Tabbed as one of the teams to keep an eye on in the AFC this season, the Houston Texans have the defensive strength and offensive capability to make a strong run during the 2013 NFL season. The quest for the franchise's first Super Bowl trophy will begin with a season-opening Monday night showdown against AFC foe San Diego. Though San Diego welcomes in first-year head coach Mike McCoy this year, there are still doubters as to the talent that lies up and down the Chargers roster.
Finishing 2012 a disappoint 7-9, the Chargers elected to bring in former Denver Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy as head coach. Selecting Alabama tackle D.J. Fluker with the 11th overall selection in the 2013 NFL Draft and Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o in the second round, the Chargers hope the additions of these players help sure up some deficiencies on both sides of the football. The Houston Texans on the other hand enter 2013 as one of the favorites in the AFC. After finishing 12-4 last season and falling to the New England Patriots in the AFC Division Round, quarterback Matt Schaub and the Houston defense will be heavily relied upon if the Texans franchise is to represent the conference in Super Bowl XLVIII.
When and Where to Watch Houston vs. San Diego
The Texans and Chargers will meet at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California on Monday, September 9. Kickoff is set for 10:15pm, ET with television coverage available through the ESPN Network. Those hoping to watch the game via live stream can do so by visiting WatchESPN.
Team Preview - Houston Texans
Though they were upended by the New England Patriots in last season's playoffs, the Houston Texans are fully confident in their ability to reach the final game of the season and win the team's first Super Bowl trophy. Stud running back Arian Foster remains a devastating threat out of the backfield while wide out Andre Johnson continues to put up solid numbers as his stellar professional career continues. With strong players on the defensive side of the ball including DE J.J. Watt and linebacker Brian Cushing, the Texans will undoubtedly be viewed as a playoff team once again.
"I think it's obviously our main goal and our final goal, but there are a lot of steps that lead up to that," Brian Cushing said recently about Houston's objective of winning a championship. "It's mentioned here and there, but, there's a ton of steps before we start talking about the Super Bowl and it becomes a realization. It's one of those things that we have a lot of work to do before that's real."
Team Preview - San Diego Chargers
San Diego will begin the 2013 season without the services of rookie linebacker Manti Te'o. The former University of Notre Dame standout will miss the opening week after suffering a right foot injury in the preseason. Without Te'o, the Chargers and first year coach Mike McCoy hope three-year pro Bront Bird will be able to fill the void left by Te'o while also hoping their offense performs at a high level. Quarterback Philip Rivers finished last season with a career-worst 88 quarterback rating, something he knows must change in order for his team to be successful.
Despite the fact that many fans and those involved with the Chargers thought the team quit at times last season, Rivers maintains that the work ethic was there from the start and that much of the credit for rebuilding this team should be given to Mike McCoy and new general manager Tom Telesco.
"We didn't quit, we went to Pittsburgh and won, went to New York and won, finished in Oakland and won," Rivers said in a recent interview. We won three of the last four. It was a different feel, though, because we all knew it was changing. It was to a point where there was no denying it. It just had a feel of like Uhhh."
"It is their aggressiveness to assemble the best team they possibly could," Rivers said regarding the work ethic of McCoy and Telesco. "They didn't say 'We'll get to that in a few years.' I think that and two that they believe. When you have guys that have been around long enough, it doesn't take long to figure out. We could see through that if it were the case, 'They don't think we're going to win right now. They think they're getting ready to win in a few years.' But that's not it. They believe we're going to win now."
Wrap Up
Don't miss the season opener for both the Houston Texans and San Diego Chargers on Monday, September 9 at 10:15pm, ET. Television coverage will be provided by the ESPN Network with an on-line live stream available by visiting WatchESPN.
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