Are we on to Houston yet?

[SammyBlueCat]

Mobile QB and a stout D. Not loving the Pats chances in this one, especially without Edelman. They'll need big plays from ST and a couple takeaways to win. Watson will likely convert multiple 3rd and longs against the Pats D and the Pats will struggle to move the ball consistently.

One of the worst possible matchups for week 1 before the D gels and before the offense can find an identity.

I'm going to have to get a prescription for Prozac just to read your posts in the future.

Holy shyt man.

I can't wait until I see your stuff in the GDT.

I guess their offense and defense don't need any gelling.

Tony stole my idea... This will be opening day for Houston too... No?

 

[Ring 6]

Year in year out people give too much credit to Houston.

I don't think they are the biggest rival in the conference. Not even close.

Their biggest chance in this game is the week 1 factor. I don't like the way the Pats handled this camp, I thought it was very light and there is a ton of question marks in the offense.

Agree Houston is severely overrated.
Their defense sucked last year.
Watson isn’t the difference between 4-12 and 12-4.

 

[supafly]

Gilmore shuts down Hopkins we win.

Their defense can slow NE down, and possibly even take over a game. Watt, Clowney, Mercilus, and the Honey Badger may be as real of a unit as there is in the league.

 

[denverpatsfan]

Thank goodness this game is at home. Hopefully the pass rush will be slowed and Brady can do his thing. I am not confident but they at least should be ready for this Watson guy this time around.

 

[JMC00]

There's enough tape on Watson now, he's gonna have some game rust only threw 14 passes in the pre-season against live competition that was allowed to hit him.

Think the Pats front 7 is better (deeper) than last year

Also don't sleep on the fact that Hightower missed that game last year

 

[Adam Seward]

Can’t call this an easy W. We don’t know how reliable our safety valves are this early on and they can bring a lot of pressure. Excited to see what our D can do.

 

[Deus Irae]

Agreed. Houston is the biggest obstacle between the Patriots and another Super Bowl appearance.

You misspelled "injury".

 

[BobDigital]

So Texans thoughts. It seems the Texans have pretty much bubble wrapped Watson all preseason. Most interesting is his refusal to run with the ball (He probably was told to do this... at least I hope so for his sake). While overall that is a good sign for his longevity it has hurt his performance on the field.

He has been largely ineffective on offense. They managed only 1 TD drive in his limited action and that was due to a miss tackled that gained them 30 free yards. It also took a 4th and goal play. Something about this offense seems off compared to last year and I expect that to carry through into the start of the season for them.

Hopkins is pretty much their offense. If you can limit him while not overly committing resources to doing it then their offense suffers. I am not scared of their RBs or other weapons that much. The key is to get after Watson early and often while keeping a spy on him. Lets see how much he is willing to run and take hits.

On defense they have a lot of really good players but most of them are guys who get pressure. If we can slow down the trio of Clowney/Watt/Mercilus then their back field is overall pretty weak. The Pats tend to score on this defense virtually at will. I can't recall they last time they failed to drop 30 points on them.

 

[Tony2046]

Their defense can slow NE down, and possibly even take over a game. Watt, Clowney, Mercilus, and the Honey Badger may be as real of a unit as there is in the league.

Yeah sure but that's the same stuff we've heard since they went in varsity jacket mode.

They've gotten close a few times so if this was the NHSL (National HorseShoe League) they'd be dangerous.

Seriously though, it's going to be a good game.

 

[JMC00]

Their defense can slow NE down, and possibly even take over a game.

Until they actually do it that's just not true.

 

[TommyD4207]

Yeah sure but that's the same stuff we've heard since they went in varsity jacket mode.

They've gotten close a few times so if this was the NHSL (National HorseShoe League) they'd be dangerous.

Seriously though, it's going to be a good game.

Exactly. That's when it started. They haven't won a game against the Patriots since. With Watt. Without Watt. With QB. With Other QB. Doesn't matter.

Houston has some top-end talent, no question, but when you get off those few top-end talented players, there's really not very much there.

 

[Tony2046]

Exactly. That's when it started. They haven't won a game against the Patriots since. With Watt. Without Watt. With QB. With Other QB. Doesn't matter.

