Ok, the national narrative has been pretty consistent, at least as far as I can tell. In simple terms it states that the Texas defense, front to back, is SO good, and the Pats OL, based on last week's game, is so shaky, that they have to favor the Texas as the most likely team to win.
It's a legitimate and logical assessment, on the surface, but it's also a very LAZY assessment. It ignores the relative shaky TEXAS OL to start with. It ignores the relatively GOOD Pats defense who had 6 sacks recently and an equally low point total to an offense that was better than the Steeler one the Texans shut down. Now this isn't to suggest that our D is currently at the level of the Texans. I won't do that. But I do protest some of the negatives they put up.
1. They never mention that Campbell's shaky game was is first after being out 5 weeks with a serious injury that probably wasn't back 100%. They don't mention that Campbell's "bad plays" were a lot fewer than it was perceived, even by us. That he was a good run blocker, and from what I saw on my 2 looks was always in front of his rusher, even if he gave too much ground up on a few. I actually on saw him get beat, once. A play where his rusher actually got past him. My initial reaction to all his poor drops the 2nd time I saw them, beyond the natural "****" when I first saw it, was "that can be fixed, that can be fixed"
Now this week the level of competition goes up a notch, so Campbell's game will have to go up at least a notch and a half to show us that improvement I expect. But I expect it. He'll get the coaching, and he's the kind of competitor that responds well to failure and adversity. Now Anderson is THAT good that he isn't going to win them all, but certainly enough times that we can't move the ball. Remember this is a team that CAN be run on, and we have a good run blocking OL. The mediots are ignoring that side of game. They are ignoring that the same "shakiness" they harp on in pass protection, disappears in the run game and becomes a plus in the run game. They ignore that the same "statue" they terrorized in Pittsburgh, doesn't exist in Foxboro.
What else have they ignored.
They have ignored the C and the right side of the OL have very quietly been playing very well over the last few weeks. And they have given a complete pass to the Texan OL who have had their moments of Shake" as well. They have also ignored that as all our guys are coming back on D, our DOMINANCE in the run game seems to be coming back as well. Not a good sign from a very underwhelming Texan run Game.
They are ignoring that the Texans that their passing game is down to 2 rookie WR's, a retread showing a BIT of a resurgence, and a quality receiving TE. Well, one of the rookies has been good, the other just OK (about on par with Williams as far as production goes) but not a game changer. No one ever asks how the Texans are going to move the ball when their weakness in the running game is the strength of our front seven. No one ever asks how the Texans are going to move the ball through the air, when their weakness at receiver go.es against the strength of our secondary, especially at CB.
The Texan's young QB is in his 3rd year, had a fantasic rookie year (ROY IIRC with something like 23TD. and 5 picks)), but has regressed for some unknown reason into more of a game manager with just 19 TD's and NINE picks, and being carried by his defense. I mean this kid had easily as much hype his rookie year and going into his 2nd year as Drake has had this year. Why isn't anyone asking, "what happened". Instead, they want to talk about Drake's pick and 2 fumbles. AND no one talks about his 11-14 174yd second half production, not even our mediots.
At any rate, by now you must be getting the drift by now. And believe me I'm as surprised that it's coming from me as you are. I'm the guy who usually cautions patience, "on any given Sunday", and beware bold predictions. I'm actually a guy who only wanted to win ONE playoff game before getting into "anything else is gravy" mode. BUT quite frankly, the more I think on it the more pissed I will be if the Pats lose this game, because I'm not buying the Texan narrative. I'm not buying that THEY would be the most dangerous AFC team to either the Rams or Seahawks. I'm not buying that the Pats might be either. I'm HOPING of course in a sort of "why NOT us" vein. But to me this is a bad match up for the Texans. Bad rest, Bad travel, a bad injury and a BAD match up of strengths and weaknesses.
All things being equal, we win this game 9 of 10 times. The only team that can beat us in this game is ourselves. AND that's all I have to say about that.
