2012 draft class
Notes :FromStaff
Final roster
Schedule
Preseason
Regular season
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.Postseason
Game summaries
Regular season
Week 1: vs. Miami Dolphins
( 2012 Miami Dolphins season) The Houston Texans began their 10th anniversary campaign with lofty expectations, with many columnists picking them to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl. Despite the lofty expectations, the Texans began the season rather flatly, only managing a field goal on offense against a younger, more inexperienced Dolphins team. Miami played the Texans tough throughout the first half, thanks in part to Reggie Bush's contributions on the ground. However, the game took a stunning turn after the two-minute warning of the first half as the Texans forced three Dolphin turnovers, and quickly converted them into touchdowns to stretch the lead to 24–3 before halftime. The Texans continued to ride their defense to a season opening 30–10 win over Miami. Houston improved to 7–0 all-time against the Miami Dolphins as they started their season 1–0.Week 2: at Jacksonville Jaguars
( 2012 Jacksonville Jaguars season) The Texans entered their first division clash of the season looking to establish their will on the ground. Behind a punishing ground attack with Arian Foster and Ben Tate, as well as an efficient defensive effort led by second year defensive lineman J.J. Watt, the Texans dominated the game with a time of possession of 43:17 on their way to a 27–7 victory in Jacksonville. With the win, the Texans improved to 2–0 for the 3rd straight season. On the first drive, Houston drove 60 yards aided by Tate and took a 3-0 lead on a Shayne Graham 31 yard field goal. The Jaguars mounted a drive into Texan territory but they had to punt from the 44. Both teams went three-and-out on their next drive. After a long pass play, the Texans were at the 1. 2 plays later Arian Foster ran it in from the 1 to make it 10-0. Two drives later Houston scored on an 8-yard run from Ben Tate. At halftime it was 17-0 Texans. In the 3rd quarter, quarterback Matt Schaub threw an interception returned to the Houston 37. Jacksonville scored in just 2 plays on a Td pass from Blaine Gabbert to running back Maurice-Jones Drew. It was 17-7. Then the Texans made a 17 play drive resulting in a 2-yard Ben Tate touchdown to make it 24-7. The Texans would get a field goal to make it 27-7, and that would end the game.Week 3: at Denver Broncos
( 2012 Denver Broncos season) The Texans entered this highly anticipated early season matchup coming face-to-face once again with a familiar longtime AFC South nemesis in the form of former Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, who had sat out the 2011 season due to a neck injury. Now back and in Denver, Manning came into the game looking to continue his mastery over the Houston Texans franchise. However, it was Matt Schaub who took control of the game early, throwing 4 touchdown passes, and overcoming a brutal hit where he lost a chunk of his ear. Despite Peyton Manning fueling a Broncos comeback attempt in the 4th quarter, the Texans were able to hang on and defeat the Broncos by 6 points. With the win, the Texans improved to 3–0 for the first time ever. This was also their first road victory against Peyton Manning as they improved to 1–0 against Peyton in road games as a Bronco (0–9 vs. Peyton on the road as a Colt). The Broncos sacked Matt Schaub on the 2nd drive of the game making it 2-0. The Broncos drove 48 yards and kicked a 32-yard field goal from Matt Prater to make it 5-0. On the next drive, Schaub threw a 60-yard touchdown pass to Andre Johnson to make it 7-5. On their next drive, Houston went on a 98-yard drive resulting in a 3-yard touchdown pass from Schaub to Arian Foster making it 14-5. After a 3-and-out by Denver, Schaub threw a 52-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Walters to make it 21-5. Denver scored a field goal by Prater to make it 21-8. Denver would get another field goal before the half ended to make it 21-11. To open the second half Houston scored to make it 24-11. Then Schaub threw to Owen Daniels to make it 31-11. But after a Houston fumble, Denver scored its first touchdown of the night to cut it to 31-18. After a punt, Denver scored again to make it 31-25. However Houston stopped a desperation lateral play to win 31-25 and improve to 3-0. Schaub threw for 4 touchdowns and played his best game of the season up to that point.Week 4: vs. Tennessee Titans
