The Houston Texans are in the midst of a historic run. They have hit the 5-1 mark on the young 2024 NFL season; a mark they have only achieved once in their history. That season? The 2012 season which started with the Texans rattling off five wins in a row before losing to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday Night Football in a rout. The Packers loss was memorable as young Aaron Rogers would throw six touchdowns and no interceptions in one of his marquee performances.
Houston’s strong start a dozen years later can be credited towards a complete franchise overhaul. While the current version of the Texans resembles an overnight success, the 2012 team was a slow, grinding process under Gary Kubiak. This 2012 team would achieve new heights and set the high water mark for the Texans.
Those 2012 Houston Texans possessed the team’s most lethal offense led by Matt Schaub. Andre Johnson struggled early in the offense and only eclipsed 100 receiving yards once over the first six games. It was Arian Foster who carried the offense early in the season, racking up eight total TDs in six games. Foster had complete control over the offense, but was aided by second-year RB Ben Tate. Tate ultimately was a let down from his near-1,000. yard rookie season, but he did make his presence known in a two touchdown game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in week two. This team was also armed with an aging Owen Daniels who would go on to have career highs in targets and touchdowns.
What made this team truly formidable was their defense. Prime J.J. Watt would eclipse 20 sacks including 9.5 sacks through the Texans first six games. Meanwhile, Kareem Jackson would lead the team with four intercepts; three of which he recorded in their six game run. The defense was littered with elite talent such as Watt, Whitney Mercilus, Jonathan Joseph, Antonio Smith, Connor Barwin, Danieal Manning, and Glover Quinn. Not only that, they had supreme depth across the board with familiar names like Jared Crick, Bradie James, Quintin Demps, and Earl Mitchell.
Together, those Texans made a run into the playoffs before being ousted in the Divisional Round for the second straight season. They finished the season winning 12 games and provide a clear standard for Houston to follow. They finished 5-1 in the AFC South in 2012; Houston currently is 2-0 in the division. They went 6-2 at home in 2012 and are currently undefeated at home. They had nine players make the Pro Bowl including three lineman. Houston should have plenty this year, but three on the offensive line appears to be a bit heavy this season.
The bar has been set but the current Houston Texans aim higher. They have an offensive arsenal hitherto unseen in NRG stadium. They don new uniforms, speak loudly, and carry a stick big enough to part the Red Sea. What makes this team different than the 2012 Texans is the freshness of the team. The former Texans felt like the outcome of a process while this team feels exciting and dynamic. The current team, while suffering from a string of injuries and suspensions, has the horses to make a deeper run than any team before it.
One item that the current edition lacks is the consistency of blowing teams out. Sure, Houston ran roughshod over the lowly New England Patriots, but as ESPN’s DJ Bein-Aime said in his article this week “Houston is undefeated in one-score games, as four of its five wins have been within one possession, including two on game-winning drives”. It’s been a theme in the nascent DeMeco Ryans era and one they need to get over to win bigger games. Title contenders will punish the Texans for letting them stick around.
Houston hosts those same Green Bay Packers this weekend who pummeled them 12 years ago 42-24. The game against the Packers may not overly impact the standings in the AFC South, but it signifies Houston’s ability to beat another playoff hopeful in a game where points will be flowing.
