Houston Texans Haiku: Week 8 vs. Cleveland Browns

It's good not to fret.
It's good to beat lesser teams.
It's good to dream now.

T'was only last year
When the defense was a sieve
Now, it is a wall.*

Winning without 'Dre.
When he returns, look out, man!
We could be scary.

Cleveland Browns - 12
Houston Texans - 30

Record - 6-3 (1st in AFC South)

*Thanks Wade Phillips!

Houston Texans Haiku: Week 8 vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

Played down, yet again.
But the vic'try was hard won.
Still too soon to dream?

We have a defense!
Offense good. Now, hone the brains.
Complete team, are we?

Jacksonville Jaguars - 14
Houston Texans - 24

Record: 5-3 (1st in AFC South)

Houston Texans Haiku: Week 7 at Tennessee Titans

Yes! A statement game!
Texans played all four quarters.
Take lead in the South.

Houston Texans - 41
Tennessee Titans - 7

Record: 4-3

Houston Texans Haiku: Week 6 at Baltimore Ravens

My dream Texans' team:
Last year's offense, new defense.
The corner's not turned.

Fourth quarter play calls.
Four-yard dinky throws. The hell?
We needed long bombs.

Houston Texans - 14
Baltimore Ravens - 29

Record: 3-3

Pardon me while I go bang my head on something hard...

Houston Texans Haiku: Week 5 vs. Oakland Raiders

As always, words fail.
Schizophrenic Texans team
Found a way to lose.

Note:
As heartbreaking as it is as a Texans fan, I can imagine that this game will live long in Raider lore. Thrilling win. In this age where corporate types handle things with kid gloves, Al Davis was an old-school throwback. He told it like he saw it and if you didn't like it, tough. That kind of spark is often missing nowadays, in sports as well as the rest of our culture. Mr. Davis: you shall be missed.

Oakland Raiders - 25
Houston Texans - 20

Record: 3-2, tied for 1st in AFC South

Houston Texans Haiku: Week 4 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Any given game
Turns on key plays and players.
Defense won this game.

With the Offense slow,
Texans' D turned up the heat.
Foster ran away.

Dre out. Cause for fear?
Nah. Someone will step up, lead.
Pave our playoff road.


Pittsburgh Steelers - 10
Houston Texans - 17

Record: 3-1

Houston Texans Haiku: Week 3 at New Orleans Saints

Yes, it was a loss.
But the Texans played with heart.
The dream grows some more.

Red zone offense. Argh!
Need more touchdowns, less FGs.
Nearly stole it, though.

Houston Texans - 33
New Orleans Saints - 40

Record: 2-1

Houston Texans Haiku: Week 2 at Miami Dolphins

The New Man: Ben Tate
Churning up yards, eating clock.
The hope grows some more...

Two and Oh again.
But we have been here before.
To a new place...go!

Houston Texans - 23
Miami Dolphins - 13

Record: 2-0

Houston Texans Haiku: Week 1 vs. Indianapolis Colts

First drive? Typical.
The rest? Pretty tres awesome!
Dare we hope again?

Indianapolis Colts - 7
Houston Texans - 34

Ahh! The sweet smell of NFL football! It's been a long nine months (since the Texans played a game). Even before yesterday, there was a sense that maybe, just maybe, perhaps, if all goes well, this might, just might, be a year of something special. Granted, we had that thought last year after beating the Colts (with Peyton Manning) in game one, but this year still feels different. We'll have to wait and see.

As a fan of the NFL, I missed Peyton Manning. He is truly one of the great players ever to play the game and, frankly, I always enjoy watching him play. The way he choreographs his team is like a master potter making beautiful art out of clay. I hope he returns soon and wished he would have been able to continue his consecutive starts streak.

Still, football is back!

Houston Texans Haiku: Week 17 vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

The season's over.
Week One was Cloud Nine. This week
Was euthanasia.

Barring a firing
"Wait 'til next year" sounds hollow.
So tired of "Next Year."

Appreciate the
Owner standing by his man.*
Only wins now, team.

T'was a weird season.
Foster's the man! Schaub's on fire.
Way too much heartache.

Wade's got a huge task.*
Only place to go is up.
Dare we try to hope...?

Jacksonville Jaguars - 17
Houston Texans - 34

*Based on the rumors that Gary Kubiak will remain as head coach and Wade Phillips will be hired as the defensive coordinator. As of this writing, it's not official.

Until next year...

