"Q. Why is owner Bob McNair going to give coach Gary Kubiak an extension when he's got another year left on his contract? Shouldn't he wait and see if Kubiak can lead the team to the playoffs again?

A. McNair doesn't want a lame-duck coach working under the last year of his contract. That's not fair to the coach. The same goes for general manager Rick Smith, who'll also get an extension. He also has one year left on his contract. Fans and media would bring it up every day, especially when the Texans lose. Players often react differently when playing for a coach on the last year of his contract. It's hard to attract assistants and free agents when a coach is going into his last year. McNair is convinced the Texans have built and will continue to build a team capable of winning the AFC South for a few years. Whether he extends Kubiak for one, two or five years, it's the right thing to do since McNair believes in him.

Q. Was this playoff season a fluke, or will the Texans become a perennial playoff team and Super Bowl contender?

A. Considering how much improvement they made this season, especially on defense, there's no reason to believe they can't become a perennial playoff team. If teams can run the ball and play defense like the Texans, they should be in on every game. If quarterback Matt Schaub can stay healthy, they should have one of the league's best offenses again. They were 7-3 with Schaub, including a four-game winning streak when he was injured. There's no reason to think he can't pick up where he left off."