The 2012 season was the Houston Texans' 11th in the National Football League (NFL) and their seventh under head coach Gary Kubiak. The Texans improved on their 10âÂÂ6 record from 2011, finishing two games better with a franchise-best 12âÂÂ4 mark. The Texans won their second consecutive AFC South division title, and defeated the Cincinnati Bengals in the wild card round of the playoffs for a second consecutive season. However, they were defeated by the New England Patriots in the divisional round. The Texans scored 416 points in the regular season, which is a team record.
The team would not be able to match that win total until 2025.
Notes
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
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 24âÂÂ3 before halftime. The Texans continued to ride their defense to a season opening 30âÂÂ10 win over Miami. Houston improved to 7âÂÂ0 all-time against the Miami Dolphins as they started their season 1âÂÂ0.
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 27âÂÂ7 victory in Jacksonville. With the win, the Texans improved to 2âÂÂ0 for the 3rd straight season. On the first drive, Houston drove 60 yards aided by Tate and took a 3âÂÂ0 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 10âÂÂ0. Two drives later Houston scored on an 8-yard run from Ben Tate. At halftime it was 17âÂÂ0 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 17âÂÂ7. Then the Texans made a 17 play drive resulting in a 2-yard Ben Tate touchdown to make it 24âÂÂ7. The Texans would get a field goal to make it 27âÂÂ7, and that would end the game.
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 3âÂÂ0 for the first time ever. This was also their first road victory against Peyton Manning as they improved to 1âÂÂ0 against Peyton in road games as a Bronco (0âÂÂ9 vs. Peyton on the road as a Colt). The Broncos sacked Matt Schaub on the 2nd drive of the game making it 2âÂÂ0. The Broncos drove 48 yards and kicked a 32-yard field goal from Matt Prater to make it 5âÂÂ0. On the next drive, Schaub threw a 60-yard touchdown pass to Andre Johnson to make it 7âÂÂ5. 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 14âÂÂ5. After a 3-and-out by Denver, Schaub threw a 52-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Walters to make it 21âÂÂ5. Denver scored a field goal by Prater to make it 21âÂÂ8. Denver would get another field goal before the half ended to make it 21âÂÂ11. To open the second half Houston scored to make it 24âÂÂ11. Then Schaub threw to Owen Daniels to make it 31âÂÂ11. But after a Houston fumble, Denver scored its first touchdown of the night to cut it to 31âÂÂ18. After a punt, Denver scored again to make it 31âÂÂ25. However Houston stopped a desperation lateral play to win 31âÂÂ25 and improve to 3âÂÂ0. Schaub threw for 4 touchdowns and played his best game of the season up to that point.
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 38âÂÂ14. With the win, the Texans improved to 4âÂÂ0 for the first time in franchise history. On the opening drive of the game, Matt Schuab threw an 11-yard touchdown to make it 7âÂÂ0. 2 drives later, Arian Foster scored a touchdown of 4 yards to make it 14âÂÂ0 at the end of the first. Tennessee got going in the second with a 19-yard touchdown making it 14âÂÂ7. 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 21âÂÂ7. On Houston's next drive, Schuab threw a 28-yard touchdown to Owen Daniels to make it 28âÂÂ7 at the end of the third. In the fourth Tennessee fumbled giving it to Houston who took a 31âÂÂ7 lead. Tennessee then threw an interception returned 63 yards for a touchdown. It was 38âÂÂ7. Tennessee scored late in the game to make it 38âÂÂ14 and that was the final score.
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 5âÂÂ0, 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 1âÂÂ5 against the Jets overall and improving their regular season record to 5âÂÂ0. On the opening drive Houston scored to take a 7âÂÂ0 lead. Houston got the ball but was intercepted at their own 35. Mark Sanchez threw a touchdown to Josh Cumberland to make it 7âÂÂ7. In the second, Arian Foster scored to make it 14âÂÂ7. A Shayne Graham field goal made it 17âÂÂ7 at the half. Houston would kick another field goal to make it 20âÂÂ7. The ensuing kickoff was returned by Joe McKnight 100 yards to make it 20âÂÂ14. Another Houston field goal made it 23âÂÂ14. The Jets would get a field goal before the game ended to end it 23âÂÂ17 Houston. The Texans improved to 5âÂÂ0.
