The 2011 Houston Texans season was the franchise's 10th season in the

National Football League The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league that consists of 32 teams, divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The NFL is one of the ...

and the 6th under

head coach A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches. In some sports, the head coach is instead called the "manager", as in assoc ...

Gary Kubiak Gary Wayne Kubiak (born August 15, 1961) is a former American football coach and quarterback. He served as head coach for the NFL's Houston Texans from 2006 to 2013 and the Denver Broncos from 2015 to 2016 before stepping down from the position ...

. The Texans improved on their record from the 2010 season, despite losing starting quarterback Matt Schaub & 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 The American Football Conference – Southern Division or AFC South is one of the four divisions of the American Football Conference (AFC) in the National Football League (NFL). It was created before the 2002 season when the league realigned d ...

. It also assured the Texans of at least one playoff game at home—the first NFL playoff game in Houston since

1993 File:1993 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The Oslo I Accord is signed in an attempt to resolve the Israeli–Palestinian conflict; The Russian White House is shelled during the 1993 Russian constitutional crisis; Czechoslovakia is peacefu ...

. After reaching the Divisional match against the

Baltimore Ravens The Baltimore Ravens are a professional American football team based in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the American Football Conference (AFC) North division. The team plays it ...

, the Texans suffered their maiden loss in the NFL Playoffs, losing 20–13. Prior to the season, former

Cowboys A cowboy is a professional pastoralist or mounted livestock herder, usually from the Americas or Australia. Cowboy(s) or The Cowboy(s) may also refer to: Film and television * ''Cowboy'' (1958 film), starring Glenn Ford * ''Cowboy'' (1966 film), ...

head coach

Wade Phillips Harold Wade Phillips (born June 21, 1947) is an American football coach who is currently the head coach of the Houston Roughnecks of the XFL. He has served as head coach of the Denver Broncos, Buffalo Bills, and Dallas Cowboys. He has also ser ...

was hired as defensive coordinator, replacing

Frank Bush Frank Bush (born January 10, 1963) is the linebackers coach of the Atlanta Falcons. He is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Houston Oilers in the fifth round of the 1985 NFL Draft. He pl ...

who was terminated by Texans owner Bob McNair. 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). Not only do the 2011 Texans hold the record for least points conceded in the average game of a season for the team with 17.4 points, which happened nine times, but they also got a +103 point differential, which is the best in franchise history. Of the Texans' 10 wins, 9 of them were decided by at least 6 points.

Offseason

2011 draft board

Staff

Final roster

Preseason

Regular season

Schedule

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

Week 1: vs. Indianapolis Colts

The Texans began their season at home against the AFC South division foes, Colts. With the win, the Texans started the season out at 1–0.

Week 2: at Miami Dolphins

The Texans went on the road to face the Dolphins. With the win, the Texans improved to 2–0.

Week 3: at New Orleans Saints

With the loss, the Texans fell to 2–1.

Week 4: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

With the win, the Texans improved to 3–1.

Week 5: vs. Oakland Raiders

The day before the game Al Davis passed away at the age of 82 due to heart failure. Davis served as the Raiders' head coach from 1963 to 1965, part owner and general manager from 1966 to 1971, then became the team's principal owner in 1972, still serving as general manager. Additionally, Davis served as commissioner of the

AFL AFL may refer to: Sports * American Football League (AFL), a name shared by several separate and unrelated professional American football leagues: ** American Football League (1926) (a.k.a. "AFL I"), first rival of the National Football Leagu ...

in 1966. With the loss, the Texans fell to 3–2 and they lost both their second game and first home game against the Raiders.

Week 6: at Baltimore Ravens

With the loss, the Texans fell to 3–3.

Week 7: at Tennessee Titans

With the win, the Texans improved to 4–3.

Week 8: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

;Battle Red Day With the win, the Texans improved to 5–3.

Week 9: vs. Cleveland Browns

With the win, the Texans improved to 6–3.

Week 10: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

With the win, the Texans went on their bye week 7–3. However, Matt Schaub was lost for the season due to a

Lisfranc injury A Lisfranc injury, also known as Lisfranc fracture, is an injury of the foot in which one or more of the metatarsal bones are displaced from the tarsus. The injury is named after Jacques Lisfranc de St. Martin, a French surgeon and gynecolo ...

on his right foot.

Week 12: at Jacksonville Jaguars

With the win, not only did the Texans improved to 8–3, but swept the Jaguars for the 1st time since 2006. With

Matt Schaub Matthew Schaub (born June 25, 1981) is a former American football quarterback who played for 17 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Virginia Cavaliers, and was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the th ...

suffering a

lisfranc injury A Lisfranc injury, also known as Lisfranc fracture, is an injury of the foot in which one or more of the metatarsal bones are displaced from the tarsus. The injury is named after Jacques Lisfranc de St. Martin, a French surgeon and gynecolo ...

against Tampa Bay,

Matt Leinart Matthew Stephen Leinart (born May 11, 1983) is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) for seven seasons. He played college football at USC, where he won the Heisman Trophy ...

started at quarterback for the Texans. Leinart would go down against the Jaguars with a collarbone injury, with

T. J. Yates Taylor Jonathan Yates (born May 28, 1987) is a former American football quarterback who is currently the wide receivers coach for the Atlanta Falcons. He played college football at North Carolina and was drafted by the Houston Texans in the fi ...

stepping in at quarterback. Leinart finished the game going 10-of-13 for 57 yards with a touchdown.

