longhornsk57

I think it will be a different Texans team show up than last time, and I think we have a decent chance. I don't think Schaub will target Mccourtey again or FORCE it to Andre almost every throw. We have Graham back and during the Bengals game Schaub played HIS game of throwing to TEs and handing to Foster and playing a slow but sure attack instead of trying to air it out every play like he did against the Pats.

All of that being said, if I was laying down green cash, I'd be laying it on the Pats to cover because at the end of the day "being there before" and winning 3 superbowl rings while getting to 5 total does mean something here and may make the difference. Also the return of Gronk in an already potent offense and a defense that doesn't have crazy D numbers but gets off the field in critical times spells out a behemoth that may just be too hard to overcome. Losing to a team like the Patriots would be disappointing, but not as much as losing to the Bengals would have been. They were an inferior team and it showed more than the 19-13 score would have indicated.

I'm hoping for an excited game till the end, and whatever happens will happen, hopefully with a Texans shocking win to go on to rematch the Broncs.

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Brady_to_Moss

i will say this...if the pats lose and denver wins vs ravens...SB for broncos like that

leehanu

Who are Texans getting back this time around that didn't play in Dec? Pats get Gronk, Cunningham and Jones(Dec game was first game back).

Double TE

I am curious how the Texans prepare for the Pats offense. Rarely this year have they seen the double tight end package. From which the Pats can just as easily run from or pass from. While in the first meeting we had Gronk we did not have Hernandez. Playing at home is a big advantage for the hurry up/no huddle. Plus this year we are not as one dimensional with Ridley and Vereen having the ability to break big runs as well as attain tough yards.

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naF staP

TFB pick the Texans apart and the running game will see all 4 running backs causing headaches for the Texans.

Rob0729

A few things:

• The Pats could lose. Any team who makes it to the playoffs have the opportunity to beat anyone else. Look at the 9-7 Jets in 2009 who backed into the playoffs or the 9-7 Seattle team that made it to the Super Bowl.
• Have you watched the Texans play recently? The last week of the season they had HFA and a first round bye on the line playing against a team that had nothing to play for with no defense and an one dimensional offense and lost 28-16. They lost 23-6 to Minnesota the week before. They barely beat Cincy yesterday and if Dalton didn't overthrow Green in the end zone, they would have. They are not comparable to the Patriots.
• It isn't just Patriots homerism. Nationally, everyone is picking the Pats. Doesn't mean much in the grande scheme of things, but it seems pretty clear that a majority of the country do not think the two teams are comparable.
• Matt Schaub has thrown one TD pass in the last 23 quarters. That is nearly six games with one TD pass. The Texans will need to score points against the Pats and the Texans have turned into a horrible red zone offense.

I don't think it is going to be a blowout like last time, but the Pats are definitely better than the Texans right now and will most likely have to beat themselves to lose to the Texans.

PatsFanSince74

Save the lecture. I think it's possible to say that one is confident that a team will come through and win a particular game against a "good opponent" without being "dismissive" of that opponent.

This is a classic case of being able to hold two potentially competing ideas in one's head at the same time; in this case, "The Texans will be a very tough opponent" and "I am confident that the Pats will beat them in this game." See my post right above the one from you to which I am responding.

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KontradictioN

Everyone keeps bringing up the 2010 Divisonal game against the Jets. I don't think it's that game that the Pats need to learn from. I think it's the game against the Steelers last year. Pittsburgh came in and bottled up our offense by doing something that was completely out of the ordinary, something that we didn't expect them to do, and something that they never really did nor have done since. They went away from their zone scheme and played press man across the board which confused Brady and resulted in quite a few coverage sacks. They should be ready for anything because, with a result like that a month ago, we're pretty much guaranteed that Phillips is going to change things up in order to disrupt the offense.

Strangely, I'm not worried about the defense in this game.

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CREDIT - Sicilian

JackBauer

Betcha didn't think you'd be uttering those words at all this season.

Rob0729

Is Phillips a guy who will change things up like that? The Texans seem pretty inflexible and are not a gameplan specific team. Granted neither are the Steelers.

I'm not so sure you will see anything radically different out of the Texans. I expect to see them change some things up, but I think they will run their typical offense and defense.