Chiefs Smack Talk & Chiefs Bashing Already Started in Houston

T-post Tom · 04-21-2010, 08:27 PM

Ouch! You can email the author at richard.justice@chron.com

Texans need to finish deal in 2010
By RICHARD JUSTICE

There it sits all alone, a game unlike the others. Join me in welcoming the Kansas City Chiefs to Reliant Stadium on Oct. 17.

Say hello to your guaranteed victory. This is the one and only game on the 2010 schedule that looks like a dead-solid, no-questions-asked victory for our Texans.

How's that for a cold slap in the kisser? Of course, you'll immediately focus on the other 15 games. Always worrying about what you don't have instead of what you do.

Real fans would take that guaranteed victory and savor it. That's one more than the Lions and Chiefs have, so there. Why look for trouble?

I've got the Texans favored in just six games, which doesn't mean they're going to win only six. It just means they've got a brutal schedule, but so does every other team.

That's especially true after the open week, when the Texans play six of nine on the road in a stretch that includes road games against the Eagles, Jets and Colts and home games against three playoff contenders: Chargers, Titans and Ravens.

If the Texans have their usual slow start, they're in deep trouble if you define deep trouble as, “Oh no, Mr. McNair is going to fire us all.” Gary Kubiak's teams are 3-10 in September and 14-6 in December and January. This would be a good year to reverse that trend.

Plenty of talent
Now for the good news. The Texans are good enough to go 16-0. If you're ranking the NFL's 32 teams today, there are only five — Saints, Colts, Vikings, Cowboys and Patriots — clearly better than the Texans.

The Jets, Ravens, Packers and Chargers might be better, and so might the Bengals, Eagles, Steelers, Falcons and Panthers. But the Texans are a good team, possibly a really good team.

And it's no longer strictly a talent issue. It's about staying healthy and closing out games and doing the things champions do.

Maybe that's why this offseason has been so quiet. The Texans can use help at running back and cornerback and safety, but their real substantive improvement needs to come from within.

They need Mario Williams to play better than he did last season. It's not about sack totals, either. It's about making plays with the game on the line, about keeping opposing offensive coordinators up nights worrying about stopping him on third-and-7. Great defensive ends are born by making those plays.

And the Texans need to play an entire season under defensive coordinator Frank Bush the way they played the last 12 games last season.

They need Matt Schaub to cut down on those killer mistakes. He made one against Arizona and another against Indianapolis. If had one of those throws back, the Texans might have gone to the playoffs.

Of course, if the Texans can become a better running team, opposing defenses won't be able to focus only on stopping the passing game.

The Texans need to make the block or the run that gets a critical yard. Had they made two more 1-yard runs at the right time last season, they might have gone to the playoffs.

The Texans have evolved nicely over the last four years, from a 2-14 mess to 8-8 respectable to, finally, a 9-7 winner. Now they need to make another difficult step. They need to be able to close the deal, to play with one heartbeat, to make The Play that frequently is the difference between winning and losing.

They're oh-so-close to being really good. They lost games by 3, 3, 5, 7, 7 and 8 points last season. Other than a loss to the Jets, every loss was about mistakes and misplays. Only the Jets were obviously better.

Something intangible
One more play at the right time would have put the Texans in the playoffs. A handful of plays would have made them an elite team.

They also won games by 3, 3, 3 and 7 points. That's nine of 16 games decided by 7 points or fewer. The NFL is a high-wire act of 100-hour workweeks often coming down to a single play on Sunday. What a way to live. No wonder coaches burn out.

Maybe this is a natural progress from where the franchise was four years ago. Rick Smith and Gary Kubiak overhauled the roster from top to bottom, and they've added talent across the board.

What they need to add now can't be measured, timed or wunderliched. What they need is what all championship teams have. It's about finishing the deal.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/...e/6969720.html

**The Bad Guy** · 04-21-2010, 08:29 PM

Big talk from a team that has done nothing ever.

Hammock Parties · 04-21-2010, 08:29 PM

That game looks like a loss, but **** Dick Justice anyway.

MMXcalibur · 04-21-2010, 08:30 PM

We play Houston in Week 6.

Their annual "turn it around too late to make a playoff push, but will certainly make them a dark horse pick for next season" winning streak doesn't occur until much later in the season.

**Buck** · 04-21-2010, 08:32 PM

Pollard is looking for payback.