( 2012 Tennessee Titans season) Despite Chris Johnson breaking out with his first 100+ yard rushing game for the Titans this season, Tennessee was unable to contain a dynamic Texans team, who recorded two touchdowns on defense en route to blowout the former Oilers 38–14. With the win, the Texans improved to 4–0 for the first time in franchise history. On the opening drive of the game, Matt Schuab threw an 11-yard touchdown to make it 7-0. 2 drives later, Arian Foster scored a touchdown of 4 yards to make it 14-0 at the end of the first. Tennessee got going in the second with a 19-yard touchdown making it 14-7. That was the score at the half. In the third Matt Hasselbeck dropped back but was picked of by Danieal Manning and returned for a touchdown making it 21-7. On Houston's next drive, Schuab threw a 28-yard touchdown to Owen Daniels to make it 28-7 at the end of the third. In the fourth Tennessee fumbled giving it to Houston who took a 31-7 lead. Tennessee then threw an interception returned 63 yards for a touchdown. It was 38-7. Tennessee scored late in the game to make it 38-14 and that was the final score.Week 5: at New York Jets
( 2012 New York Jets season) Many expected the Texans to roll through the seemingly dismal Jets team in their first primetime appearance of the season. Even though the Texans never trailed in the game, the Jets kept pace throughout, thanks in large part to a 100-yard kickoff return touchdown by the Jets' Joe McKnight. The Texans were able to keep the Jets at bay just enough to earn a hard-fought win on the road, and improve to 5–0, remaining one of only two teams undefeated in the NFL to this point along with the Atlanta Falcons. This was also the first time the Texans have ever defeated the New York Jets in their 11-year history, making them 1–5 against the Jets overall and improving their regular season record to 5–0. On the opening drive Houston scored to take a 7-0 lead. Houston got the ball but was intercepted at their own 35. Mark Sanchez threw a touchdown to Josh Cumberland to make it 7-7. In the second, Arian Foster scored to make it 14-7. A Shayne Graham field goal made it 17-7 at the half. Houston would kick another field goal to make it 20-7. The ensuing kickoff was returned by Joe McKnight 100 yards to make it 20-14. Another Houston field goal made it 23-14. The Jets would get a field goal before the game ended to end it 23-17 Houston. The Texans improved to 5-0.Week 6: vs. Green Bay Packers
( 2012 Green Bay Packers season) The Texans came into their first ever appearance on Sunday Night Football facing playoff favorites Green Bay, who had shockingly started the season 2–3, one of those losses ending inWeek 7: vs. Baltimore Ravens
;Battle Red DayWeek 9: vs. Buffalo Bills
( 2012 Buffalo Bills season) The game marked the anticipated return of former Texans number one draft pick Mario Williams, who had signed a multi-year $100 million contract with the Bills over the offseason, back to Reliant Stadium. While Williams performed well in his return, the Bills were unable to muster up a touchdown drive over the Texans defense as Houston improved to 7–1 with a 21–9 win. Also, the team took the all-time series to .500 with a 3–3 record against the Bills. Houston scored first on a 39-yard touchdown to make it 7-0. After 2 straight missed field goals by both teams, the Bills made one to cut it to 7-3. Buffalo got another field goal to make it 7-6 at the half. In the 3rd, Arian Foster scored to make it 14-6. Late in the 3rd, Buffalo made another field goal to make it 14-9. Schuab found Garrett Graham to make the final score 21-9. Houston improve to 7-1Week 10: at Chicago Bears
( 2012 Chicago Bears season) The primetime game was played in a mix of rain and snow at Soldier Field, conditions that have typically meant trouble for teams that play their home games in warm weather or controlled environments, such as the Texans. Despite the conditions, the Texans were able to ground out a 13–6 win on the road to improve to 8–1 on the season, 3–0 overall against the Chicago Bears and 1–1 on Sunday Night Football. On their 2nd drive of the game, Houston kicked a field goal to make it 3-0. After that, 4 straight turnovers occurred;2 for each team. After the last turnover, Chicago drove down the field and kicked it through to make it 3-3. Houston then had Matt Schuab throw it to Arian Foster to make it 10-3. Chicago then threw an interception at the end of the half. In the middle of the 3rd quarter, Robbie Gould kicked it through to cut it to 10-6. In the 4th, Houston kicked a field goal to make it 13-6. Chicago turned it over to end the game. The Texans improved to 8-1.Week 11: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
