2014 Texans NFL Handicapping
Dominant Defense, Stability On Offense Key To Texans’ Improvement In 2014
That the Houston Texans underachieved in 2013 is a major understatement. The Texans were expected to challenge for a Super Bowl after making improvements to a roster that won 10 games in 2011 and 12 games in 2012, but the bottom fell out after several key players were either hurt or failed to live up to expectations.
2014 Houston Texans Team Preview/Predictions
- 2013 Record: 2-14
- ATS Record: 4-12
2014 Texans Futures
- Super Bowl Odds: +4000
- Conference Odds: +2000
- AFC South Odds: +260
- 2014 Regular Season Wins: Over 8.5
Houston lost 14-straight games at one point en route to the worst record in the NFL. If there was a silver lining through it all it would be that the Texans reloaded an already talented roster with a number of free agents and high draft picks including first-overall pick Jadeveon Clowney.
A relatively weak AFC South division has led some to believe Houston can challenge for a playoff spot as soon as this year, including new head coach Bill O’Brien.
O’Brien returns to the NFL after helping to overhaul the Penn State program the past couple of seasons. His toughest task will be getting strong play from a quarterback position that isn’t nearly what it was when he was with the New England Patriots at his last NFL stop. Houston added Ryan Fitzpatrick in free agency and he is the projected starter ahead of Case Keenum and fourth-round pick Tom Savage.
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Fitzpatrick has been a starter before but has always struggled with turnovers and needs to be more reliable.
The Texans need Arian Foster to return as one of the better running backs in the league after back surgery and they signed Andre Brown in free agency to help share the load. An improved offensive line will help Foster and the run game as well as protect the quarterback after Houston drafted guard Xavier Su’a-Filo in the second round to plug in at left guard next to two-time Pro Bowl tackle Duane Brown and center Chris Myers.
The Texans convinced seven-time Pro Bowl receiver Andre Johnson to return after he asked to be traded to a contender.
Johnson and last year’s first-round pick DeAndre Hopkins have the potential to put up elite numbers, with this year’s third-round pick tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz set to start immediately ahead of Zach Potter.
A strong offseason haul means the Texans could also bounce back with one of the best defenses in the NFL this season. Despite everything that went wrong a year ago, Houston finished with the league’s seventh-ranked defense and is poised to be even better this season.
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It all starts up front where they added Clowney to a group that already features arguably the best defensive player in the NFL in JJ Watt. Houston also drafted massive nose tackle Louis Nix in the third round and he has the potential to start immediately at the nose tackle spot.
Clowney will line up at outside linebacker opposite Whitney Mercilus who had seven sacks in his first year at the position in 2013. That will allow Brooks Reed to shift inside next to Brian Cushing in the middle. Cornerbacks Johnathan Joseph and Kareem Jackson is a solid starting tandem that has played together for four-straight years.
The Texans brought in free agent safety Chris Clemons to challenge D.J. Swearinger for the strong safety job with Shiloh Keo set to return as the free safety.
Regardless of what happened a year ago it is still somewhat surprising that Houston won only two games. This team is far too talented not to compete for a playoff spot in 2014, but the lesson to remember from last season is that quarterback play trumps everything else.
O’Brien is a smart mind that will get the most out of Fitzpatrick or whoever starts under center and if Foster returns to form, then a dominant defense will spearhead a charge back to contention for the Texans.
2014 Texans Predictions
- Place they’ll finish in AFC South: 2nd
- Place they’ll finish in AFC Conference: 7th
- Over/Under Wins Prediction: OVER
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