End Of The Kubiak Era

I've been thinking ever since last night what to write about that concerns the Texans. Should I write a game recap? Since Matt Schaub replaced Case Keenum last night, should I write a comparison between the two and give my opinion who's better? Should I write about what I think the Texans should do in the draft? I was left clueless until something this afternoon happened, and it was like The Good Lord was speaking to me saying "Steven, the world needs this".

This afternoon, Texans owner Bob McNair announced that the Texans have fired 8th year head coach Gary Kubiak.

In his tenure with the Texans, Kubiak had a record of 61-63, including back-to-back AFC South division championships and two victories in the playoffs, although both trips were cut short in the Divisional Round by Baltimore, and New England respectively. And ever since 2007, Kubiak had tried to cement Matt Schaub as the Texans franchise quarterback and make him this teams legacy. Isn't it fitting that the play that sealed last nights game, and Kubiak's career, was a Matt Schaub interception?

Bob McNair announced that the Texans are now in the hunt for a new coach, and that he has no vision to rebuild a team with all the talent on it. And Bob is right. You got talent like Andre Johnson, Deandre Hopkins, Owen Daniels, Garret Graham, Duane Brown, J.J Watt, Brian Cushing, DJ Swearinger, and Shiloh Keo. This team is one of the most loaded rosters in the AFC, and probably the entire NFL, but the system was awful. The reason why the Texans lost to Seattle was because the Seahawks knew what play was going to be ran in this oh so predictable offense, and turned everything around, giving Matt Schaub his then 3rd straight game with a Pick-6.

So who's the answer?

I never thought that Jon Gruden would come back, but I've never been in a situation where the Texans really needed a coach (I was just 8 during the 2005 season and didn't know much about sports yet), but now that I see this problem, it's sorta real. But I believe the real answer will come in the form of Lovie Smith. But in the mean time, Wade Phillips will fill in as Interim-Head Coach, and these last three games of the year between Indy, Denver, and Tennessee will determine if Phillips will get a real job as Head Coach.

But personally, I think it was too early to kick out Kubiak anyway. The Texans will still have to use his offense unless they have some sort of emergency system that Offensive Coordinator Rick Dennison had just in case, and if that is the case, label him a magician and tell him to start reading minds, because Houston might need that.

Happy Birthday Houston Astros

I missed this yesterday because of all the NFL action, and watching the replay of Auburn's miraculous game-winning field goal return. But 49 years ago yesterday, the Houston Astros and the Houston Astrodome were given their names and enshrined in baseball legacy.

From their creation in 1962, the Astros were originally known as the Houston Colt .45s. You know, after the gun. The stadium, was known as the Harris County Domed Stadium, and I'm so happy they changed that name, because that is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too long to say (so long, I bet you didn't even read all the "A"s) and the name just sounds like a 4 year old came up with it.

In 1965, a dispute between the Colt .45s and Colt Firearms resulted in a name change. Then on the day of December 1st, 1965, the Houston Astros became the official name of the team, that would play on the Houston Astrodome.

The Astrodome was the first of its kind. Never before had a stadium been enclosed by a dome. And never before had a playing field used artificial turf, which is where the word "astroturf" comes from.

At the end of the 1999 season, the Astros left the Astrodome and move on to Minute Maid Field. Since that move, the Astros have been at the highest of highs, reaching the World Series in 2005, to the lowest of lows, having the worst record in the MLB the last 3 seasons, all with 100 losses. And I wish that the 100 loss seasons were the worst part, but it's not!

After voting last month, the now named Reliant Astrodome will be torn down in 6 days. The stadium that hosted the Astros, Houston Oilers, Live Stock Show and Rodeo, the battle of the sexes, and for a long time, held the record for longest playoff game in MLB history (16 inning against the New York Metropolitans) saw its first stage of destruction 5 days ago. The famed stadium one known as the "8th wonder of the world" is a landmark in the city of Houston, and to me, its not being there will be just strange.

So, after all the mess of destruction, lets just celebrate. Happy birthday Houston Astros and Reliant Astrodome. Thank you for the memories, and just know, we can't wait for more.

Close But No Cigar- Texans Game Recap

                                                                           

The Houston Texans and the New England Patriots. One of them is my favorite team, and the other is my absolute back breaker! Take a guess which one is which. In a game where the Texans were expected to get run out of their own town, my upset prediction almost came true! But what happened? Lets walk through this, and believe me, I'm going to be very frustrated.