Houston has some top-end talent, no question, but when you get off those few top-end talented players, there's really not very much there.

Might be a great Patterson/Dorsett breakout game.

 

[TommyD4207]

Might be a great Patterson/Dorsett breakout game.

They're going to need to figure out some way to cover Gronk0wski. Honey Badger's a nice player, but he's a foot shorter than Gronkowski.

 

[supafly]

Exactly. That's when it started. They haven't won a game against the Patriots since. With Watt. Without Watt. With QB. With Other QB. Doesn't matter.

Houston has some top-end talent, no question, but when you get off those few top-end talented players, there's really not very much there.

How often have they had Watt, Clowney, and Mercilus together, on the field at the same time? Sprinkle in some honey badger on the back end and you may be starting to build a quality defense.

What happened in the past on either side matters little in the future. NE could struggle to get going once they double Gronk and get physical with Chris Hogan. Not sure why anyone would rule that out so easily.

 

[supafly]

Until they actually do it that's just not true.

They pretty much did that last year by sacking Brady 5 times and causing 3 fumbles. They hit him a lot of times, too. He guided that crazy drive at the end, but I think they slowed them down a bit. Luckily, our offense is usually just that good.

 

[Deus Irae]

How often have they had Watt, Clowney, and Mercilus together, on the field at the same time? Sprinkle in some honey badger on the back end and you may be starting to build a quality defense.

What happened in the past on either side matters little in the future. NE could struggle to get going once they double Gronk and get physical with Chris Hogan. Not sure why anyone would rule that out so easily.

Watt
Clowney
Mercilus
Hopkins
Mathieu
Watson
McKinney

Anyone dismissing the potential of that group is being silly. The question, imo, as TommyD alluded to, is whether or not what's behind that group is going to be good enough for the Texans to beat the 3 teams (Patriots, Steelers, Jaguars) that should clearly start out the season ranked ahead of them in the AFC.

 

[mcmurtry86]

They pretty much did that last year by sacking Brady 5 times and causing 3 fumbles. They hit him a lot of times, too. He guided that crazy drive at the end, but I think they slowed them down a bit. Luckily, our offense is usually just that good.

The Pats offense usually has stability at LT and good WR (in the games against Houston)

New LT who missed practice and trash WR other than Hogan, along with...who? running the ball means it could be tough going on offense. Burkhead and Michel are coming off injury, White isn't much of a runner and Hill is mediocre at best (with fumbling issues). Once Burkhead/Michel get healthy and up to speed it should be a solid unit. But very questionable going into week 1

 

[supafly]

The question, imo, as TommyD alluded to, is whether or not what's behind that group is going to be good enough for the Texans to beat the 3 teams (Patriots, Steelers, Jaguars) that should clearly start out the season ranked ahead of them in the AFC.

If the debate is for the AFC crown, then I think Houston’s defense will have to perform at a top level to have a shot. As you said, Pittsburgh is the clear number two (in more ways than one).

Of course, you’d have to include JAX after seeing them parlay their strong defense and running game into a near miss trip to the SB, but I’m expecting Houston to put up a fight. I think Watson at QB is the real deal.

 

[TommyD4207]

If the debate is for the AFC crown, then I think Houston’s defense will have to perform at a top level to have a shot. As you said, Pittsburgh is the clear number two (in more ways than one).

Of course, you’d have to include JAX after seeing them parlay their strong defense and running game into a near miss trip to the SB, but I’m expecting Houston to put up a fight. I think Watson at QB is the real deal.

I agree. I'm not saying it's going to be a blowout. I see the Patriots kicking a lot of field goals, which will provide lots of fodder for the BSM come Monday, as the offense won't look quite where it needs to be.

I just don't see the Texans scoring enough points to win the game. Sure, if Brady throws 4 picks, or the Texans block a punt or something that changes, obviously. But all things being equal, I don't see the 7-point spread being far off, maybe drops to 6 by game-time, but I doubt it.

I guarantee this week, the Texans will be built up to being a mix of the 85 Bears and the GSoT Rams (again) by the media, however.

 

[patsfaninpa]

I see a lot of 2 TE sets. James White with a big game. He looks much stronger. Their pass rush keeps it close.