Since joining the NFL as an expansion team in 2002, the Houston Texans have had little to cheer about finishing third or worse in the division in all but one season when they finished second in 2009 behind the arch rival Indianapolis Colts. But with the Colts suffering without their franchise quarterback and still seeking their first win of the season, the Texans have taken advantage by compiling an overall record of 7-3 which is tied for tops in the AFC and finally appear to be in a favorable position to make their first playoff trip in franchise history. Those chances were dealt a huge blow this past weekend however, when the team learned after their 37-9 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that they'll be without their Pro Bowl QB Matt Schaub for the rest of the season.
During the first half of Sunday's victory in Tampa Bay, Matt Schaub and the Houston offense tried a quarterback sneak when pinned on their own goal line when Schaub's foot got caught underneath a pile of Buccaneers defensemen, injuring his foot in the process. Schaub would stay in the game, but only threw three passes in the second half as Arian Foster and the Texans ground attack carried the rest of the load on offense. Taking over for the injured Schaub following Houston's BYE week this weekend will be Matt Leinart who hasn't started a game since 2009 while a member of the Arizona Cardinals. Leinart, a former Heisman Trophy winner at the University of Southern California, hasn't had the most successful career in the NFL since being selected 10th overall in the 2006 Draft and has only seen limited playing time after suffering a broken collarbone in 2007 which eventually led to Kurt Warner taking over the starting position in Arizona.
The timing of Schaub's injury couldn't be any worse. Not that any time is good for a player to endure an injury, but the injury to Schaub is especially unfortunate with the team expecting to welcome back in time for their next game Pro Bowl wide out Andre Johnson who's missed the last six games due to a hamstring injury he sustained in early October. The absence of Schaub also severely hurts Houston's chances of succeeding in the playoffs assuming they make it there. If the Texans hang on to win their first ever division title and clinch a playoff spot for the first time in franchise history, a trip back to the playoffs might not be something Houston experiences for another several years considering this season has been the first season in which they haven't had to worry about the Peyton Manning-led Indianapolis Colts. With the 4-time MVP Manning expected to be at full strength come next season it's unlikely the Texans will have as easy a chance to taste postseason success as they do this year.
Even with Schaub sidelined for the remainder of the year the team should be able to survive the season off their dominant run game and stingy defense, both of which rank among the best in the league and have carried the Texans to where they are now.
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