5 questions for Houston Texans entering 2020 season
1.) Can Houston take the next step and make it to the AFCCG?
For the first nine seasons of their existence, the Houston Texans toiled in relative obscurity. Sure, there was the occasional highlight here or the flashy player there, but mostly, the team failed to make a significant impact on the greater NFL landscape.
Then, in 2011, things started to change down in Texas. Gary Kubiak helped the team capture back-to-back division titles in ’11 and ’12. The only problem? The team failed to advance beyond the Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs both seasons.
After Bill O’Brien came on board to replace Kubiak in 2014, there were growing pains again as the new coach established a new regime. But sure enough, the Texans came roaring back within their division, and have now rattled off four first-place finishes in five years within the AFC South.
There’s no denying that’s an impressive accomplishment for both O’Brien and for the NFL’s youngest franchise — but the fans are ready for more. Houston lost in the Wild Card game in half of those seasons and again in the Divisional Round in the other half.
In 10 total playoff appearances, the Texans are 4-6, having lost to the Patriots twice, the Chiefs twice, the Ravens once, and the Colts once. They’ve beaten the Raiders, the Bills, and the Bengals (twice).
More than anything though, they have yet to advance to the AFC Championship Game.
They came oh-so-close last season after racing out to a 24-0 lead over the eventual Super Bowl champion Chiefs on the road in the Divisional Round. But Patrick Mahomes led Kansas City back from the early deficit, and in the end, the Texans ended up losing by 20 points in a blowout.
Next. Can Houston recover from last year's devastating playoff loss?. dark
Until O’Brien, Watson, Watt, and the rest of the Houston Texans take that next step into uncharted territory and play for the Lamar Hunt trophy with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line, it’s a sure bet that diehard fans of this franchise aren’t going to be satisfied with yet another division title, impressive as the feat may be.