Houston, We Have Lift Off: Houston Texans Look to Launch in '09

Going into the 2009 NFL season, there is only one team in the National Football League that has not achieved a playoff birth. Not to mention there are only five franchises in the NFL that have not been to the Super Bowl. The Texans have not done either...

One of those facts is about to change, and if the rest of the AFC pans out the way I see it, we could possibly see both of those unfortunate facts written off forever.

Now I know what you're thinking..."Patrick, you can not be serious! Houston...in the Super Bowl?"

You know you are, the exact same people who called me crazy for picking the Cardinals to go all the way during the preseason last year. It's ok, I forgive you.

Lets get the facts straight before I explain myself. Houston, finished 8-8 last season for the second year in a row. Those are the franchise's only two seasons in which they have finished with a .500 winning percentage, the other six were all losing seasons.

What really stands out about last years Texans, is that they won five of their last six games, and the only loss was a fluke to the Oakland Raiders.

During that stretch, Matt Schaub had one 400 yard passing game against the Green Bay Packers, and one VERY impressive 300 yard game against the Chicago Bears in Week 17.

Also during that stretch, Steve Slaton had three games with over 100 yards rushing and Andre Johnson had three games with 100 yards receiving, including an amazing 207 yard performance against the Tennessee Titans in a Week 15 victory.

Texans fans, it's time to get excited.

The rookie sensation at running back Steve Slaton returns after his 1,200 yard season. Not only did Slaton have an amazing rookie year, but there is reason to believe that his sophomore campaign may bring some chants of "MVP" to Reliant Stadium.

If you look at the running backs coach Gary Kubiak coached in Denver while he was their offensive coordinator, one name really sticks out in my book...Clinton Portis, the 2002 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Both Slaton and Portis have very similar run styles. One cut, and run downhill as soon as possible. The explosiveness and agility of both players is what makes them great, and in terms of talent, I believe Slaton is the more gifted back. With that being said, any running back can have success in the Kubiak offense (just look at Mike Anderson... who? Exactly.)

The best news about Steve Slaton, is that he is not even the most valuable player on his own offense! While Portis was THE guy in Denver, Houston has Mr. Everything Andre Johnson.

Johnson had 115 catches last year for 1,575 yards and 8 TD's. Expect those numbers to soar this season. In the 11 games Schaub started, Johnson led the Texans in receiving yards ten out of the 11 games, the one exception was the Week 14 win against Green Bay when Kevin Walter had 146 yards.

In the five games Sage Rosenfels started, Johnson led the Texans in receiving yards only once, a Week 12 win against the Cleveland Browns.

See where I'm going with this? If you haven't jumped on the bandwagon yet, lets throw in the other keys to this high powered offense.

Pro-bowl Tight End Owen Daniels and the entire starting offensive line is returning, and with Kevin Walter returning to line up opposite of Johnson, the Texans will be a defenses worst nightmare. We've seen the potential, Walter had a 146 yard game, Daniels had multiple 100 yard games, it just comes down to consistency.

Now... to talk about the leader of the AFC's most talented offense. Matt Schaub, it's his time. After sitting behind Michael Vick for three seasons in Atlanta, the Texans made a deal to pick up the most talented backup in the NFL.

The results have not been a huge success, until now. In the past three seasons, Schaub has battled injuries, an inconsistent running game, all while fighting off Sage Rosenfels for the starting job.

Fight no more Mr. Schaub, the job is yours, and you can quote me on this. Matt Schaub will throw for 4,000 yards this season. Guaranteed...

With how explosive the Texans offense has become, the only question on the team is now the defense.

In my opinion, there is no better way to improve your team than the NFL Draft. This season, the Texans did just that... improved.

Selecting Brian Cushing in the first round of the Draft was a great selection. The only player I could have seen being a better fit in Houston was Brian Orakpo. Orakpo was selected by the Redskins at pick 13, leaving Cushing available at 15 for the Texans.

At USC, Cushing was the leader of one of the nation's top defenses. A defense that consisted of two other first round talent linebackers Clay Matthews (selected 26th by Green Bay) and Ray Maualuga (who dropped to Cincinnati at pick 38.)

Line him up next to former NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year DeMeco Ryans, and Cushing will excel. As I stated after the 2006 NFL Draft when the Ravens selected Haloti Ngata, he was not the best player available, but he was the player Baltimore NEEDED to take that defense to the next level. Sure enough, that season the Ravens finished a franchise best 13-3.

Unfortunately for the Texans, I think that the AFC is a tougher conference now than it was in 2006, but I think Cushing is that kind of player. Someone who can step into a roll, with low expectations, and just play.

The Texans also picked up free agent linebacker Cato June (a former pro bowler) and defensive end Shaun Cody, who will add more depth to an already solid front seven.

If the rest of the defense can get it together and improve on one of the worst squads in the league, you will see the Texans in the playoffs. I guarantee it.

As far as my before hinted Super Bowl berth is concerned, check back with me before the start of the regular season. I'll make it official.