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The Houston Texans have come along way since their inception in 2002, but after back-to-back disappointing playoff losses, there’s a lot of pressure on the team heading into 2013. Gary Kubiak will be going into his eighth season as head coach, and Matt Schaub will be going into his seventh as the team’s quarterback. I bring up these two individuals, because they have more to prove than anyone else.
Kubiak got a pass for several years, simply because he took over a team that Dom Capers led nowhere. The Texans were coming off a two-win season when Kubiak assumed the head coaching duties in 2006. The year after, Schaub became the quarterback, and the team has been on the rise ever since.
It really goes to show, that we truly judge players and coaches by what they do in the postseason, because the Texans have been pretty good in the regular season over the past couple of years. On paper it seems like the franchise is making progress, and technically they are, but can they finally get over the hump?
While the AFC is a fairly weak conference as a whole, the top teams are as elite as it gets. The Texans have the Denver Broncos and New England Patriots to contend with, before they can even think about a Super Bowl. That’s a tough challenge, to say the least.
I believe 2013 will be a defining season for Houston, and one where they must take that next step. Fans are tired of coming up short, and it’s time this team at least makes it to the AFC title game. They can’t afford to fall off like they did at the end of the 2012 regular season, as earning one of the top two seeds will be crucial.
If the Texans take a step back in 2013, it will be fair to wonder if Kubiak and Schaub are the right men for the job.
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