Now the goal is to stretch that streak to six and accomplish another first - a winning record.

Already eliminated from playoff contention, the 7-7 Texans hope winning these last two games will carry over into success next season.

"I don't know when that day will come when we'll say we've turned the corner," coach Gary Kubiak said. "We all know what our goal is and we're going to fall short of that this year, we're not going to a be a playoff team. But there's no doubt in my mind we're a better football team now."

Before this season, Houston had never won more than two in a row. The Texans started the season 0-4 before winning three straight earlier this year. Houston finished with the best record in team history last season when it went 8-8.

Kubiak is impressed with the maturity his team showed in dealing with a difficult early schedule and the adversity Hurricane Ike created. Houston played the first three games on the road after the hurricane rearranged its schedule.

"It's growing in mental (and) in physical toughness," Kubiak said. "You're sitting there at 3-7, things haven't gone good, you've played some good football games that you haven't won, you could really go into the tank in this league. It's easy to do."

But the Texans didn't do that and haven't lost since a 33-27 defeat at Indianapolis on Nov. 16.

"I think it all started when we played well at Indianapolis," Kubiak said. "We got beat and in the locker room we didn't sulk or talk about getting beat, we talked about going to Cleveland and winning a football game. I think since then we've just kind of rallied as a team."

The Texans face the 3-11 Raiders at Oakland this week before finishing the season at home against the 8-6 Bears.

Houston got its biggest win of the season on Sunday with a 13-12 victory that snapped a seven-game losing streak against the Titans. Andre Johnson had a career-high 207 yards, rookie Steve Slaton had his third straight 100-yard rushing game and the defense held Tennessee without a touchdown for the first time this season.

"It's good to beat the best team in football," linebacker DeMeco Ryans said. "It was a huge game for us and I think our confidence level is rising every week. Guys are playing with a lot more swagger."

Kubiak believes cornerback Dunta Robinson's return to the starting lineup four games ago helped spark the current streak. Robinson sat out for almost a year after severe knee and hamstring injuries and played sparingly in the games immediately following his return.

"I think when he went out there it gave us some confidence as a group," Kubiak said. "If you look across the board I think the group has settled down, but you've got to give Dunta a lot of credit. Since he's come back they've obviously played with a lot more confidence."

Note: LB Xavier Adibi has a groin injury and will be day to day this week.