Is Houston better than NE?

[QB12]

Rodney said our defense is good enough to get us to the show because of the play of our front seven. If Rodney said it, that settles it

 

[PatsFanSince74]

No.

Ten char.

 

[RIpats88]

Im still of the belief that you need an Elite QB to win a superbowl in this leaugue, and I just dont think schaub is that...

I think you have to put the texans in a situation where you want to put schaub in uncomfortable situations..

he is NOT a good QB in 3rd and long situations. If we can limit their Run game I think it puts their offense at a disadvantage. then you have talib on Johnson with McCourty over the top

 

[PatsFanSince74]

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.

As folks who read my posts know (often to their annoyance), I'm definitely in a "let's just win the goddam 'next game' and screw all the seeding talk" mode this year.

But, after last night's Meadowland's Mosh, I'll venture this: the only seed I'm genuinely concerned about getting is #3 over the Broncos (where we already own the tie-break); late- and post-season trips to Denver have never worked out all that well for us over the years, whereas Peyton, by his own admission, does not like playing in Foxboro in January.

We won an SB at Reliance and I'm confident we'll win a rematch of a game that a lot of folks think we actually won in Baltimore.

(We won't have to beat "SAN FRAN (or GB)" to "go to the SB," but we might have to beat one or the other should we be in the SB.)

 

[coolguy]

texans vs the pats is a funny match up. On paper they match up perfectly against the pats on both sides of the ball, but they have to play perfectly or will lose.

The texans are just like the marty schottenheimer chargers that had more talented players on both sides of the ball, yet the patriots always beat them in the end.

 

[scout]

texans vs the pats is a funny match up. On paper they match up perfectly against the pats on both sides of the ball, but they have to play perfectly or will lose.

The texans are just like the marty schottenheimer chargers that had more talented players on both sides of the ball, yet the patriots always beat them in the end.

I don't see the similarities to the Chargers.
I think Houston peaked to early, and were lucky the last two games. Yesterday, the Patriots played without their second best player and a total of three starters on offense against a pretty good defensive team and ate them up.

It will be interesting at how BB defenses Houston's Johnson and Foster knowing there is a good chance they will meet again.

 

[coolguy]

I don't see the similarities to the Chargers.
I think Houston peaked to early, and were lucky the last two games. Yesterday, the Patriots played without their second best player and a total of three starters on offense against a pretty good defensive team and ate them up.

It will be interesting at how BB defenses Houston's Johnson and Foster knowing there is a good chance they will meet again.

These texans remind me of the 2006 14-2 chargers
good qb
great pass rushing mvp caliber player
great wide receiver
great running backs
top 10 defense and offense

They look exactly the same

 

[Salva135]

You know what's great about this debate? We play them in two weeks with playoff seedings at stake. So we will learn quite a bit about how we matchup with them. Right now I think the teams are close. Teams are very close this year and injuries are always a factor.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

No they aren't

I would be apt to say that they aren't even 2nd best AFC team,that goes to the Ravens.

The Pats are the 3rd best AFC team at this point IMO and are a 3rd seed at this point.

 

[everlong]

Part of me hopes it snows on December10th because a snow game at night in Foxboro rocks and they would destroy them. But most of me cannot wait to see how they do against SF and Houston straight up.

Hopefully Vollmer is healthy. Going against Watt will be epic.

 

[JMC00]

No they aren't

I would be apt to say that they aren't even 2nd best AFC team,that goes to the Ravens.

The Pats are the 3rd best AFC team at this point IMO and are a 3rd seed at this point.

I think you should read the subject title again.

 

[everlong]

I would be apt to say that they aren't even 2nd best AFC team,that goes to the Ravens.

The Pats are the 3rd best AFC team at this point IMO and are a 3rd seed at this point.

They lost to the Ravens by a point in Baltimore on a night where the refs blew call after call going against the Pats. Since then they lost Webb and the Pats added Talib and are playing much better defense than at that point. The offense is also playing much better.

