December success needs to mean more for Texans

<p><em>Posted by ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky</em></p> <p>One of the criticisms of league insiders about the Texans is that a lot of their winning has come once any pressure regarding making a playoff run has been lifted.</p> <p>In the last four seasons, the Texans are 8-8 in their final month. If they beat Chicago at Reliant Stadium on Sunday, they will have finished this season on a 5-1 roll with another three wins in their final month of play.</p> <p>The 2009 Texans have to put a big focus on September and October.</p> <p>Fare well enough then and it makes the December games important. Make the December games important, and we will get a better chance to see how they fare under late-season pressure -- probably the truest test for any team in the league.</p>

More...