Houston Texans 2011 Season Odds
(The Spread) – The Houston Texans once again figure to be explosive in 2011 and may be a sleeper in the AFC.
Oddsmakers currently list the Texans as 25/1 mid-range long-shots to win the 2012 Super Bowl and 14/1 mid-range long shots to win the AFC this season. They also have odds of +180 to win the AFC South, which puts them right behind the Colts (+105).
This offseason the Texans focused on re-signing their own players, inking new deals with running backs Arian Foster and Derrick Ward, tight end Owen Daniels, defensive linemen Shaun Cody and Damione Lewis, and receiver Jacoby Jones. But they also added one of the top cornerbacks in the market in Jonathan Joseph, who along with the newly hired Wade Phillips should give Houston an improved defense in 2011.
In the 2011 NFL Draft, the Texans mostly focused on defense, adding six players to that side of the ball to just two on the offensive side. Their first round pick, defensive end J.J. Watt, should boost their pass rush and anchor their run defense. In the second round, the Texans added Arizona linebacker Brooks Reed and Miami cornerback Brandon Harris, two players who could contribute right away.
Outlook: The key to the Texans’ success is their defense. If Phillips can turn around one of the most abused units in the league last season, the Texans have a great shot of uprooting the Colts in the AFC South. Because offensively, this team is absolutely stacked thanks to Foster, Daniels, quarterback Matt Schaub and one of the best receivers in the game in Andre Johnson. At 25/1 to win the 2012 Super Bowl, the Texans are one of the more intriguing plays this fall. With Peyton Manning’s injury status up in the air as of this writing, there may not be a better time for Houston to seize control of the AFC South than right now. Again, if their defense has significantly improved, there’s no reason the Texans can’t make their first-ever trip to the postseason.
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