Official Game Day Thread - Week 3 Texans @ Pats

[ashley]

Hoping for back to back wins and of course no more injuries!!!!

Nice to get Danny back !!!

Let's discuss.



Jeff Howe‏ @jeffphowe 4m4 minutes ago
Nate Ebner will make his season debut after missing two games with a shoulder injury. Amendola and Waddle return after being inactive vs NO.

 

[ashley]

Texans PR‏Verified account @TexansPR
Today's @HoustonTexans inactives vs. the @Patriots #TexansGameday

 

[farn]

RT is a concern. The secondary should have a chance to prove they are who we think they are against a rookie QB. RBs : continue catching passes.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Texans at Patriots

Texans: G Jeff Allen, CB Kevin Johnson, WR Will Fuller, WR Andy Jones, RB Alfred Blue, T Jah Reid, DE Carlos Watkins

Patriots: RB Rex Burkhead, LB Dont'a Hightower, CB Eric Rowe, T Marcus Cannon, LB Harvey Langi, WR Matthew Slater, OL Cole Croston

 

[Guts]

I don't care how we win low scoring, high scoring, doesn't matter as long as we win and more importantly our guys stay healthy.

 

[JMC00]

re: Rowe being out carried over from the other thread

The decision to let him sit this week could have also been helped by J. Jones play last week.

 

[PatriotsNumero1Fan]

Cannon out? Yikes. This game will be even tougher now. No eric rowe as well. Damn it

 

[irishfanatic]

Good to see Ebner back, next week our Pro Bowl No 18.

 

[PatriotsNumero1Fan]

Hoping the defense steps up today.

 

[Wheelman]

Texans PR‏Verified account @TexansPR
Today's @HoustonTexans inactives vs. the @Patriots #TexansGameday

Thank you!

 

[ashley]

Hoping for a bounce back game from Malcom Butler....has had a disappointing first two games

 

[Mack Herron]

No Bill! Bad!

 

[ashley]

Doug Kyed‏Verified account @DougKyed 26s27 seconds ago
The Patriots are stretching on the field right now, and I don't see Nate Solder.

Wonder what this is about?

 

[TB_Helmet]

This might be the only time the Gameday thread is the second most hysterical thread on the front page.

 

[Mack Herron]

Doug Kyed‏Verified account @DougKyed 26s27 seconds ago
The Patriots are stretching on the field right now, and I don't see Nate Solder.

Wonder what this is about?

Not on the list. He'll be out.
Edit: still not. Getting paper bag. Deep breaths.

 

[jmt57]

Raymond Clayborn to be honored today at Gillette Stadium - PatsFans.com

Franchise most career interceptions, 36 (tied with Ty Law)
Franchise most consecutive games, 161
Franchise most kickoff returns for TD in single season, 3
Franchise most career kickoff returns for TD, 3 (tied with Ellis Hobbs)
Franchise best single season kick return average, 31.0
3-Time 1st Team All Pro
555 career interception return yards (2nd to Law)

 

[patsinthesnow]

Butler with his second straight start it seems

 

[jmt57]

(Re-post from the other thread)

How the Houston press is viewing this game:

John McClain previews Texans vs. Patriots

A fairly basic slideshow:
- For Houston: Watson can't turn the ball over, pressure Brady, contain on special teams.
- Patriots need to protect Brady, NE running backs need to beat man coverage, Pats D needs to win the line of scrimmage and maintain discipline against Watson.
- Houston D needs to stay in gaps and not overrun plays vs Patriot RBs.
- Even though Houston has a 31-game streak of not allowing a 300-yard passing game, Pats get the edge in passing game vs Texans defense. Houston has nobody that can cover Gronk in man coverage, and Hogan is a problem for their D.
- Pats have given up 133 yards per game rushing, so BoB will try to run. problem is the Houston OL is not good. Advantage to the Patriots.
- Due to their problems on the OL, look for Houston to mix in bootlegs and rollouts for Watson with quick 3-step drops.
- McClain's prediction: Patriots 27, Texans 13

 

[Mack Herron]

Butler with his second straight start it seems

M Flowers the surprise.

 

[jmt57]

(Also a re-post from the other thread):

More from the Houston Chronicle.

Scroll down past the slide show and there is a Q&A from our good friend Stephanie Stradley.

Stephanie Stradley’s Texans-Patriots Q&A with Evan Lazar

As for a Texans preview, I think it is the same story since 2011. The Texans' defense needs to be dominant, the offense and special teams need to be not fully horrible, perhaps semi-good.

It will be hard to be too creative on offense for the Texans given the limitations of the offensive line taking some plays off the table. That said, I'd expect to see some quirky Texans plays to try to surprise the Patriots, who know the Texans' offense better than they do. ...

If the defense has a good day, the Texans have a chance. If they don't, they won't. If the offense or special teams put them consistently in bad positions or if the game is called in a way that heavily favors offense (safety rule trends tend to favor offense), then it could be another blowout game. ...

Much was said about Watson focusing on throwing the ball to DeAndre Hopkins last week, but when you have no healthy tight ends, and no NFL caliber wide receivers other than Hopkins, what would you do? The Patriots will try to take that away and make life difficult for Hopkins, so good luck to the other skill positions doing their jobs. ...