docbar

I think you guys are confusing giving up a lot of passing yards in a few games to our secondary being weak. We actually have (when JJO is healthy) a pretty dang good secondary. It's actually our DL that's weaker. Watt and A.Smith (the Ninja) are playing very well, but our OLB's aren;t doing much of anything rushing the passer. Mercilus has notched some sacks but isn;t really playing all that well and his sacks have mostly been because Watt and Smith pushed the pocket from inside and forced the QB out. Merci isn't really beating his guy much and neither is Barwin. Reed wasn't either, before he got hurt.

Our secondary seems like they play lights out for 65 snaps and like crap for 5 and those 5 end up being huge plays for the bad guys.

As far as lacking confidence in this game, I think the Texans fanbase is a very knowledgeable one and we tend to be more realistic. I think the years without an NFL team allowed a lot of fans to look at other teams and remove the homer goggles. Add to that all the heartbreak of being an Oilers fan and you get what you see in that thread. This should be a good game, and one we're capable of winning. Capable of winning and likely to win are two very different things.

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“If you take a highly intelligent person and give them the best possible, elite education, then you will most likely wind up with an academic who is completely impervious to reality.” Halton Arp

TheBeers

I was just gonna post this..

This should be a great game. Probably a very close heart-attack inducing nail-biter. Definitely a good test for us.. Monday seems like so far away

neuronet

Every team on the upswing, who is going from bad to very good, looks at a prime time game against the Pats as a kind of symbolic thing, that if they win it shows they have hit the big time.

In 2009, the Saints beat us on Monday night and they thought they had a new dynasty, replacing the Patriots, a changing of the guard.

I like that we are the yardstick. It means we are still relevant. We have dominated for over a decade, we are truly a blessed fan base never take it for granted ! When other teams no longer care about playing the Patriots, that will be sad.

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Ice_Ice_Brady writes:
The difference is that Brady calmly calls audibles while Manning flaps like a chicken, barks 11 code words, and makes sure every camera in the stadium has documented his once-in-a-generation (and patented, I believe) ability to see a defensive formation and change the play. Both have the same effect, but Manning transcends measurable human intellect while Brady merely chooses a different play.

docbar

It's a helluva yardstick, especially with the #1 seed hanging in the balance. It's pretty nice for our team to be relevant for a change. I'm ready for some football!!!

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“If you take a highly intelligent person and give them the best possible, elite education, then you will most likely wind up with an academic who is completely impervious to reality.” Halton Arp

PATRIOTSFANINPA

"heh-heh, he said 'Warm and Wet' heh-heh"

moejr

I see this as a measuring stick for both teams. The key for us is shutting down their offense. Our D has been improving and I think they step up Monday Night. Even without Gronk and Edelman our O is still potent and will be a challenge for their D. I predict 31-21 in the Pats favor.

D-Money

The texans have beaten some good teams.I think its more of a measuring stick to the pats.The only team they have beaten thats any good is the broncos.

PatsWSB47

Your team has been almost everyones team to beat from day one this year. You should be pumped

moejr

Alot of the Texans games against weaker opponents have been close. Detroit hung 31 on them. GB hung 42 and Jacksonville put up 37.

With our D improving I think we hold them to well under 30 points and our O should be able to match Detroits output even with injuries.

shmessy

Au contraire.....we're experts on that subject!

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"They (Patriots) may be the greatest team ever" - Chris Mortenson, January 18, 2005 on espn.com