So what?

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by Nconroe

I think the so what is that the team is learning to win, to have confidence in themselves as a team.

Learning to win is indeed one of the hardest things to do in the NFL. And being an expansion team with no history makes it doubly tough to learn to win. Kubiak has had his hands full teaching this team to A) be a team, B) believe in it's self, C) Win at home, D) Win anywhere.

Interesting stat, since 11/23 of last year this team is 5-2 on the road.

We are currently 3rd in the AFC in scoring,
We are 8th in pts allowed in the AFC. After the slow start, the team has played itself into a nice place.

If this team wins the next 3 games this town will be going nuts.
If they split with Indy and beat the Titans, then they will start to be noticed by average citizen in Houston.

I am hoping for the 3 big wins against the division rivals, this town will be nuts just like the House of Pain days. NBT and I have been waiting for this team to mature a long time, and they will have matured if they are 8-2. or 7-3.

Think about it, if we win on Sunday at Lucas Oil, what do you think the stands will be like on the Monday Night when VY comes to town? Utter chaos.

[painekiller]

So what? We are 5-4 with a medium sour taste. Small issues still plague this team, but unlike the past, I am seeing a gleamer of hope.

Reason to believe:
We had a chance to tie or beat the Colts even though we had 13 penalties for 103 yds.
" " even though we did not get a 1st down until Indy had 16 of them.
" " even though we barely touched the ball in the 1st half, we out gain the Colts.
Our Defense is becoming a strength of this team.
Frank Bush and staff seem to be making key adjustments at half time.


Reason to not believe:
Schaub makes that pass or two every game that makes you think. "What?"
Our running game has not gelled.
Stupid Turnovers.
Bad coaching decisions

[NBT]

Agreed PK. And to be 10-6, with a shot at a playoff, we have to win 5 of the last 8. It can be done. Like you say we have waited a long time for that to happen. But we can't have anymore of those squirrely momentum reversing plays. We have to be airtight from here on, or it will for sure be, "So What"!

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by NBT

Agreed PK. And to be 10-6, with a shot at a playoff, we have to win 5 of the last 8. It can be done.

Check your math NBT, I'm afraid it's 5 of 7 which makes 10 wins more than possible, but unlikely.
I dunno, but really think our fate to miss the playoffs again this year was sealed way back in September when we lost those first 2 home games to the Jets and Jags. Dang, at the very least we should have won one of them, preferably the game against our division opponent, the Jags.
Remember that September schedule this year, unlike the one in 2008, was much more friendly but Kubiak failed to take advantage of it.

[painekiller]

IMO We need to win the games in blue.


Mon. 23 TITANS
Sun. 29 COLTS
Sun. 6 @ Jaguars
Sun. 13 SEAHAWKS
Sun. 20 @ Rams
Sun. 27 @ Dolphins
Sun. 3 PATRIOTS

Colts is a throw away game. No way do we beat the Colts 3 times in a season, so the lose on Sunday did not matter, the next game against the Colts, if we win then we know we can, if we don't win, we might miss the playoffs. 6 teams have fewer loses than we do, and based on wins Pittsburgh/Cincy and San Diego have the inside track to the playoffs.

I agree with nunusguy, if we miss the playoffs, it's due to September lose to the Jags, and the Cards.

[Roy P]

Originally Posted by painekiller

IMO We need to win the games in blue.


Mon. 23 TITANS
Sun. 29 COLTS
Sun. 6 @ Jaguars
Sun. 13 SEAHAWKS
Sun. 20 @ Rams
Sun. 27 @ Dolphins
Sun. 3 PATRIOTS
\playoffs.

due to September lose to the Jags, and the Cards.

I could see us losing to the Dolphins. If we had only beat Jax and Arizona, then we wouldn't be having this converation.

[nunusguy]

IMO the season, if the season/seasons-success is defined as making the playoffs, comes down to winning both of the the next 2 games of which the first one vs the Titans will be more challenging than the second vs the Colts.
If we can accomplish that then we are down to winning 3 of the remaining 5 games which includes the Rams & Seahawks in Reliant. Of course this would all be predicated upon 10 wins getting us qualified into the playoffs.
I have to admit based upon the teams performance to this point in this year I have a different attitude about them than I've ever had and that's based upon our new and improved defense. Led by new Texan starters Antonio Smith, Bernard Pollard, & Brian Cushing we have for the first time ever a respectable verging on a superior defensive unit.