Is Houston better than NE?

[CheeseMonkeys]

It has been the consensus for many weeks that Houston is the best team in the AFC and perhaps the NFL. I think the Pats have proved that they are every good as Houston.

Looking at their records is a bit deceiving. As most people know, the Pats 3 losses combine for only 4 total points. Houston's one loss to the Packers was by 18 points. Then last week the Texans nearly lost to one of the worst teams in the NFL and then got a very lucky win yesterday, under many circumstances.

The Pats offense is the best in the NFL, but more importantly, the defense is finally coming together and plays are being made. Especially in the secondary... Dennard looks solid and is exceeding expectations by far and along with Talib, they make a good combo. McCourty seems to play better at safety anyway. The front 7 is playing amazing with Big Vince dominating the DT position and Brandon spikes making huge steps forward from last year.

Houston has the edge right now in my opinion... In 2 weeks when these teams match up, the Texans are gonna have to be playing their absolute best to win.

 

[reflexblue]

It has been the consensus for many weeks that Houston is the best team in the AFC and perhaps the NFL. I think the Pats have proved that they are every good as Houston.

Looking at their records is a bit deceiving. As most people know, the Pats 3 losses combine for only 4 total points. Houston's one loss to the Packers was by 18 points. Then last week the Texans nearly lost to one of the worst teams in the NFL and then got a very lucky win yesterday, under many circumstances.

The Pats offense is the best in the NFL, but more importantly, the defense is finally coming together and plays are being made. Especially in the secondary... Dennard looks solid and is exceeding expectations by far and along with Talib, they make a good combo. McCourty seems to play better at safety anyway. The front 7 is playing amazing with Big Vince dominating the DT position and Brandon spikes making huge steps forward from last year.

Houston has the edge right now in my opinion... In 2 weeks when these teams match up, the Texans are gonna have to be playing their absolute best to win.

After yesterday i don't think so. The texans struggled yesterday (and should have lost) with the lions. From what i remember they've also struggled recently, so yesterdays game wasn't an abberation. I think the pats would beat them.

 

[ExiledBostonPat]

We're heading towards a Pats at Texans AFC Championship game so we'll likely get to see. I assume we get 2nd or 3rd seed.

 

[FirstAndGoal]

The Giants didn't look at good at this point last year either. The Patriots won 3 Super Bowls scratching out close wins every season....regular season is just the audition for the playoffs.

 

[jmt57]

Earlier in the season I thought the Texans were the best team in the AFC. I also thought they were the best team in the AFC last year prior to Schaub and Foster being hurt.

When Brian Cushing went on IR I thought they would take a big step back. It didn't happen right away, but the last two games their defense does not look at all like it did earlier this year.

At the moment the Patriots are better than the Texans in my opinion, but there is still a lot of football left to be played. Even without a rooting interest in the Pats it should be very interesting to see how the rest of the season unfolds for all football fans.

 

[mayoclinic]

Does it matter?

The Texans looked better over the first 9 games of the season. The Pats looked better the last 2 games. We'll see who wins the head to head matchup, and we'll see who goes further in the playoffs. The last is what really counts.

The Giants weren't "better" than the Pats in 2007 and 2011, but they won the SB anyway. And the 2001 Pats probably weren't "better" than the Rams.

 

[patsfaninpa]

Scoreboard says yes. But, I think we can beat them in the AFCCG. I'd almost rather play them in perfect conditions the way our offense is than 10 below like the SD game in 07. The Pats will block JJ Watt wherever he lines up. Too many weapons to keep under 30 points in perfect conditions. Plus, a strong running game now.

Houston will also score on us. I'd guess BB focuses on shutting down Andre Johnson because our defense will keep A. Foster from going crazy. I think it will be a high scoring game. TFB is just on top of his game. Will out duel Matt Schaub.

 

[brdmaverick]

Even though Houston needed overtime to get the last two wins, I actually think that works in their favor. Having the team gain experience in SITUATIONAL FOOTBALL while still getting the win will help them in the playoffs. By no means am I saying the Patriots should have kept their game close to practice situational football, but I think you know what I mean. After all, we had a team in 2003 that nobody wanted to give credit (just ask Rodney) because our victories were all one possession victories. It was these close games that made the team mentally strong and better prepared to make the plays when they needed them most.