Houston is debatable I just don't see the Ravens or Broncos as better.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

They lost to the Ravens by a point in Baltimore on a night where the refs blew call after call going against the Pats. Since then they lost Webb and the Pats added Talib and are playing much better defense than at that point. The offense is also playing much better.

Houston is debatable I just don't see the Ravens or Broncos as better.

I don't think the Broncos are even any better than the Steelers with Roethlisberger at this point,they are lucky to be in a division that is even weaker than the AFCE

 

[SoCal Pmen]

You are what your record says and for now the Pats are not as good as the Texans but it doesn't matter in November nor will it matter in December. It will matter in January. If you recall the Pats were wiping everyone out in '07 including the Giants on the final game of the season only to get upended by those same Giants in the SB. I don't believe the Texans are playing like a championship caliber team but they're doing enough to escape and get W's which is the sign of a good team. I like the Pats chances as a #2 seed this year.

 

[jah]

They lost to the Ravens by a point in Baltimore on a night where the refs blew call after call going against the Pats. Since then they lost Webb and the Pats added Talib and are playing much better defense than at that point. The offense is also playing much better.

Houston is debatable I just don't see the Ravens or Broncos as better.

The Jets almost beat us in Gillette when we had Gronkowski. How did their second crack at it go?

Even if that's apples and oranges, it's very evident that the Ravens aren't allowed to lose a game at home. The refs will do anything and everything to ensure that they go undefeated at home and there's nothing the Patriots can do about it. If the Ravens get the 1 seed, it's game over for the AFC.

 

[Patriot Missile]

Give it a couple of more games. Pats seem to be improving and Houston is flattening out. As Ken mentioned in another thread most teams are having trouble stopping the pass and Houston is no longer the exception.

The Pats ability to force turnovers is becoming a form of art. Stop the run,force turnovers and they'll handle the Texans in my opinion.

Positives that set us apart as of late.

Ability to force turnovers.

Can score points at will.

Offensive line is a evolving door of continuity.

Secondary is playing better with Dennard and Talib at the moment.

Pats clobbered a common opponent in the Jets. (hard to gauge)

Give it a couple more games and we'll know where this team is at. Seems to be all coming together.

 

[Afatguy]

Brady's going to need to take JJ Watt's swatting ability out of the picture. Watching JPP bat down a ton of Brady's passes in the SB last year was hard to watch.

 

[patriotsgoat]

The Patriots are clearly better. Stop being obnoxious realists by saying bullsht like "Oh, you're only as good as your record"

 

[Tonroc77]

Hi, patriots fan here living in Houston. I've watched quite a bit of texans football the last couple years and they have made significant changes on offense. The offensive line used to be a sieve, and now seem to have it together holding the line very regularly. I hope patriots have c jones back for the game, because they will need to put pressure on Shaub. If there is no pressure, he has shown the ability the last couple games the ability to pick apart a defense. The running game is nasty as well. Those cut blocks just open everything up. But I think the pats are disciplined enough to remain in there lanes with those sweep plays.

I think defensively the texans are definitely struggling without their full line backing core. I think the pats tight ends will take advantage of the intermediate like they always do, against the replacement linebackers of the texans.

I am actually coming to foxboro for the game, and I am really excited. This will be my first time to Gillette and I hope to see a win.

 

[edboc]

Some interesting stats that aren't talked about often:
1.) Patriots lead league in takeaways (32) & takeaway/giveaway differential (+24). They are ahead of the Bears in takeaways. The team behind them in the differential is +12 (Baltimore, Chicago & Washington). Hopefully the trend continues, but turnovers can dry up in the playoffs. The Ravens (9), and Texans (12) are right behind the Patriots (8) in least giveaways in the AFC.

2.) Mayo is leading the NFL in tackles (112). Though he doesn't seem to have many flashy plays, he's consistent.

3.) Tannehill has a lower QB rating (70.8) than Sanchez (75.6). This may be misleading, he had two bad games with 3 interceptions each (Texans & Titans).