If you're in Houston, it's easy to assume the Texans get no national respect. Listen to enough local sports talk radio and you'll become convinced that no one past Pearland knows who Duane Brown is, let alone Johnathan Joseph.

You'll hear how these 12-3 Texans are considered "frauds" or a "joke" by hordes of doubting disbelievers throughout the country.

This belief always has been more myth than reality, partly a result of Houston's ingrained inferiority complex, partly a result of every fan base in America's conviction that their team is disrespected, partly a result of the need for drama. But now another gaping hole has been ripped right through this falsehood.

Eight Houston Texans made the AFC's Pro Bowl team, second only to the San Francisco 49ers' nine honorees.

It turns out that plenty of people who matter — other NFL players, coaches and fans — love this Texans team.

You don't think that Dallas Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant would love to be this disrespected? Bryant's put up monster numbers in the second half of the season and yet, he didn't make the Pro Bowl cut in large part because no one really believes in his team.

Yes, it turns out that playing for "America's Team" means little when the brand's become associated with blowing games, misusing talent and making a mess of things off the field.

Of course, Bryant didn't help himself there. Do you really want to root for a guy arrested for allegedly beating up his own mother?

Still, a player with 1,300 yards receiving and 12 touchdowns would be recognized if he played for a more consistently winning team ( or perhaps, those media juggernaut Kansas City Chiefs — every rule has an exception).

And perception often isn't reality. The Texans are hardly underrepresented on the national media scene.

Arian Foster graced the cover of ESPN Magazine this summer. Sports Illustrated showcased J.J. Watt on a regional cover. SI's Dan Patrick interviewed Foster for a piece in another issue. Jim Rome loves to talk to Texans, whether's it's on his radio or new Showtime show — no matter what he says about the team.

The Texans media relations staff just received the Pete Rozelle Award in part for how accommodating they are to national media.

Houston's team is not close to as under the radar as you may have been led to believe.

Arian Foster and Andre Johnson are two of bigger names in the NFL. Watt's received more love this season than a Bachelor contestant (and rightly so). Matt Schaub actually outplayed Peyton Manning and Tom Brady for a nice chunk of the year, as I wrote back on Nov. 19.

No one wants to admit it, but it's true. Wins are a quarterback stat and if you're going to rip Schaub for the Texans current 1-2 stretch, you also have to credit him for the 11-1 start.

Brown, center Chris Myers and left guard Wade Smith held together a revamped offensive line, one that the Texans' run and play-action pass game completely depends on.

The Pro Bowl voting reflected all of that.

"We’re going towards where we want to, where (general manager) Rick Smith and (head coach) Gary Kubiak envisioned things would go," Foster says. "It takes things like this to happen. You look at any championship caliber team they have guys on their roster that make Pro Bowls.

"It’s just part of the process. I think this what they envisioned and this is what we’ve come to expect."

The Texans were treated like they're one of the very best teams in football. Imagine that. It is something to keep in mind amid all the sky is falling talk locally.

This Kubiak-Schaub-Foster combination is more respected and feared around the league than many realize. New York Daily News columnist Gary Myers chose the Texans as his Super Bowl team in the offseason. And when Houston visited New York for a Monday Night Football game in early October, the New York Post's preview stories almost painted them as a new-age version of the '85 Bears.

Even in New England after that 42-14 debacle, there was as much shock as smugness over how easily the Patriots handled the Texans.

When Kubiak says, "We’ve got a defense that’s in the Top 10 in the National Football League and an offense that’s in the Top 10 in the National Football League. Ever since I’ve been around that’s pretty damn good," he's not sugar coating things heading into Indianapolis.

He's seeing what many others around the league are seeing. These Texans are good. And, believe it or not, America knows it.