Maybe he'll knock out Castle for good and you guys will be better off.

**notorious** · 04-21-2010, 08:32 PM

The are the Switzerland of the NFL.

Who gives a **** what they think. They are average, and we all know what that leads to.

Ebolapox · 04-21-2010, 08:35 PM

**** you, houston.

**Bugeater** · 04-21-2010, 08:35 PM

They shouldn't even exist. Them and Cleveland both, they lost their ****ing teams. And what a ****ing reeruned nickname, the ****ing Texans. Who was the asswipe that gave the go-ahead for that one.

CaliforniaChief · 04-21-2010, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bugeater

They shouldn't even exist. Them and Cleveland both, they lost their ****ing teams. And what a ****ing reeruned nickname, the ****ing Texans. Who was the asswipe that gave the go-ahead for that one.

**Saul Good** · 04-21-2010, 08:37 PM

Here's my prediction for the Texans...somewhere between 7-9 and 9-7. That was my pick for 2009, and it will be my pick for 2011.

CaliforniaChief · 04-21-2010, 08:38 PM

**OnTheWarpath15** · 04-21-2010, 08:39 PM

I don't really see the issue here.

If the shoe was on the other foot, and we were the team with a shit-ton of talent, playing an impossible schedule, with a game against a really weak team on it, we'd all be saying the same thing.

National perspective is that this team sucks.

Hell, last night on NFLN, they were talking about which game would Sam Bradford's first win come in assuming he's drafted by STL.

Everyone gave one of two answers.

Raiders in Week 2, or not until Chiefs in Week 15.

Until this team proves it on the field, they aren't going to get respect.

**Mr. Flopnuts** · 04-21-2010, 08:39 PM

I hope we beat their asses. Dick can get a little justice.

**notorious** · 04-21-2010, 08:39 PM

Didn't Seinfeld make an episode that epitomizes the Texans?

Even Steven.

Dayze · 04-21-2010, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Bad Guy

Big talk from a team that has done nothing ever.

we're not that far behind; still living on the 69 season and the 90's.....

04-21-2010, 08:27 PM
T-post Tom Threepeat! Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Milk/Honey/Gazland Casino cash: $4597293	Smack Talk & Chiefs Bashing Already Started in Houston Ouch! You can email the author at richard.justice@chron.com Texans need to finish deal in 2010 By RICHARD JUSTICE There it sits all alone, a game unlike the others. Join me in welcoming the Kansas City Chiefs to Reliant Stadium on Oct. 17. Say hello to your guaranteed victory. This is the one and only game on the 2010 schedule that looks like a dead-solid, no-questions-asked victory for our Texans. How's that for a cold slap in the kisser? Of course, you'll immediately focus on the other 15 games. Always worrying about what you don't have instead of what you do. Real fans would take that guaranteed victory and savor it. That's one more than the Lions and Chiefs have, so there. Why look for trouble? I've got the Texans favored in just six games, which doesn't mean they're going to win only six. It just means they've got a brutal schedule, but so does every other team. That's especially true after the open week, when the Texans play six of nine on the road in a stretch that includes road games against the Eagles, Jets and Colts and home games against three playoff contenders: Chargers, Titans and Ravens. If the Texans have their usual slow start, they're in deep trouble if you define deep trouble as, “Oh no, Mr. McNair is going to fire us all.” Gary Kubiak's teams are 3-10 in September and 14-6 in December and January. This would be a good year to reverse that trend. Plenty of talent Now for the good news. The Texans are good enough to go 16-0. If you're ranking the NFL's 32 teams today, there are only five — Saints, Colts, Vikings, Cowboys and Patriots — clearly better than the Texans. The Jets, Ravens, Packers and Chargers might be better, and so might the Bengals, Eagles, Steelers, Falcons and Panthers. But the Texans are a good team, possibly a really good team. And it's no longer strictly a talent issue. It's about staying healthy and closing out games and doing the things champions do. Maybe that's why this offseason has been so quiet. The Texans can use help at running back and cornerback and safety, but their real substantive improvement needs to come from within. They need Mario Williams to play better than he did last season. It's not about sack totals, either. It's about making plays with the game on the line, about keeping opposing offensive coordinators up nights worrying about stopping him on third-and-7. Great defensive ends are born by making those plays. And the Texans need to play an entire season under defensive coordinator Frank Bush the way they played the last 12 games last season. They need Matt Schaub to cut down on those killer mistakes. He made one against Arizona and another against Indianapolis. If had one of those throws back, the Texans might have gone to the playoffs. Of course, if the Texans can become a better running team, opposing defenses won't be able to focus only on stopping the passing game. The Texans need to make the block or the run that gets a critical yard. Had they made two more 1-yard runs at the right time last season, they might have gone to the playoffs. The Texans have evolved nicely over the last four years, from a 2-14 mess to 8-8 respectable to, finally, a 9-7 winner. Now they need to make another difficult step. They need to be able to close the deal, to play with one heartbeat, to make The Play that frequently is the difference between winning and losing. They're oh-so-close to being really good. They lost games by 3, 3, 5, 7, 7 and 8 points last season. Other than a loss to the Jets, every loss was about mistakes and misplays. Only the Jets were obviously better. Something intangible One more play at the right time would have put the Texans in the playoffs. A handful of plays would have made them an elite team. They also won games by 3, 3, 3 and 7 points. That's nine of 16 games decided by 7 points or fewer. The NFL is a high-wire act of 100-hour workweeks often coming down to a single play on Sunday. What a way to live. No wonder coaches burn out. Maybe this is a natural progress from where the franchise was four years ago. Rick Smith and Gary Kubiak overhauled the roster from top to bottom, and they've added talent across the board. What they need to add now can't be measured, timed or wunderliched. What they need is what all championship teams have. It's about finishing the deal. http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/...e/6969720.html
Posts: 20,210