After a hard-fought win in Chicago, and on the cusp of a short turnaround for a Thursday afternoon matchup in Detroit the following week, the 8–1 Texans hosted the 1–8 Jaguars at Reliant. The Texans survived an upset scare from Jacksonville thanks to a career-high 527 passing yards fromWeek 12: at Detroit Lions
Thanksgiving Day game ( 2012 Detroit Lions season) After defeating the Jaguars at home in overtime, the Texans traveled to Detroit to play in their first ever Thanksgiving Day game. Many touchdowns were scored between both of the teams, but the Texans got the better edge of it whenWeek 13: at Tennessee Titans
After a grueling stretch where they endured two hard-fought overtime matches over a span of 5 days, the Texans took the opportunity of a prolonged week to heal up and rest in advance of the stretch run to the playoffs. The Texans took the AFC's best record into Tennessee to face a reeling Titans team, fresh off of firing their offensive coordinator earlier in the week. The Texans staked out to an early lead and never looked back as the defense forced 6 Titans turnovers and held Titans running back Chris Johnson to 51 yards en route to a relatively stress free 24–10 victory. With the win, the Texans set a new team record for wins in a season, while improving to 11–1 and also clinched the franchise's second straight trip to the playoffs and swept the Titans for the first time since 2004.Week 14: at New England Patriots
( 2012 New England Patriots) The Texans were thoroughly outplayed in what would turn out to be a preview of the Divisional Round rematch between both teams. The Texans dropped to 11–2 with the loss.Week 15: vs. Indianapolis Colts
( 2012 Indianapolis Colts season) With their victory over the Colts, the Texans improved to 12–2 on the season and 5–0 against division rivals, thereby securing their second AFC South title in franchise history. Because the Patriots dropped to 10–4 several hours later on the same day, the Texans can clinch homefield advantage throughout the playoffs by winning at least one of their two remaining games by virtue of their head-to-head tiebreaker over the Broncos.Week 16: vs. Minnesota Vikings
( 2012 Minnesota Vikings season) With the loss in their regular season home finale, the Texans dropped to 12–3 on the season and 6–2 at home, finishing 0–2 at home against NFC North teams. Houston remains winless (0–3) against the Minnesota Vikings in franchise history.Week 17: at Indianapolis Colts
Hoping to rebound from a tough loss, the Texans traveled to Indianapolis for game 2 against the Andrew Luck-led Colts. However, the Texans lost this game and finished 12–4 for the season and 0–11 against the Colts in Indianapolis. With wins by the Broncos and Patriots, the Texans dropped in conference standings, taking the AFC's #3 seed for the 2nd straight year, and would host the Bengals in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs—also for a 2nd straight year.Postseason
AFC Wild Card Playoffs: vs. (6) Cincinnati Bengals
(AFC Divisional Playoffs: at (2) New England Patriots
The Texans were eliminated from the playoffs for the 2nd year in a row in a game reminiscent of the Week 14 matchup against the Patriots. Entering the game, both teams combined were 12–0 at home against other AFC teams. Again, the Texans were outplayed and out-coached, losing despite possessing the ball for about 31:34 minutes compared to their opponent's 28:36. An intercepted pass that doomed a promising drive and a turnover on downs late in the 3rd quarter put the game out of reach as New England ran away with the score, boasting impressive performances from QB Tom Brady, RBs Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen, and WRStandings
Division
Conference
Statistics
Team
Individual
Source:References
External links
* {{2012 NFL season by team