Matt Schaub Injury: How Will Loss of QB for Season Affect Playoff Chances?

Disaster has struck the Houston Texans. 

Earlier today, it was reported (see the Houston Chronicle) that Texans quarterback Matt Schaub had suffered a “significant foot injury,” and that it was possible he would not be able to return this season.

Well, Texans fans, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but...

Oh heck, I'll let ESPN's Adam Schefter explain:

Okay, first things first: What the heck is a "lis franc injury?"

Well, here's the SportsMD.com definition:

"

A Lisfranc injury refers to a rare injury to a joint in the center region (commonly known as the midfoot) of the foot. Although a lesser known injury, an injury in this region of the foot can be highly debilitating for an athlete who depends on their lower extremities for so much of their athletic performance.

"

Long story short, it's a "significant foot injury." 

For what it's worth, Texans head coach Gary Kubiak did tell Sportsradio 610 in Houston that all of this may be too premature:

Maybe so, but is this the team's opinion or the team's hope? Given the diagnosis, my money is on the latter.

Let's say Schaub does miss the rest of the season. Then what?

In the short term, I actually think the Texans are going to be okay. Losing Schaub and replacing him with Leinart is far from being the ideal scenario for the rest of the season, but the good news for the Texans is that they already have the division lead in the AFC South. All they have to do is play well enough to hold onto it.

Because the Texans have, in my opinion, the most dangerous rushing attack in football, I think they'll have enough offense to do this. Goodness knows they definitely have enough defense. Their overall quality of play will slip a little, but only to an extent.

Houston's schedule down the stretch will help. The Texans have some tough games remaining on their schedule, but they have some cupcakes too. If they win those and one or two of the tough ones, everything will be shiny.

And no, the Tennessee Titans are not going to get hot enough to catch them. Their schedule isn't all that rough, but I just don't think they're good enough to make a charge.

If the Titans obey my commands, such as they are, the Texans are winning the AFC South and making the franchise's first playoff appearance.

Once they get in, though, that's when you'll have to worry about them. In this day and age, you need a good quarterback to make it far in the postseason, and Matt Leinart is not a good quarterback.

At least, not last I checked. I'll feel like a fool if Leinart ends up being a capable NFL quarterback.

And I won't be the only one.