 On January 5, ex-Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips was hired as defensive coordinator.Under Phillips' guidance and the additions of draft picks J. J. Watt, Brandon Harris, Roc Carmichael, Brooks Reed, and Shiloh Keo, the revamped Texans defense rose from 30th to second in the league.Despite lengthy injuries to Matt Schaub (replaced by T. J. Yates), Mario Williams, and Andre Johnson, the Texans went 10–6 in 2011 and won the AFC South to advance to the playoffs, both firsts in franchise history.