Why can every team improve except the Patriots?

[ctpatsfan77]

Texans More Dangerous Than They Were During Last Visit to Foxboro, Which Could Spell Trouble for Patriots | New England Patriots | NESN.com

The Texans are much healthier across the board now, getting a few key players — tight end Garrett Graham, linebacker Brooks Reed and offensive tackle Derek Newton — back on both sides of the ball. They also have seen a resurgence in their running game, which will be a major factor in keeping the Patriots’ offense off the field.

Blah blah blah. Where's the mention of GRONK et al. coming back for NE?

 

[longhornsk57]

Probably because your team is already close to perfect and the Texans were so outclassed last time that it makes a better story. EVERYONE in the country is calling this another by-week for you guys, isn't that enough?

 

[dales804]

Is Brooks Reed going to cover Woodhead coming out of the backfield now? I am sure this matchup will be closer than the previous one but HOU just doesn't have enough to stop the Patriots, especially, as you said, with Gronk now back. If the Patriots take care of the football, they should win by a TD, at least.

 

[PATSNUTme]

Probably because your team is already close to perfect and the Texans were so outclassed last time that it makes a better story. EVERYONE in the country is calling this another by-week for you guys, isn't that enough?

"EVERYONE in the country who knows nothing about playoff football is calling this another by-week for you guys"

I fixed your post for you.

 

[hambone1818]

Texans More Dangerous Than They Were During Last Visit to Foxboro, Which Could Spell Trouble for Patriots | New England Patriots | NESN.com



Blah blah blah. Where's the mention of GRONK et al. coming back for NE?

Media spin to make this as intriguing a matchup as possible. I do agree that Houston should provide a tougher matchup this time around, if only because they're not as bad a team as we saw a month ago. But you're right, adding Gronk trumps anything Houston may have done to improve since their last visit to Foxboro. Belichick and the team certainly won't be looking beyond Houston but I honestly don't expect a different outcome than last time, maybe a bit closer but the Patriots match up real well with the Texans.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

Texans More Dangerous Than They Were During Last Visit to Foxboro, Which Could Spell Trouble for Patriots | New England Patriots | NESN.com



Blah blah blah. Where's the mention of GRONK et al. coming back for NE?

How are the texans more dangerous if they could only score 19 points against a bad team like cincy?

 

[patchick]

Probably because your team is already close to perfect and the Texans were so outclassed last time that it makes a better story.

Yep, it's absolutely about the storyline. "The Patriots won a laugher and should be even stronger this time" doesn't sell the game at all.

IMO a better storyline for the game is: the Texans are loaded with talent, but can they show the flexibility and resilience to change an approach that didn't work? It's a clash of philosophies -- the ultimate chameleon game-planning team vs. the ultimate "we do what we do best" team.

 

[patsfan13]

Reed is am excellent pass rusher, Joseph looks better than he did a month ago coming off his injury and Graham give them more flexibility to run the ball.

Schaub is still the weakness IMO, but this will be a much tougher game. IMO the Spread is too high I am hoping for a 7 pt win, if the Texans make good adjustments in how they play the Pats.

 

[Rob0729]

The Texans are healthier, but are they better? They barely beat a team that did almost everything possible to lose on Saturday. They lost to a team in the last week of the season playing for nothing when the Texans had everything on the line in terms of HFA and a first round bye. They got blown out by one dimensional offense the week before. Matt Schaub has thrown only one TD pass in 23 quarters.

The media are going to spin this game to make it a closer match up than it is, but the Texans are not playing good football and haven't for a while.

 

[DaBronxPats14]

Actually Pats did, when Talib & Dennard are 100% Defense isn't a punch line anymore but a punch in opposing OC planning. Opening up man-man coverages, blitz schemes multiple pkgs BB can put in with confidence now.

 

[IllegalContact]

The Texans are healthier, but are they better? They barely beat a team that did almost everything possible to lose on Saturday. They lost to a team in the last week of the season playing for nothing when the Texans had everything on the line in terms of HFA and a first round bye. They got blown out by one dimensional offense the week before. Matt Schaub has thrown only one TD pass in 23 quarters.

The media are going to spin this game to make it a closer match up than it is, but the Texans are not playing good football and haven't for a while.

except they're not healthier.....since playing the pats, the texans lost dobbins and sharpton, their 2 best LB's at that time when it comes to pass coverage and they still could not stop hernandez.......add to the fact that gronk is back, my question is 'who is going to cover the TE's?' bradie james?

all the bengals had to do is keep handing the ball off to green-ellis.....he'd still be running....the bengals had qhat could be the worst game plan ever

honestly? I think the outcomes for this one could be worse for the texans than the last one

there is nothing that the texans can even use from the last game in terms of adjustments.......it's not like 'well, if we do this or we do that, we'll fix what killed us in that game'......the texans playing the pats is a square peg in a round hole for them

 

[PatriotSeven]

We can. Sports writers can't.

 

[Ivan]

Probably because your team is already close to perfect and the Texans were so outclassed last time that it makes a better story. EVERYONE in the country is calling this another by-week for you guys, isn't that enough?

Anyone who makes a statement like that knows absolutely nothing about football. regardless of what happened last time the Texans are one of the best teams in football and have demonstrated that over the past 2 seasons. It's home and i think the Patriots are really healthy and really strong on both sides of the ball so i believe they will win but it isn't going to be easy by any means.

I would compare people who are calling this a bye to those in NE who claim that Julian Edelman can easily replace Wes Welker, ignorant.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

This is going to be a tough game and probably one that will not be decided until late in the 4th quarter.

If I am the Pats DC,my main goal is to stop Foster,if you can do that you can keep focus on Daniels and Johnson which would make it tough to outscore the Pats.

IMO This game is the real AFCCG.......Whoever wins is going to be in the SB.

 

[Rob0729]

Anyone who makes a statement like that knows absolutely nothing about football. regardless of what happened last time the Texans are one of the best teams in football and have demonstrated that over the past 2 seasons. It's home and i think the Patriots are really healthy and really strong on both sides of the ball so i believe they will win but it isn't going to be easy by any means.

I would compare people who are calling this a bye to those in NE who claim that Julian Edelman can easily replace Wes Welker, ignorant.

I disagree that the Texans are one of the best teams in football. I think they are a second tier team and might be a low end second tier team right now. I would probably rank them as the second worst team still left in the playoffs right ahead of the Ravens. So I guess I would make them the 7th best team in the league. Still top ten, but not one of the best.

 

[BlueThunder]

Pats have 2 keys.

Neutralize Watt ala last game

Neutralize Foster ala last game

No secret there.

The only thing that could make this game close would be turnovers by Pats. :rocker:

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Matt Schaub has thrown only one TD pass in 23 quarters.

I guess you're not including completions to DBs?

 

[Deus Irae]

Texans More Dangerous Than They Were During Last Visit to Foxboro, Which Could Spell Trouble for Patriots | New England Patriots | NESN.com



Blah blah blah. Where's the mention of GRONK et al. coming back for NE?

The article is about the Texans being healthier and running the ball better. Gronk's health has nothing to do with that.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

becasue the pats are expected to be great and stay the same as they were say week 10

 

[the Patriot]

The Patriots will be lucky to win this game by 10. It's not going to be a blowout.