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The Houston Texans are finished with their expansion phase.
There will be no more moral victories next season. Another offseason to add talent and a chance to recover from spate of injuries mean the Texans expect to follow their 5-11 finish with a run for the playoffs.
``I expected results when I first got here. I've been kind of disappointed the last two years,'' quarterback David Carr said after the Texans finished one game better than their inaugural 4-12 season. ``Fans have been giving us a little extra time and that's been great. I plan on winning right now.''
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Carr in some ways epitomized the 2003 Texans.
Bolstered by a revamped offensive line and the additions of standout rookies in tailback Domanick Davis and receiver Andre Johnson, Carr's play improved from his rookie year, when he played every down while absorbing a league-record 76 sacks.
Yet Carr was sidelined twice by injuries this year and missed five starts. When veteran backup Tony Banks broke his throwing hand Nov. 30, the offense stalled for two games behind overmatched rookie Dave Ragone.
``I wish I could have been on the field a little more,'' Carr said. ``I think I can improve.''
What turned out to be an omen for the Texans occurred before training camp when star left tackle Tony Boselli, the biggest name obtained in their expansion draft, retired with a bad left shoulder without having played a down in Houston.
Breaks, tears and dislocations eventually would send 17 Texans to the injured reserve list.
Six on the IR were starters or projected starters, including 2002 Pro Bowlers cornerback Aaron Glenn and defensive end Gary Walker, both hobbled for weeks before finally hanging it up. The team's top special teams tackler, Ramon Walker, also was cut down.
``It happens to every team at some point,'' said nose tackle Seth Payne, who will endure a third operation on his left knee since hurting it in the second week. ``Statistically, it's going to happen. You have good years and you have bad years.''
The toll was especially severe on defense, which stood out last year. This year the unit ranked 31st in yardage allowed and was vulnerable to the pass and run.
``We've got guys who will fight,'' said Steve Martin, an eight-year veteran signed to replace Payne. ``That's what you want to be a part of. That's what brings out the passion in it. No matter what happens, you're still swinging. That's how you've got to play.
``You go in with that mentality into next season; you've got what it takes to contend.''
The brightest development was the unexpected emergence of Davis, the 101st overall pick in the draft. He rushed for 1,031 yards despite not starting until the sixth week.
Johnson, expected to make an impact as the No. 3 pick in the draft, had 66 catches for 976 yards. He and Davis just missed becoming the first rookie tandem to have 1,000 yards rushing and receiving, and they're expected to form an offensive foundation with Carr for years to come.
``One of the things I like best about all three of those guys, as talented as they are they're all top-shelf, first-class guys,'' coach Dom Capers said. ``They're all team-oriented.''
The other defining trait of the 2003 Texans was their penchant for close games. They split their 10 games decided by a touchdown or less, starting with a 21-20 opening win at Miami on a 35-yard field goal by Kris Brown in the waning seconds.
There were plenty of other thrilling moments, such as Carr's go-for-broke 1-yard TD plunge to beat Jacksonville and a rare defensive stand in a victory over Atlanta, ruining Michael Vick's return from injury.
They made losing exciting, too. They ended the season with a loss to Tennessee on a Steve McNair TD pass with 17 seconds left and a loss to the Colts on Mike Vanderjagt's NFL-record 41st straight field goal as time expired.
Despite four straight losses at the end and the inability to win two in a row, the close calls make for heightened expectations.
``If we have to win more
games in Year 3 and it has to put more pressure on our team to do that, that's
great,'' Carr said. ``Sign me up. I'll take it.''