2011 NFL Predictions: 5 Bold Predictions for the Houston Texans

The Houston Texans enter the 2011 season with higher expectations than they've ever seen.

QB Matt Schaub and company look to continue being one of the best offenses in the NFL, while the defense beefed up in the offseason with the signings of CB Johnathan Joseph and S Danieal Manning to shore up a terrible pass defense.

With the 2011 season just around the corner, let's take a look at some bold predictions for the Texans.

Jacoby Jones Will Have a Breakout Season

WR Jacoby Jones is a fast and athletic wideout, but he has never seemed to put it together.

He is pretty much considered a bust after the upside he showed. 

However, I feel this will be his year. 

He has the luxury of playing alongside Andre Johnson, easily a Top Five WR in the NFL (arguably the best).

It also looks like TE Owen Daniels could be back at full force.

That means defenses will be worried about QB Matt Schaub's first two options, leaving Jones in some favorable matchups down the field. 

With his skill set, it is only a matter of time before Jones becomes the No. 2 receiver that Houston is looking for, instead of just a return man. 

Owen Daniels Will Be a Pro-Bowler Again

TE Owen Daniels was on the cusp of being considered an elite tight end in the NFL after his 2008 Pro Bowl campaign.

However, injuries really kept him from obtaining that status.

Even though he was battling injuries in 2009 and 2010, he still was able to average 13 and 12.4 yards per reception in each year respectively.

If Owen Daniels is healthy, he is a powerful weapon in an already potent offense.

With WR Andre Johnson running routes, it opens up the middle of the field for Daniels to operate in. He has great hands for a TE and has shown he has the ability.

The question now is health.

J.J. Watt Will Win Defensive Rookie of the Year

Houston is no stranger to having the defensive rookie of the year on their team.

LB DeMeco Ryans and LB Brian Cushing both have won the honor playing for Houston, and DE J.J. Watt will bring it to Houston yet again.

Watt plays with such a high motor and has all the intangibles. He has quickness, size and strength.

He had impressive numbers and a very good year last year for Wisconsin with 20.5 tackles for a loss and seven sacks. 

He also will benefit from being put into a defensive front seven that includes LB/DE Mario Williams, Cushing and Ryans.

Second-round pick LB Brooks Reed will also benefit Watt.

With so many threats to get to the QB already, it will leave Watt with a lot of one-on-one situations with his blocker.

That will allow him to do some damage.

Houston Will Beat the Colts in Indy

The Texans have yet to win a single game (0-9) on the road against the Indianapolis Colts.

The Texans will be playing the Colts in the second-to-last game of the season, and it could mean a lot for the AFC playoff picture when that game comes around.

What Houston will have going for them is their youth.

This will be a Thursday night game, meaning it will be a short week. Not a lot of time for the veteran Colts squad to recover from their game against division rival Tennessee Titans.

There is no telling how Peyton Manning will be feeling at this point in the season.

He is currently recovering from his second neck surgery in 15 months.

Houston will be coming off of a home game against the Carolina Panthers.

Also, Houston has more weapons than ever before against Peyton Manning.

Watt, LB Brooks Reed, CB Johnathan Joseph and S Danieal Manning will now play alongside guys like LB/DE Mario Williams, LB Brian Cushing and LB DeMeco Ryans.

The Colts also struggle against the run, and Houston's offense features Arian Foster, one of the best backs in the NFL.

This will allow Houston to control the clock and keep Peyton Manning off the field.

Houston Will Win the AFC South

This is something I predicted in one of my latest articles.

The Houston Texans have always had talent, but not with the balance they have now.

They are going to be good at all aspects of the game.

They can pass the ball with Pro Bowl QB Matt Schaub and WR Andre Johnson. They have one of the games best RBs with Arian Foster.

They signed CB Johnathan Joseph and S Danieal Manning—two proven defensive assets in pass defense. They already have a solid run defense, ranking 13th in the NFL last year. 

Every other season, Houston had question marks at some very important positions.

Not this year. There are no excuses for this Texans squad.

Gary Kubiak will be coaching for his job, because there is no doubt in my mind that he will get fired if Houston fails to make the playoffs this year.

In the end, this is a double-digit-win football team and anything less will be a failure.