After a season where a few early doses of bad luck went against them, the Texans finished strong on Sunday against the Chicago Bears, beating the Windy City boys 31-24 and preventing them from making the NFC playoffs. The Texans finished the season on an 8-4 run, setting the stage for continued success in 2009.
The offense got back on track after the previous week's shelacking in Oakland, with 328 passing yards from Matt Schaub, and more than a hundred rushing yards from the Steve Slaton/Ryan Moats tandem. Schaub to Andre Johnson continued to be a more frequent hook-up than Paris Hilton and A Random Dude With Hair Gel; the Bears gave away the middle of the field frequently, allowing Johnson to run slants with impunity.
The Bears made the game appear closer than it actually was; after falling behind 10-0 in the first quarter, the Texans dominated thereafter. The Bears final touchdown came in the waning moments of the fourth quarter, with the Texans' defense in a soft prevent defense. But margin of victory is for losers and the BCS: the Texans won against a good team at home, and that's all that matters.
Gary Kubiak made some decisions about the coaching staff today. Defensive coordinator Richard Smith has been a favorite scapegoat all season for his lackluster playcalling, and he got his walking papers today, along with several other defensive coaches. The good folks at DGDB&D are already handicapping the race to find his replacement.
Though the season has ended sooner than some were predicting when 2008 began, the Texans have a lot of reasons to be hopeful heading into 2009. A strong offense, and some key stars on defense should have them in the thick of the AFC playoff hunt next year.
And because it had to be said: screw the Cowboys.
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Photo: flickr user finnadat
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