Week 11: We Are On To Houston; Texans early 2½ point favorite

[SVN]

watson is much better passer than lamar jackson. this is going to be a tough game regardless of the houston dysfunction and records.

 

[luuked]

Is it just me, or has their tinkering with Cam's throwing motion created some really odd-looking passes. It's like he's thinking too much about correcting his motion, and now he looks like a combo of Rivers and Tebow. Some easy passes just become awkward looking duds - like the one to Meyers in the EZ.

Honestly, I can't recall any weird looking throws from him in the last two games. On the pass to Meyers in the EZ he looked more bothered by the conditions than any issue with his mechanics.

In fact I noticed the opposite. At times he looked cleaner and quicker in his release than at any point this season. The play action pass to Izzo comes to mind as well as the dump off to Johnson or the quick check down to Meyers for a key third down at the end.

I guess the execution on the screen to White on a third down conversion early in the game looked a bit rough because he put more air on it than necessary but apart from that nothing comes to mind really.

 

[sb1]

This game is a MUST WIN for us. Currently, I am seeing it as:


We must win @HOU and @LAC.
Split the ARI and @LAR games.

That puts us at 7-6 with 3 conference losses going into the final 3:

@Mia - 10 days rest
BUF - Home game
NYJ - Home game

We will know by December 10th whether our season is alive or dead....25 days from now.

If we go 3-1....we will probably set up a HUUUUGGGGEEE AFC East game @Mia vs. Tua Tagovailoa!!!! And Miami plays Buffalo in week 17!

=============

For week 11:

ARI @SEA - Root for the Cardinals so that they come to Foxborough riding high!
NEP @ HOU - A MUST WIN.
PHI @ CLE - A win by the hapless Eagles helps us get the Browns to 6-4.
TEN @ BAL - Doesn't matter who wins..one of them will be 6-4!
MIA @ DEN - Let's hope Denver pulls it out using some of that Mile High thin air magic!
GBP @ IND - Root for the Packers to get the Colts to 6-4.
KCC @ LVR - Root for the Chiefs to get the Raiders to 6-4.

If we're competing against Buffalo then the common games tiebreaker might be in play if we beat them in wk16.
Common games: LAC, LAR, SEA, SF, ARI, KC, LV, DEN, MIA, NYJ
That tiebreaker is definitely not in our favor right now. Pats have work to do to catch up.

 

[Newton England]

Don't see a thread on it but any chance BB signs DeAndre Baker?

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

Line is an insult

We win by 15

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

Seems like we play them every year now, and it looks like the Texans vs. the Texans, or the flying elvises vs. the flying elvises.

Sick & sad, since both cities used to have pro football teams with iconic, classy, good looking, traditional uniforms.

Now they look ugly & stupid.

 

[LightSkinSmurf]

I don't think you can pencil in a win against anyone with this team but I think they should win this one. They better.

 

[JMC00]

Don't see a thread on it but any chance BB signs DeAndre Baker?

is there a chance? yea. will it happen? tbd

But I definitely think there is a chance or else JC Jackson who went through a similair situation wouldn't be on the team

 

[FortressX]

Call this The Geezer Bowl !

Romeo Crennel vs. Bill Belichick is oldest coaching matchup in NFL history

When the Texans face the Patriots on Sunday, the combined ages of the two head coaches will be the oldest in NFL history.

profootballtalk.nbcsports.com

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Don't see a thread on it but any chance BB signs DeAndre Baker?

We have the cap space, and BB likes value signings.

Lots of reports out there about him falling asleep in meetings, not a lot of commitment, etc., so I would guess No, but people change. Cam is a really nice guy and I did not understand that until he was here.

 

[italian pat patriot]

Just win the game and get to 5-5.

Esatto !

 

[Triumph]

This is not a good match up for NE.

Fuller is no joke and Houston has 3 WRs in the NFL top 41 2020 NFL WIDE RECEIVER RATINGS | Football Outsiders and Watson [whom im not a fan] is a top 5 2020 QB. 2020 NFL QUARTERBACK RATINGS | Football Outsiders

RAC knows how to attack the Pats. Playing from behind where he is forced to win with his arm is not where you want to see Cam.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

This is not a good match up for NE.

Fuller is no joke and Houston has 3 WRs in the NFL top 41 2020 NFL WIDE RECEIVER RATINGS | Football Outsiders and Watson [whom im not a fan] is a top 5 2020 QB. 2020 NFL QUARTERBACK RATINGS | Football Outsiders

RAC knows how to attack the Pats. Playing from behind where he is forced to win with his arm is not where you want to see Cam.

