Houston Texans – Blog

The Stretch Run

Commentary from “Voice of the Texans” Marc Vandermeer of SportsRadio 610 AM:

I keep getting asked by fans and media alike: “What do the Texans have to play for?” Glad you asked.

It goes without saying that the Texans’ playoff chances are microscopic. But as long as there is the slightest possibility, there is incentive to perform at their best.

There is also the ‘better than nothing’ chance of having a non-losing season. It’s hardly a satisfying consolation, but it’ll have to do. And trust me, there isn’t a coach in sports at any level who wouldn’t take .500 right now under the current circumstances.

Barring one of the greatest football miracles ever, the Texans have failed to accomplish their goals this season. The games have been close. Most of the losses have been down to the wire, but this could be their worst season since ‘06.

They have fallen behind and rallied from double-digit deficits six times this year and won two of those games. Every team has bad days, wild games, unexpected phenomenon and contests that hinge on one or two plays. Good teams find a way to win more of those games than they lose. It‘s as simple as that.

Houston’s annoying and perplexing bad habit of starting slow has effectively killed its postseason chances. It’s a shame because this team has a ton of talent on offense and enough defensive talent to do better than they have. Bob McNair has said the team is underperforming, which is clear. What is not clear is how to solve the current problems.

Gary Kubiak and his staff have three games left in 2010 to prove that the losing recipe in six of the last seven games was a bad nightmare that, yes, cost them a season but has now been corrected. If the trauma continues, the Texans venture into the wilderness of an offseason with labor strife and more questions about their future.