I can't express the joy I felt watching this team defeat the Bears on Sunday. As a good friend of mine put it:
"We are no longer a team who strives for 8-8, but one who underachieves at 8-8"
I like that. Think about it for a second. We finished with only our second non-losing season ever, and the first thing that comes to our minds is a whole lot of "what ifs" and "almosts." As this season showed it is going to take a good number of wins to get into the playoffs in the AFC. At a first glance of the opponents we will have to face in 2009, I can honestly say that I see 10, possibly 11 wins on that schedule. And for some reason, this time, it doesn't feel like blind optimism. That is the feeling this team gives me. The feeling that when we play our best football no one in this league can stop us. As long as we don't stop ourselves, we can win our fair share of games. Just ask the Titans. Ask the Dolphins. Ask the Bears. You know what, ask the Colts if they still look forward to playing us.
Everybody may not agree with me. The thing that we can all agree on is the fact that we are certainly heading in the right direction. We have always had the heart. What we have now is what we have always lacked: serious talent. Talent at serious positions. We have the type of players that you can pencil in for upper echelon production for the duration of their tenures with the team. Mario Williams is and will be the cornerstone of our defense for many years to come. Demeco Ryans is the incumbent-in-waiting for the AFC Pro Bowl roster as soon as Ray Lewis hangs it up. Dunta Robinson is a luxury to have in the secondary, both in pass defense and in run support. Steve Slaton has single handedly filled our perennial running back void. Matt Schaub is our quarterback. Period. And Andre Johnson, what can you say about Andre Johnson? He is the best wide receiver in the NFL, pure and simple. These guys are some of the best players in the NFL, and they are ALL under the age of 27!
The Texans are rising as fast as the Cowboys are falling, and there is a reason for it. We play as a team and we play for eachother. This team has been ridiculed since its inception. It has been been under constant scrutiny, a lot of the time by its own fan base. Mario has become a monster because he doesn't let the drama of the outside world affect his effort and performance. If you met Demeco Ryans on the street, you would never guess that he was a complete beasticon on the football field. Not only is Andre Johnson the prototypical wide receiver, he is the prototypical professional. He is soft spoken, outworks everybody and gives his best effort at all times while continuing to be the definition of role model off the field. It is nice to see a professional athlete that understands what a blessing and privilege it is to be in such a fortunate position. He reminds us every day with his work ethic on the field and his charitable contributions off of it. The only time you will read about his in the newspaper is because of a humongous football performance or a saintly act of charity and kindness off of it. There is no ego in this wideout. Can't say the same for the "other" Texas team.
The future is bright for the Houston Texans. I've said it before, but I can't wait for next season. For some reason it has a greater ring to it this time around...
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