But nothing figures to receive more intense scrutiny from coach Gary Kubiak over the offseason than the red-zone shortcomings of his otherwise high-flying offense.

The numbers just don't add up.

"We've had our share of trips down there," Kubiak said. "I can do a better job for them scheme-wise. We need more points."

The Texans rank third in yards gained and fifth in first downs accumulated with only Sunday's game against Chicago remaining, but they're 28th in touchdown efficiency inside their opponents' 20 (43.9 percent) and last in overall scoring efficiency (77.2).

As would be expected to follow from those ratios, they're 20th in total points, and it's arguable that red-zone failures have cost the Texans the chance to win six of the eight games they've dropped.

Even the 31-12 beating Tennessee handed them in the season's second game could be pinned on the Texans' failures inside the 20, because five penetrations produced only two field goals, and the last penetration resulted in a 99-yard interception return for a Titans touchdown.

The issue came to the fore again in the ugliest possible fashion against the Raiders at Oakland on Sunday. The Texans failed twice in the fourth quarter to force their way across the goal line in what became a 27-16 defeat that terminated a franchise-record four-game winning streak and cost the Texans a shot at a groundbreaking winning season.

The Texans have penetrated the red zone more often than all but six teams. Kubiak blames their lack of points on an ineffective close-quarters ground attack.

"We just need to run the ball better down there," he said. "The field gets smaller.

"The yardage gets tougher because the safeties are much more involved, but regardless, you have to be good at running the ball to be successful."

It apparently was Kubiak's fear of more failure on fourth-and-1 at the Raiders' 5-yard line with 8:13 left in the game that prompted him to call a pass into the end zone.

Matt Schaub tried to find Kevin Walter in a crowd, and the ball fell incomplete, the same as his third-down pass to Walter had.

Never mind that fullback Vonta Leach plowed into the Raiders' end zone on a third-and-1 for a first-quarter touchdown.

Or that Steve Slaton had skirted right end for 8 yards two plays before those back-to-back incompletions kept the Texans from closing the gap.

On the previous series against the Raiders, left guard Chester Pitts' boneheaded retaliation penalty in the red zone pushed the Texans 15 yards backward into a field-goal situation.

"You want to score touchdowns and keep the field-goal kicker on the sideline," receiver Andre Johnson said. "When we get (into the red zone), we're just not executing the plays like we should. That's the biggest thing."

Johnson gets no argument from Schaub, who also laid the blame on the players' faulty execution, not wrongheaded decisions by the coaching staff.

He said the Texans "just have to execute better and take advantage of the opportunities when we're down there - plain and simple."

...

IT'S NOT EXACTLY THE HIGHLIGHT ZONE

Titans 31

Texans 12

Sept. 21: Five red-zone penetrations generate only two field goals. The Texans turn the ball over twice on downs (once running, once passing), and on the last opportunity, Matt Schaub's pass is intercepted by Cortland Finnegan, who goes 99 yards for a touchdown.

Jaguars 30

Texans 27 OT

Sept. 28: Although the Texans score two red-zone touchdowns in the second half, a first-and-10 at the Jaguars' 10 in the first quarter leads to a field goal. The Texans subsequently lose on a field goal in overtime.

Colts 31

Texans 27

Oct. 5: Another good red-zone game for the Texans, who score three touchdowns from inside the Colts' 20. But the one time they have to settle for a field goal, in the second quarter, proves costly in what becomes a four-point game.

Vikings 28

Texans 21

Nov. 2: The Texans score two touchdowns in the red zone, but backup quarterback Sage Rosenfels throws interceptions on the other two penetrations.

Colts 33

Texans 27

Nov. 16: The Texans get inside the 20 twice in the first quarter, but both drives net only field goals after runs are stuffed and Sage Rosenfels throws an incompletion or is sacked.

Raiders 27

Texans 16

Dec. 21: Consecutive fourth-quarter drives stall inside the Raiders' 5, the first because of an unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty on guard Chester Pitts, the second on back-to-back incompletions by Schaub.

Texans update

Dec. 21 : Raiders 27, Texans 16.

Record: 7-8.

Sunday: Chicago at Reliant Stadium, noon.

TV/radio: Fox; 610 AM, 100.3 FM and 1010 AM (Spanish).

LOST CHANCES

The Texans have one of the NFL's best offenses, but they rank among the worst once inside the opponent's red zone:

Category Rank

Total offense 3rd

First downs 5th

Red-zone penetrations T-7th

TD percentage 28th

Scoring percentage 32nd

Points 20th

The Texans defense's red-zone shortcomings are more on par with its overall standing:

Category Rank

Total defense 23rd

First downs allowed 17th

Red-zone penetrations allowed 8th

Opponent TD percentage 30th

Opponent scoring percentage 25th

Points allowed 27th