To start the game, Houston and New England would trade possessions before the Texans would punch it in with Ben Tate. The Texans would then take a field goal drive after Jonathan Joseph picked off Tom Brady, a rare mistake for the future Hall of Famer. But following the pick, Brady would find Gronkowski in the endzone to tighten things up, 10-7.

To start the second half, Houston let a 17-7 lead turn to a 21-17 deficit, it seemed like the nightmare would begin again. But Houston roared back, and showed that the Patriots won't escape that easily.

The Texans punched back in every way they could. Ben Tate scored 3 touchdowns, and after the game, declared that he believes he's "one of the best backs in the NFL". Texans quarterback Case Keenum, making his 6th career start, also ran in a score for Houston that caught all of Reliant Stadium off guard.

In the final 3 minutes Stephen Gostkowski kicked a field goal to put the Pats up 34-31. Case Keenum to lead the Texans to a victory against Tom Brady and the Patriots?!?! Unheard of.....I wonder why.

You might want to listen here, because I guarantee you won't hear this on any sports show. That on a third down play, Keenum had Deandre Hopkins 1 on 1. Kyle Arrington gets beat, but holds on to Hopkins, and even grabs inside Hopkins' helmet. NO FLAG. Who am I kidding though? It's the Patriots. The Patriots didn't have a single penalty all game! And this one was oblivious too. If that penalty is called right, nothing is stopping Houston from ending the nightmare losing streak. But I can't say that happened.

The Patriots won 34-31 in a game where Houston was a 7 point underdog and in a game I bet 3/4 of the people reading this didn't think the Texans would make a game like this. I guess now I'll leave this alone now.  But I hope Bill Belichick doesn't believe in ghosts, because I can't wait for this one to come back and haunt him.

• Side Notes:
• Andre Johnson became the second fastest receiver in NFL history to 900 career receptions.
• The Texans all time record fell to 79-109.
• Case Keenum threw his third career interception.
• The Texans matched their season high amount of points scored at 31, previously set Week 1 against San Diego.
• Houston plays Thursday night in Jacksonville to possibly determine the #1 pick in the draft.

The Thanksgiving Screwjob: Houston Texans Style

Hello, friends, family, colleagues. I'd just like to say a few words before diving in to the juicy stuff. My name is Steven. Born in Houston, Texas, 16 years ago today actually.

I am Texas loud and Texas proud. Although I've moved from Texas when I was 9, I still bleed Battle Red, Liberty White, and Deep Steel Blue! Along the way of reading from me, you will see me complain, try and make jokes that aren't funny, and many opinions you might disagree with. Regardless, my promise is to at least give you some form of writing that you can enjoy, or die trying! Now, I've said enough about me, let start digging into the topic at hand.

 

The Thanksgiving Screwjob



Sounds scary, eh?

It was one Thanksgiving ago in which the most controversial play in Texans history took place. Anyone who says it is not, go back through each of the Texans 12 seasons, and tell me what is.

It was the latter of the 3rd quarter, and the Detroit Lions were on top 24-14, and just like that, a miracle begins! Matt Schaub give a zone run to the right side to Justin Forsett, and takes it 81 yards to the house! TOUCHDOWN HOUSTON TEXANS! This run still stands as the Texans longest offensive scoring play in their history.

But wait! Forsett is clearly down. His knee and entire forearm right on the turf. All scoring plays are reviewed, so it should be 2&3 at the 26 yard line with the clock running inside of 6 minutes. But wait! There's a red piece of laundry on the Detroit sideline, which now negates the review. WAY TO GO JIM SCHWARTZ!

In overtime, the Texans prevailed 34-31 in their inaugural Thanksgiving Day game.

Who really knows what happens if not for Forsett. Kinda crazy to think about. Can the Texans score? Do the Lions pull the upset on the then 9-1 Texans?

To this day, I still get grief from Lions fans on this game (I do live in Michigan). But until the Lions and Texans meet again in 2016 in Reliant Stadium, they have to hate me for the same reason every day. But I have the Pack beating Detroit today, so hopefully they move on from me, and start crying to the kid in my school who likes Green Bay...

My Texans play Sunday against the (gulp) New England Patriots, so I will soon return to report on that.

For now, so long. Happy Birthday to me. Happy Thanksgiving to you.