 

[mgteich]

We'll see come playoff time. Will we be ready to go to the SB by beating DEN, HOU and SAN FRAN (or GB)? That is real question to me.

 

[robbomango]

Take away JJ Watt and we are the better team IMO, easier said than done of course...

 

[Big-T]

Take away JJ Watt and we are the better team IMO, easier said than done of course...

Josh Freeman has developed a counter to the jump up and block the pass style of defending:

 

[PatsDeb]

No, they are not better. Different strengths. I think our O is better than theirs but their D is better than ours. Funny how our D has been improving while theirs is returning to the pack, and their O has been coming on with Andre Johnson returning to form. Should be an exciting game against them. Hope our home field advantage gives us the edge.

 

[mayoclinic]

Take away JJ Watt and we are the better team IMO, easier said than done of course...

Take away Tom Brady and they kick our butts.

 

[Big-T]

Take away Tom Brady and they kick our butts.

Take away Matt Schaub and you have TJ Yates vs Ryan Mallett!

...What a game that would be.

 

[blackglass3]

They started the season hot and seem to be on the downswing. We've been steadily improving the last few weeks, hope it can keep up. I know which position I'd rather be in. Plus, that extra 2 quarters of football they've played in the last two weeks won't help them come playoff time.

If I had a choice, we go vanilla against them in 2 weeks and see what they throw at us, and build our playoff game plan off of that. (assuming we see them in the playoffs, which I imagine we will)

 

[jradMITEX]

Texan fan here, no definitive answer. Missed tackles hurt them against Jax, something they had been very good at the whole year. No JJo against the Lions hurt them against Megatron. Injuries are really starting pile up on the defensive side, by the end of the game they were missing 5 starters. Couple that with a few dropped INT's and fatigue, 10 qtrs in 3 days. In defense of the Defense though, they came up big in both 4 quarters and OT's the last two games and got the stops when they needed. I think way too premature to declare this D a sieve. Especially if they can get healthy.

Plus I think you cannot discount what the offense can do if Kubiak just realizes they can go 5 wide and move the ball, he has started to realize that they need to pass to set up the run and feed AJ. I don't think what he's done lately should be overlooked. Keep in mind for all their struggles the Team has still won 5 in a row.

For NE they are humming, but is the D good enough to pick up the Offense if they in anyway struggle? Will the offense ever struggle? Can they keep turning the ball over against clean teams? These are questions to be answered in the remaining games and playoffs. In the playoffs over the past few years the Pats have not put up the Offensive numbers like in the regular season.


I am very interested to see the game in a few weeks, but If Houston gets the one seed they'll probably be a slight favorite.

 

[RIpats88]

schaub is a game-manager...if you can limit them to 3rd and long situations look how inept they looked that game...

QB's have been shredding houstons defense...henne, stafford, Rodgers....im interested to see what Brady can do to them in the passing game.

 

[Patstopia]

Get back all our starters, and who knows how we will play. I can't wait to find out though!

 

[dannydyn]

If our OL can contain JJ Watt, and protect Brady, their secondary stands no chance against our offense. Spread out the offense to keep 5hit away from Brady.

On the defensive side, if we can get to Schaub (easier said than done), jam/contain Foster on the ground, and double-cover Johnson (without negating converge of any other receivers), game is over for the Texans.

I just REALLY hope we don’t suffer any other setbacks on injuries. I wish we had Gronk for this one

Definitely will need (in no particular order) a 100% Ahern, Edelman, Jones, and Mankins back.

If we can stay healthy (or least healthier from where we are now), I see no reason why we shouldn’t be able to beat this southern dome team on a cold December night.

These are not the Packers…. The Texans don’t have a lot of weapons. If you want to beat the Texans, you need to take care of 4 players: Schaub, Watt, Foster, and Johnson – Game over.

 

[JMC00]

Having the team gain experience in SITUATIONAL FOOTBALL

To be fair though Jim Schwartz throwing the challenge flag negating a review and then deciding to kick a 47 yard field goal on 3rd down instead of trying to get at least a few more yards isn't really situational.