By going 8-4 after an 0-4 start, including 5-1 down the stretch, the Texans have created a lot of excitement entering an offseason that will be crucial to their plan for being a legitimate playoff contender in 2009.
Coach Gary Kubiak is so fired up for next season, he chuckled Wednesday when asked if there were any truth to media reports in Denver about him being a possible replacement for Mike Shanahan.
"Bob McNair gave me the chance of a lifetime," Kubiak said. "I'm not interested in going anywhere."
Kubiak and general manager Rick Smith have their work cut out entering the offseason. The Texans improved in some areas, primarily on offense. In their last two victories, they? defeated the Tennessee Titans, who have the NFL's best record, and the Chicago Bears, who needed to win to make the playoffs.
Unfortunately for the Texans, their annual postseason report card must take into account the entire season, including the 0-4 start, a three-game losing streak in the middle of the season, getting blown out at home by Baltimore and losing at Oakland, which cost them their first winning season.
McClain's Final grades PAGE C6