The Texans came into their first ever appearance on Sunday Night Football facing playoff favorites Green Bay, who had shockingly started the season 2âÂÂ3, one of those losses ending in controversy. And coming off another disappointing loss to Indianapolis the week before, the Green Bay Packers took out all of their early season frustrations out on the Texans at Reliant Stadium, and at the same time, reestablished themselves as the team to beat in the NFC. Aaron Rodgers tore up the Texans defense with 6 touchdown passes, and the Packers as the Texans dropped to 5âÂÂ1 and 0âÂÂ1 on Sunday Night Football. On the second drive of the game, Aaron Rodgers threw a touchdown to Jordy Nelson to make it 7âÂÂ0. A few drives later it was 14âÂÂ0 on a Rodgers to Jones touchdown. Houston scored 1 drive later on an Arian Foster touchdown run to make it 14âÂÂ7. Then Rodgers hit Jordy Nelson to make it 21âÂÂ7. Before the half ended, Houston got a field goal to make it 21âÂÂ10 at the half. Mason Crosby made a field goal but was nullified by Houston being offsides. Rodgers then hit Nelson to make it 28âÂÂ10. Foster scored again to make it 28âÂÂ17. On the next drive, Rodgers found Tom Crabtree to make it 35âÂÂ17. After a Texan interception, Rodgers found James Jones again to make it 42âÂÂ17. Houston scored before the buzzer to have the final score 42âÂÂ24.
The Texans had little time to think about the disappointing results the week before at home against Green Bay, as the Baltimore Ravens, the team who had eliminated them in the divisional round of the playoffs the previous year, were coming to town. The Texans rebounded from their worst performance of the year with arguably one of their best as they had limited Baltimore's revitalized offense to just 13, forcing two turnovers in an impressive win going into the bye week. It was the first time the Texans had ever defeated the Ravens in their franchise history (they had lost the previous six meetings, including the playoff matchup). Reliant Stadium set a new Texans home attendance record of 71,708 fans during the regular season. Likewise, the Ravens and Texans were the only 2 teams in the AFC who were above .500 at the point of this game. However, the Texans surprisingly won it as the team went into their bye week at 6âÂÂ1 and also went 1âÂÂ6 all-time against the Ravens. The Texans punted to the Ravens who kicked a field goal to take a 3âÂÂ0 lead. 3 drives later, Joe Flacco was sacked in his own endzone. That gave Houston 2 points and the ball. It was 3âÂÂ2. Matt Schuab found Kevin Walters to make it 9âÂÂ3 at the end of the first. Then Flacco was picked off at the Houston 48. Jonathan Joseph ran it back 52 yards for a touchdown to make it 16âÂÂ3. On the next drive, Schuab found Owen Daniels to make it 23âÂÂ3. Randy Bullock kicked 2 field goals to make it 29âÂÂ3 at the half. Flacco found Tandon Doss to make it 29âÂÂ10. Then Arian Foster scored to make it 36âÂÂ10. Justin Tucker kicked a field goal to make it 36âÂÂ13. Then Arian Foster ran in for the final score of the game making it 43âÂÂ13.
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 7âÂÂ1 with a 21âÂÂ9 win. Also, the team took the all-time series to .500 with a 3âÂÂ3 record against the Bills. Houston scored first on a 39-yard touchdown to make it 7âÂÂ0. After 2 straight missed field goals by both teams, the Bills made one to cut it to 7âÂÂ3. Buffalo got another field goal to make it 7âÂÂ6 at the half. In the 3rd, Arian Foster scored to make it 14âÂÂ6. Late in the 3rd, Buffalo made another field goal to make it 14âÂÂ9. Schuab found Garrett Graham to make the final score 21âÂÂ9. Houston improved to 7âÂÂ1.
The Texans visited the Bears in what was, at the time, dubbed a potential Super Bowl preview. Both teams were 7âÂÂ1 heading into the Sunday night tilt.
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 grind out a 13âÂÂ6 win on the road to improve to 8âÂÂ1 on the season, 3âÂÂ0 overall against the Chicago Bears and 1âÂÂ1 on Sunday Night Football. On their 2nd drive of the game, Houston kicked a field goal to make it 3âÂÂ0. 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 3âÂÂ3. Houston then had Matt Schuab throw it to Arian Foster to make it 10âÂÂ3. 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 10âÂÂ6. In the 4th, Houston kicked a field goal to make it 13âÂÂ6. Chicago turned it over to end the game. The Texans improved to 8âÂÂ1.