Houston Texans Haiku: Week 16 at Denver Broncos

Don't have it in me
To attempt a haiku now
How long 'til next year?

Game was such a snooze
That I almost forgot to
Write these few poems.

Late in the contest
I just knew we'd lose somehow.
Did not disappoint.

It's almost funny
How talented we are at
Not earning more wins.

Houston Texans - 23
Denver Broncos - 24

Houston Texans Haiku: Week 15 at Tennessee Titans

Was asked "Why haiku?"
I'm asking myself the same
After today's game.

Five and nine. Oh boy.
Week One seems so far away.
Was it this season?

No playoffs. Draft rank
Not as "good" as the Panthers.
It's purgatory.

Is the mere presence
Of professional football
In Houston enough?

Got outta church at
Ten past twelve. Already down
Seven. It figures.

So apathetic
That I don't even care t'was
The Titans beat us.

Time to do what all
Texans fans do every year:
Watch another team.

Houston Texans - 17
Tennessee Titans - 31

Houston Texans Haiku: Week 14 vs. Baltimore Ravens

Looked great for one half.
To come so close, yet so far.
Like a hard groin kick.

Season now over.
Tell me what we're playing for?
Really. Please tell me.

Coach K does enough
To keep things interesting.
Is that just enough?

Can't complain too much.
Damn fine second half. Thrilling.
We win if "heads" called.

Two long scoring drives
Why can't we do that more? Why?!
Snatched defeat again.

Baltimore Ravens - 34
Houston Texans - 28 (OT)

Houston Texans Haiku: Week 13* at Philadelphia Eagles

Still not good enough.
Not ready for prime time games.
Will we ever be?

Q3 like Week One.
Power football. It looked grand.
Engine just wore out.

Arian Foster.
Why is he not on the field
On every dang play?

December football.
The Texans fall. Then play well
When no one's looking.

I long for the time
When it's the Texans who are
Supposed to win games.

Coach K getting mad.
At least he has some passion.
Just not quite enough.

Division is ripe
For the picking. Texans show
Up without basket.

Houston Texans - 24
Philadelphia Eagles - 34

*No, I didn't miss Week 12. I just forgot to account for Houston's bye week.

Nice to *see* the game since the NFL Network used to be a premium channel.

Sigh. No more local football until 13 December, the Monday nighter with Baltimore. Lovely.

Houston Texans Haiku: Week 11 vs. Tennessee Titans

I missed the win. Natch.
Christmas shopping at game time.
Think I had more fun.

Now that the season's
gone astray, Texans play good.
Wait 'til next year, 'gain...

Hockey game broke out
During the football game. No
Place for that at all.

Tennessee Titans - 0
Houston Texans - 20

Houston Texans Haiku: Week 11 at New York Jets

Four and six again.
All four seasons in one game.
Why, how do we watch?

Big D changed coaches.
Two and O with J. Garrett.
Is there a lesson?

Houston Texans' role:
Give highlights to other teams.
Heartbreak for H-Town.

Houston Texans - 27
New York Jets - 30

Houston Texans Haiku: Week 10: at Jacksonville Jaguars

A tale of two halves.
First half sucked. Not so half two.
T'was a fun ending.

Here we go again.
Season sliding down the hill.
Just like every year.

The game's called football.
Not volleyball. In football,
You catch the ball, man!

Houston Texans - 24
Jacksonville Jaguars - 31

Houston Texans Haiku: Week 9 vs. San Diego Chargers

Missed it yet again.
Gaudy stats no longer good.
Bye-bye playoff bid.

We're hurt. So were they.
Why do their reserves beat ours?
No killer instinct.

Coach K: My advice.
Ride Foster every dang play.
He's the best we got.

Home cooking not good.
Season ticket holders: y'all
feeling gyped 'bout now?

San Diego Chargers - 29
Houston Texans - 23

Houston Texans Haiku: Week 8 at Indianpolis Colts

Texans lose. Again.
Still can't hang with the big boys.
Is the hope a dream?

Bad night for Texas.
Texans lose. Rangers closed out.
Time to go to bed.

Texans in prime time.
Don't like it. Prefer Sundays.
Enjoyed "Castle," though!

Houston Texans - 17
Indianpolis Colts - 30

Houston Texans Haiku: Week 6 vs. the Chiefs

Andre the Giant!
Sir Matt the Magnificent!
Thrilling as always.

Texans got it done.
Season one point O over.
Two point O, let's go!

Kansas City Chiefs - 31
Houston Texans - 35