Closing Time: Texans Preview 12/28

As the Texans 2007 campaign draws to a close on Sunday against the Jaguars, putting a bow on top of the most improved season in franchise history, we can look back at the highlights and lowlights.

Pros: Mario Williams, the rock solid consistency of healthy Andre Johnson, Mario Williams, rookies Fred Bennet and Abomi Okoye, Mario Williams, possible tradebait Sage Rosenfels, Mario Williams, the revived Ron Dayne, Mario Williams, DeMeco Ryans' appearance on the national radar and the Pro Bowl, Mario Williams.

Cons: Injuries, Travis Johson's dangerous on-field antics, injuries, HPD's treatment of Fred Weary, injuries, Cedric Killings' near-paralysis, injuries, Demarcus Faggins' uncanny ability to look like a Pop Warner player when faced with a real wide receiver, injuries, the rotting corpse of Ahman Green, injuries.

There's a theme in there, but we're still searching for it. Anyway, the Jags are playoff bound and may be resting their starters, so the likelihood of the Texans walking away with a W and a franchise-first .500 record against their perinneal nemesis from northern Florida is pretty good. Jack Del Rio isn't talking about whether or not he'll be giving his players a rest, but the Texans can definitely count on a ground attack built behind the two-headed monster of Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew for at least part of the game.

After sweeping the Jags in 2006 and getting shown up 37-17 earlier this season in Jax, the Texans are ready to re-establish their winning ways. Matt Schaub will remain on the bench for the game, allowing Sage a fifth consecutive start. Schaub could see some action in the game, especially if Rosenfels replicates his turnover-wacky performance from last week. The Texans released running back Adimchinobe Echemandu this week to make room on the roster for DT DelJuan Robinson, who could supplant Travis Johnson after TJ's latest outburst. Without Echemandu, the running game will rest on rookie Darius Walker, who is running out of opporunities to show the Texans' management that they shouldn't draft an tailback very early in 2008.

It's been a hopeful season overall for the Texans, and with the foundation that Gary Kubiak has laid this year, next year should be the year that the boys in Deep Steel Blue make the leap from AFC South spoilers to genuine playoff contenters.

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Jaguars at Texans
Reliant Stadium
12:00pm, CBS and SportsRadio 610 AM.

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Photo: flickr user aggiechristine