Even if the Texans had lost, we would be talking about their toughness and resolve, about how they got in a street fight and refused to back down.
We would still be proud of them. We'd say we saw something different in them. All they did Sunday was remind us they're made of the right stuff, and they didn't have to win to do that.
They fought their guts out and displayed the heart of nfl jersey
a champion. They didn't let an early turnover or a couple of tough penalties or some spectacular throws by Donovan McNabb beat them. They weren't rattled by the NFL's largest stadium.
And when they needed a play at winning time, they made that play. This is the thing they've been missing. Two weeks ago, general manager Rick Smith said maybe his team needed to suffer all those gut-wrenching defeats the past couple of years to get to the next level.
They've been smartly and methodically constructed, but there are no guarantees in the NFL. But Smith believed in his team's leadership, intelligence, toughness and talent.
He knew his words meant nothing until the Texans went out and proved they could make enough plays to win and to make the playoffs and then keep going.
Andre Johnson and Mario Williams had huge days against the Redskins. So did Matt Schaub, Bernard Pollard, etc.
The Texans have no chance of making anything out of this season unless their stars play like stars, because they set the tone.
Setting an example
Winning can be as infectious as losing. If the Texans find themselves down 17 points late in the third quarter at some other point this season, they'll know they can do what they did Sunday.
"We didn't play real well as a team," coach Gary Kubiak said, "but we had about four or five guys put the team on their shoulders."
They kept chopping wood, kept focusing on the next play and then the next one. That's what good teams do. They stack one good practice on another, and then on Sunday, they keep their composure.
Three years ago, when the New England Patriots were putting the finishing touches on a 16-0 regular season, ESPN interviewed three of the stars about their run.
"You don't understand," Tedy Bruschi said finally. "You're asking about the Bears jersey
big picture, and all we're thinking about is having a good practice today."
Bingo.
The Redskins were never for one second the tougher team or the stronger team or the team with more resolve. Can you imagine how good it felt to get on that plane to come home?
Kubiak ought to cut the game ball into 70 pieces. He should keep a piece for himself and his coaches, especially Frank Bush and Rick Dennison. And give David Gibbs a piece, too, for bringing those young cornerbacks along a play at a time, for helping them through good times and bad.
The Texans lead the NFL in offense and are next-to-last in defense. They won one game with an amazing running game and another with an unstoppable passing attack.
Those young cornerbacks are getting beaten up, but we knew they'd be a work in progress. The Redskins went after rookie Kareem Jackson, and the Cowboys will do the same thing Sunday.
"We really, really struggled," Kubiak said. "We've got some things we've got to clean up there."
As long as Williams plays like an MVP, as long as that offense rolls up yards, the Texans have a chance to overcome their mistakes.
We've had so many days when the Texans were lousy that it's pretty cool to wake up and feel they might have turned a corner. And it's not just winning. It's a confidence in the players and their heart, effort, etc., and the people in charge, how they appear to have gotten it right.
Meaningful rally
To score 20 unanswered points and win in a tough road environment should warm your heart. There have been so many games when it was the other team making just enough plays to win. This time, it was the hometown team.
The Texans have been 2-0 before and gotten our hopes up. You know Bills jersey
how things turned out then.
Good teams are the ones that survive close games like Sunday's. They're the ones that don't get decimated by injuries. People around here know better than to be planning ahead, but right now, there might not be a better NFL team.
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