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 8âÂÂ1 Texans hosted the 1âÂÂ8 Jaguars at Reliant. The Texans survived an upset scare from Jacksonville thanks to a career-high 527 passing yards from Matt Schaub and 275 receiving yards from Andre Johnson. Notably, the Texans became the first NFL team to score twice in an overtime period under the new overtime format. To open the game Matt Schaub found Keshawn Martin to make it 7âÂÂ0. Then Chad Henne found Marcedes Lewis to make it 7âÂÂ7. After a Texan punt, Henne found Cecil Shorts III to make it 14âÂÂ7. Schaub then hit Jurrell Casey to tie it at 14. Both teams made field goals and it was 17âÂÂ17 at the half. The Jaguars made a field goal to make it 20âÂÂ17. After another Texan fumble, Henne found Marcedes Lewis to make it 27âÂÂ17. A field goal cut it to 27âÂÂ20. Then Schaub threw a pick. Henne then threw an 81-yard touchdown to Justin Blackmon to make it 34âÂÂ20. The Texans answered right back with an Arian Foster td to make it 34âÂÂ27. After a punt, Schaub found Garrett Graham to make it 34âÂÂ34. With 5 seconds left, Randy Bullock missed a 47 yarder that could have won the game. In overtime, both teams made field goals to make it 37âÂÂ37. Jacksonville had a chance to win after Houston threw an interception but they couldn't convert 4th down. With 2:10 left in overtime, Schaub threw a 48-yard touchdown pass to Andre Johnson to win 43âÂÂ37. With the win, the Texans improved to 9âÂÂ1 as the team swept the Jaguars. Schaub's 527 passing yards tied with Warren Moon for the second most in a single game performance.
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 when Justin Forsett ran for a controversial touchdown from deep in the Texans' territory. With their 2nd-straight overtime victory, the Texans improved to 10âÂÂ1, 1âÂÂ0 on Thanksgiving, and 2âÂÂ1 against the Lions all-time. Mikel Leshore of Detroit struck first to make it 7âÂÂ0. In the 2nd, Arian Foster scored to make it 7âÂÂ7. Mike Thomas caught to make it 14âÂÂ7 Detroit. Matt Schaub then hit Owen Daniels to make it 14âÂÂ14. 2 plays later Calvin Johnson caught it to make it 21âÂÂ14 Lions at the half. Jason Hanson made one to make it 24âÂÂ14. Then Justin Forsett scored on an 81-yard run that clearly showed that Forsett was down by contact, but was illegally challenged; it made it 24âÂÂ21. Shayne Graham would follow suit with a 45-yard FG to tie it at 24, but Detroit would retake the lead early in the 4th quarter with a Joique Bell 23-yard TD run to make the score 31âÂÂ24. Foster scored his 2nd TD late in regulation to tie the game at 31. The Texans got the last laugh as Graham would nail the 32-yard game-winner with 2:21 left in overtime to win the game 34âÂÂ31.
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 24âÂÂ10 victory. With the win, the Texans set a new team record for wins in a season, while improving to 11âÂÂ1 and also clinched the franchise's second straight trip to the playoffs and swept the Titans for the first time since 2004.
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 11âÂÂ2 with the loss.
With their victory over the Colts, the Texans improved to 12âÂÂ2 on the season and 5âÂÂ0 against division rivals, thereby securing their second AFC South title in franchise history. Because the Patriots dropped to 10âÂÂ4 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.
With the loss in their regular season home finale, the Texans dropped to 12âÂÂ3 on the season and 6âÂÂ2 at home, finishing 0âÂÂ2 at home against NFC North teams.
As of 2024, Houston remains winless (0âÂÂ6) against the Minnesota Vikings in franchise history.
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 12âÂÂ4 for the season and 0âÂÂ11 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 playoffsâÂÂalso for a 2nd straight year.
In somewhat of a sloppy game for both teams, the Texans booted the Cincinnati Bengals out of the playoffs for the 2nd straight year and moved on to the divisional round. After going up 6âÂÂ0 on two Shayne Graham field goals to start the game, Matt Schaub threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown to give the Bengals a 7âÂÂ6 lead. Coming out of halftime, the Texans defense stiffened up for the rest of the game, forcing the Bengals to 0âÂÂ9 on 3rd down conversions, holding 2nd-year QB Andy Dalton to 14 completions in 30 attempts for 127 passing yards, and only 2 more field goals as the Texans hung on for the victory.
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 12âÂÂ0 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 28:26. 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 WR Wes Welker.
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