2011 Regular Season
The 2011 Texans earned their first playoff berth and won their first postseason game, behind a dominant defense and third-string quarterback T.J. Yates.
The 2011 season was the Houston Texans' 10th in the National Football League (NFL) and their sixth under head coach Gary Kubiak. The Texans improved on their record from the 2010 season, despite losing starting quarterback Matt Schaub and backup Matt Leinart to season-ending injuries. Third-stringer T.J. Yates filled in and earned the franchise's first playoff berth by defeating the Cincinnati Bengals 20–19 in Week 14 and clinching the AFC South. It also assured the Texans of at least one playoff game at home—the first NFL playoff game in Houston since 1993. After reaching the Divisional match against the Baltimore Ravens, the Texans suffered their maiden loss in the NFL Playoffs, losing 20–13.
Quick Facts
- Regular record
- 10-6
- Head coach
- Gary Kubiak
- Division finish
- AFC South Champions
- Key rusher
- Arian Foster
- Franchise milestone
- First Division Title
Lore & Background
Prior to the season, former Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips was hired as defensive coordinator, replacing Frank Bush, who was fired. The Texans defense made major improvements in Phillips' first year calling Houston's defensive plays. The team allowed the fourth-fewest points in the league in 2011 (compared to fourth most in 2010), the second-fewest yards allowed (third-most in 2010) and third-fewest yards per play (4.8, compared to 6.0, second-worst in 2010). The Texans allowed just 278 points (17.375 points per game) in the regular season, and scored 103 more points than their opponents did, which are both team records. They allowed 23 or more points only five times all season.
Reader's Guide
The Texans finished the regular season 10–6 as the AFC's #3 seed. They won their first playoff game in franchise history, defeating the Cincinnati Bengals 31–10 in the Wild Card round, then lost to the Baltimore Ravens 20–13 in the Divisional round. The team's seven-game winning streak was snapped in Week 15 against the Carolina Panthers. T.J. Yates started most games after injuries to Schaub and Leinart, with Jake Delhomme appearing in Week 17.
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