Realistically? 7-9. I wouldn't be surprised if we went 5-11 or 11-5. This team is very talented and injury prone with a new coach, I won't be surprised with any record. I don't expect a season like last season, that felt like the dark David Carr days.
In the playoffs it's all about getting hot at the right time, that said there are tons of examples of teams with terrible QB's getting to the playoffs. Do I think the Texans have a legitimate shot at the SB this year? Of course not, but they could potentially win the division and have a playoff game. What we need from Fitz is for him to be really safe with the ball like Wilson or Smith. While that hasn't ever been something he's great at, perhaps he can pull it off with a different offensive strategy, if not, we'll get to see if Keenum can be safe with the ball. If one of those guys manages to be a solid game manager, the Texans will win a respectable number of games as long as they don't lose too many key guys.
Because mediocrity at QB is an enormous step up from the Schaub/Keenum performances of 2013. Combine that with a potentially better coach and much weaker schedule, and 9-to-10 wins feels very possible. I think a lot of folks have a strange "all or nothing" view of the QB position. In terms of winning the Super Bowl, you might could have that perspective, but in terms of being a competitive football team... there are varying shades of gray. Whatever shade Fitzpatrick is (and his career indicates fairly average), it's likely a massive improvement at the most important position from what the team had a year ago.
Even then, the Ravens got worse QB production than the Texans got from Schaub and Keenum last year and they won 8 games. If QB production was all that mattered, the Ravens and Giants wouldn't have won more than one or two games last season.
LOL I sat here reading all the posts, including all yours, wondering when you were gonna drop the "flacco sucks" bomb.. and you did not disappoint :grin:
LOL, well it's just something people seem to sweep under the rug, that Flacco was worse than Schaub last year yet it didn't stop the Ravens from winning 8 games.
Your 7-9 prediction has us losing all the games you had "?" for. Your 9-7 prediction has us winning 2 and losing 2 of the ? games Where is you 11-5 prediction where we win all those ? games. Optimism...
True, but I would take: Flacco throwing 3-5 interceptions on deep routes down the middle and letting my (pretty good) defense handle it. Rather than Schaub's limp d*ck out route floaters on our own 20 that were quickly turned into 7 pts against without our (injury riddled) defense to have a chance at not stopping them.
Yup, I couldn't believe they kept going back to that same pass that always ended in a pick 6. I don't know if Kubiak was calling it or if Schaub was just choosing to throw it but it was awful. But yeah, in a perfect world you don't want to be stuck with Schaub or Flacco being your starting QB.
Or maybe after the first regular season game. Looks like a lot of Clutchfans will be disappointed in this team this year.
What makes you think Andre will have injury problems? He's been an iron man besides that one season a few years ago
I will be one of those thats disappointed because Barring major injuries this team could be in the playoff hunt. Cbs sports has the Texans ranked 2nd to last just ahead of the raiders which is just rediculous.
Lol... I can understand being sour... But the Titans arguably had the best receiving core (receiving unit as a hole) and the best TE in this division last year. The hope is Fitzpatrick won't have to throw much...
Pretty sure that was foster.... which also isn't good. good thing we have foster's superman health.... o wait. and I admit, I was kinda blinded by sourness and hatred for that team when I said all that, someone also commented that they went really far (SB maybe) a couple yrs ago and that I must not watch them that much, THIS IS TRUE.. I hate them lol. but on an unbiased note, I think our receiving core is better, I really like our TE situation, better running back to take some of the load off. also, last year without injuries, I think the colts had better WRs than them (wayne, Hilton,...) and Luck played well with their TE Fleener (came from same school at Stanford) so I think they have 2nd to 3rd best in this division.