Week 13: vs. Atlanta Falcons

Due to injuries to

and

, quarterback

made his first NFL start. With the win, the Texans improved to 9–3, securing the first winning season in franchise history.

Week 14: at Cincinnati Bengals

With the last-second win, the Texans improved to 10–3 and clinched the franchise's first playoff berth and AFC South division title.

Week 15: vs. Carolina Panthers

With the loss, the Texans' seven-game winning streak was snapped, falling to 10–4. Houston also lost to the Panthers for the first time in franchise history.

Week 16: at Indianapolis Colts

With the loss, the Texans fell to 10–5.

Week 17: vs. Tennessee Titans

left the game after the Texans' first offensive drive with a bruised left shoulder. He was replaced by

Jake Delhomme Jake Christopher Delhomme (; born January 10, 1975) is a former American football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL). Delhomme played college football at Louisiana, then known as the University of Southwestern Louisiana ...

for the rest of the game. Houston scored a touchdown with 0:14 left to trail 22–23. To avoid overtime and further injuries, head coach

decided to try a two-point conversion. Tight end Joel Dreessen was flagged for a false start, moving the Texans back 5 yards. The attempt would ultimately fail as backup center

Thomas Austin Thomas Austin may refer to: *Thomas Austin (pastoralist) (1815–1871), English settler who introduced rabbits into Australia * Thomas Austin (American football) (born 1986), former American football center * Thomas Austin (cricketer) (1857–1941) ...

snapped the ball over Delhomme. Neil Rackers would attempt an onside kick, but it was recovered by

Lavelle Hawkins Lavelle Lamar Hawkins (born July 12, 1986) is a former American football wide receiver. He was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the fourth round (126th overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at California. He is currently ...

for the Titans, securing a win for Tennessee. With the loss, the Texans would end their season at 10–6 and the AFC's #3 seed.

Standings

Division

Conference

Postseason

Schedule

Game summaries

AFC Wild Card Playoffs: vs. (6) Cincinnati Bengals

Making their NFL postseason debut as the AFC's #3 seed, the Texans began their playoff run at home in the AFC Wild Card Round against the #6 Cincinnati Bengals, in a rematch of their Week 14 contest. Not only was this the Texans' first postseason game, it was the franchise's first game ever broadcast nationally on

NBC The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American English-language commercial broadcast television and radio network. The flagship property of the NBC Entertainment division of NBCUniversal, a division of Comcast, its headquarters are l ...

, they were also the last NFL team to finally play on NBC, since their 2006 inception. Houston trailed in the first quarter with Bengals running back

Cedric Benson Cedric Myron Benson (December 28, 1982 – August 17, 2019) was an American professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Texas Longhorns and was recognized as a co ...

getting a 1-yard touchdown run, yet the Texans answered with an 8-yard touchdown run from running back

Arian Foster Arian Isa Foster (born August 24, 1986) is a former American football running back and current musical artist under the name Bobby Feeno. He played college football at the University of Tennessee, and was signed by the Houston Texans of the Nati ...

. Cincinnati struck back in the second quarter with kicker

Mike Nugent Michael Nugent (born March 2, 1982) is a former American football placekicker. He played college football for Ohio State University, and was twice recognized as a consensus All-American. He was drafted by the New York Jets in the second round o ...

getting a 37-yard field goal, but Houston took the lead with a 39-yard field goal from kicker Neil Rackers, followed by rookie defensive end J.J. Watt returning an interception 29 yards for a touchdown. From there, the Texans took control with rookie quarterback

T.J. Yates Taylor Jonathan Yates (born May 28, 1987) is a former American football quarterback who is currently the wide receivers coach for the Atlanta Falcons. He played college football at North Carolina and was drafted by the Houston Texans in the fifth ...

finding wide receiver

Andre Johnson Andre Lamont Johnson (born July 11, 1981) is a former American football wide receiver who played most of his 14-year career with the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Miami, and was drafted by ...

on a 40-yard touchdown in the third quarter, followed by a 42-yard touchdown run by Foster in the fourth quarter. With the win, the Texans improved their overall record to 11–6.

AFC Divisional Playoffs: at (2) Baltimore Ravens

With the loss, the Texans finished the season with an overall record of 11–7.

Statistics

Team

Individual

Source:

References

{{2011 NFL season by team

Houston Houston (; ) is the most populous city in Texas, the most populous city in the Southern United States, the fourth-most populous city in the United States, and the sixth-most populous city in North America, with a population of 2,304,580 i ...

2011 in sports in Texas AFC South championship seasons Houston Texans seasons