(07-05-2024, 09:22 AM)The Real Marty Wrote: I think we can win the division with 10 wins.  The Texans are really good, but they have to play a first place schedule.

I think they lose the element of surprise. Teams will start looking at last year's tape and get a better feel for Stroud's tendencies. I think some of us are also downplaying what happened with them last year in our two contests. The first contest was earlier in the year, we had the fluke FB run a kick off for a TD and then Ridley also had some big drops early in that game. One of which was more than likely a TD if he hauls it in. 

That win on the road with them was also good and it's being undervalued in my opinion. Especially with what was at stake still that late in November. We won 24 - 21. They had that pass interference that turned into a TD drive for them that shouldn't have happened to begin with. That was also a game where we were a little bit more healthy offensively. 

It all went downhill on December 4th. This team is better than 9 - 8. It was better than 9 - 8 last year. It just wasn't able to overcome the injuries that Lawrence had racked up playing behind an already shaky offensive line that had seen it's fair share of changes line up wise. Hopefully that's better in 2024. You would think they should be with Robinson and Cleveland starting off together on the left side this summer. You have Morse newly added in the middle, hopefully Scherff is good to go at RG and then Harrison had surgery but should be good at RT. 

I just think there's more reason to be optimistic in 2024. They had a taste of success in 2022, then, they had that bitter taste of what it's like to have success and lose it in 2023. Let's not forget. This team started off 8 - 3. That's nothing to sneeze at. It's easy to see why the freefall happened, the schedule got tougher as the roster got weaker due to injuries, especially to Lawrence with his ankle, throwing shoulder and concussion.

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