Every game in the NFL is tough. But we turn the page and start that discussion tomorrow. Monday is one day to relax and enjoy kicking Harbawls a!!.

 

[WinstonSmith]

Any thoughts on if Jordan Thomas will be able to contribute against his old team (or going forward) in a position of need? I didn't see any of his games when he was a rookie but he put up decent numbers (compared to Izzo) and then got hurt last year. With his size, if he can actually block and catch a few passes he could be helpful.

 

[Triumph]

Every game in the NFL is tough. But we turn the page and start that discussion tomorrow. Monday is one day to relax and enjoy kicking Harbawls a!!.

Sounds good.

See you in the Texans thread.

 

[TheRainMaker]

This is not a good match up for NE.

Fuller is no joke and Houston has 3 WRs in the NFL top 41 2020 NFL WIDE RECEIVER RATINGS | Football Outsiders and Watson [whom im not a fan] is a top 5 2020 QB. 2020 NFL QUARTERBACK RATINGS | Football Outsiders

RAC knows how to attack the Pats. Playing from behind where he is forced to win with his arm is not where you want to see Cam.

This will be a good test for JC Jackson. He will be very busy.

As for Watson, he is overrated. There's only one reason why he got paid what he did: he must have a big fan base in Houston and teams sign guys to big contracts if they think it will put a**es in the seats and sell merchandise. See Michael Vick in Atlanta signing a huge extension during his time in Atlanta. He was loved by fans and made the team a lot of money before the dog fighting charges.

 

[JMC00]

This is not a good match up for NE.

Fuller is no joke and Houston has 3 WRs in the NFL top 41 2020 NFL WIDE RECEIVER RATINGS | Football Outsiders and Watson [whom im not a fan] is a top 5 2020 QB. 2020 NFL QUARTERBACK RATINGS | Football Outsiders

RAC knows how to attack the Pats. Playing from behind where he is forced to win with his arm is not where you want to see Cam.

YAWN




Worst rush defense in the league since Buffalo in 2010 when they allowed 169 yards per game.

 

[Sciz]

Any thoughts on if Jordan Thomas will be able to contribute against his old team (or going forward) in a position of need? I didn't see any of his games when he was a rookie but he but up decent numbers (compared to Izzo) and then got hurt last year. With his size, if he can actually block and catch a few passes he could be helpful.

He already got both of the new PS TEs cut, which is a good start.

 

[Triumph]

YAWN

View attachment 29246


Worst rush defense in the league since Buffalo in 2010 when they allowed 169 yards per game.

Ah, the whole point is for Houston to jump out to a lead passing [which they are more than capable of] and force NE out of the run so Cam is passing to keep up.

The Texans have 3 WRs with at least 400 yards and 2 TDs each plus Fells chipping in his production.

 

[jmt57]

This is not a good match up for NE.

Fuller is no joke and Houston has 3 WRs in the NFL top 41 2020 NFL WIDE RECEIVER RATINGS | Football Outsiders and Watson [whom im not a fan] is a top 5 2020 QB. 2020 NFL QUARTERBACK RATINGS | Football Outsiders

RAC knows how to attack the Pats. Playing from behind where he is forced to win with his arm is not where you want to see Cam.

Ah, the whole point is for Houston to jump out to a lead passing [which they are more than capable of] and force NE out of the run so Cam is passing to keep up.

The Texans have 3 WRs with at least 400 yards and 2 TDs each plus Fells chipping in his production.

Valid points, well worth considering going into this game.

So if the Texans do indeed take an early lead, how should the Patriots respond? And how will the Patriots respond, as those two answers could be different.


Unless it is very late in the game and the Pats are down by two scores, as an armchair GM I would say the Pats need to stick to their original game plan. Use their strength against the opponent's weakness. Run the ball against what is arguably the worst run defense in the NFL. Tire that defense out, making the Houston D even more vulnerable as the game progresses. That in turn also allows the Pats defense to rest and regroup, while at the same time it keeps the Houston offense off the field.

Don't panic by going pass-happy if you fall behind early, and just wear them down and wear them out. Of course you need some passes to keep them honest, but for the most part just stick to smash mouth football. Play action passes could be very effective in this game if/when Houston begins to cheat towards the line in an attempt to stop the run.


I can see a scenario where Houston's defense is completely worn down in the second half, and the Pats overcome an early deficit to win.