Winning Season Eludes Texans

Can you remember the last time a Houston pro football team had a winning season?

Houstonist can. The 1993 Houston Oilers.

That's 15 years too long and it's getting old.The best the Texans can hope for is 8-8 which is the record they had last year. Bob McNair must be getting impatient. This is not what he envisioned when he purchased the team.

The NFL this year has seen the Atlanta Falcons who were 4-12 last year bolt to 10-5 with a rookie quarterback who will be leading them into the playoffs.

And then there's the Miami Dolphins, who were a woeful 1-15 a year ago now sit at 10-5 and are one win away from clinching an AFC East Division title.

When will it be the Texans' turn? After an 0-4 start, the Texans responded by going 7-3 with big wins at Green Bay and a huge win at home home against the AFC's best team, the Tennessee Titans.

The offense is there. The Texans are averaging 377.2 yards per game which is third best in the NFL. Andre Johnson, Steve Slaton, Kevin Walters and a healthy Matt Schaub make for a great set.

Maybe we should all just blame it on the defense. Mario Williams is great. DeMeco Ryans is a stud, but two people can't do it all. This defense is giving up 24.7 points per game which is sixth worst in the NFL and their 339.4 yards per game their giving up ranks 22 out of 32 in the league.

Something has to give. This team needs a defense which compliments its offense. Then and only then can this Texans team compete with the Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans for a shot at a division title.

Santa, can you hear us? Hanukkah Harry, are you taking requests?

Now with another non-winning season looming in the Bayou City, the only thing Houstonist wants for the holiday season is a winning season in 2009. Stay tuned.

Flickr photo: The Brit_2