04-21-2010, 08:29 PM	#2
The Bad Guy Scott Pioli Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: The Copacobana Casino cash: $9373645	Big talk from a team that has done nothing ever. __________________
Posts: 23,212

04-21-2010, 08:29 PM	#3
Hammock Parties I'll be back. Join Date: Nov 2002 Casino cash: $4730478	That game looks like a loss, but **** Dick Justice anyway. __________________ Chiefs game films
Posts: 277,765

04-21-2010, 08:30 PM	#4
MMXcalibur Pessimistically optimistic. Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Denver, CO Casino cash: $2465086	We play Houston in Week 6. Their annual "turn it around too late to make a playoff push, but will certainly make them a dark horse pick for next season" winning streak doesn't occur until much later in the season.
Posts: 16,411

04-21-2010, 08:32 PM	#5
Buck Take a Chill Pill Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: South Carolina Casino cash: $8329900	Pollard is looking for payback. Maybe he'll knock out Castle for good and you guys will be better off.
Posts: 44,562

04-21-2010, 08:32 PM	#6
notorious Supporter Join Date: May 2005 Location: Who knows? Casino cash: $2945884	The are the Switzerland of the NFL. Who gives a **** what they think. They are average, and we all know what that leads to.
Posts: 83,351

04-21-2010, 08:35 PM	#7
Ebolapox remember, remember Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: como Casino cash: $2109903	**** you, houston.
Posts: 26,428

04-21-2010, 08:35 PM	#8
Bugeater The Maintenance Guy Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Renovated Bugeater Estate Casino cash: $6252680	They shouldn't even exist. Them and Cleveland both, they lost their **ing teams. And what a ing reeruned nickname, the **ing Texans. Who was the asswipe that gave the go-ahead for that one.
Posts: 70,443

04-21-2010, 08:37 PM	#10
Saul Good Quit your bullshit Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Bored of winning Casino cash: $10052799	Here's my prediction for the Texans...somewhere between 7-9 and 9-7. That was my pick for 2009, and it will be my pick for 2011. __________________ Today is not a good day to be a pussy.
Posts: 41,870

04-21-2010, 08:38 PM	#11
CaliforniaChief #RIPAce Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: So Cal Casino cash: $12422899
Posts: 17,319

04-21-2010, 08:39 PM	#12
OnTheWarpath15 MVP Join Date: Sep 2005 Casino cash: $4931115	I don't really see the issue here. If the shoe was on the other foot, and we were the team with a shit-ton of talent, playing an impossible schedule, with a game against a really weak team on it, we'd all be saying the same thing. National perspective is that this team sucks. Hell, last night on NFLN, they were talking about which game would Sam Bradford's first win come in assuming he's drafted by STL. Everyone gave one of two answers. Raiders in Week 2, or not until Chiefs in Week 15. Until this team proves it on the field, they aren't going to get respect.
Posts: 60,193