

Their fate is to, again, face the Bengals at home in the first round. These cats, however, have won seven of their last eight and will come into Reliant Stadium (Saturday, 3:30 CST, NBC) with all the swag in their corner.

Time for a little reality check. All four losses this year were against teams that made the playoffs themselves; two came on the road in venues where they have never won as a franchise. No shame in that.

What is deflating is how little fight the Texans showed in their four defeats and how underwhelming Schaub and the offense performed when it truly mattered. Since winning the Slugfest in Chicago, Houston has looked more vulnerable than the dominant squad of the season's first half.

The Texans have suffered all year for the release of RT Eric Winston and RG Mike Brisiel, failing to find suitable replacements. That has hurt the running game which sets up the play action passes that make Schaub look like Aaron Rodgers instead of Mister Rogers. Late season injuries to the defensive back seven have also hurt while the pass rush, other than J.J. Watt, appears almost absent.

Teams have limped into the playoffs before and suddenly gained momentum to reach the Super Bowl. The New York Giants under Tom Coughlin were making an art form out of it. But just as new as the dizzying heights were for the Texans are how to handle the tumble back to earth.

Which Texans show up this Saturday may be the legacy for this season. A collapse will bring back memories of the 1992-1993 Houston Oilers, squads brimming with talent who couldn't get it done in the postseason. A win may steady their legs only to force them to confront the place where their nightmare began - in chilly New England against Tom Brady and the fast-break Patriots.

The Texans had it all set up to play that game in Houston, but they fell flat against the Vikings and Colts at the end to put them in the position they are now. How they handle it will be a major indication of the mettle of the players and coaches Rick Smith has assembled.

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