Are we on to Houston yet?

[Triumph]

Patriots have one thing on Houston that they didn't have a year ago.

Tape.

JJ Watt is never a factor against the Patriots, and their secondary is still pretty soft. I think it's close, but Houston struggles to score.

Like sbb said, "Gilmore shuts down Hopkins, Patriots win", because there's literally no other way for the Texans to win.

Bingo

Year 2 for a QB is where the rubber meets the road because DCs have had all off season to break down film.

 

[Triumph]

We should see a better run defense with Shelton on board.

White can play WR too, so I say that the dire straits NE WR situation is overblown. Brady still has some familiar faces at his disposal.

The JJ Watt fellatio fest should begin about Wednesday. JJ had Mrs Butterworths pancakes this morning. JJ drives a Ford truck. WWJJD?

 

[mosslost]

Yeah, we're on to Houston.

This is what they're saying down there

Game 1...Season Opener...New England Patriots! - Houston Texans Message Boards

We’re onto Jacksonville already

 

[Sicilian]

Week one is always weird. Players on both sides are amped up, which can make them better or worse depending on how that energy gets channeled. Combine that with players and coaches still getting a feel for what kind of team they have and what their roles are, and the results are the second hardest to predict (after the Super Bowl) IMO. I expect a win, like I always do nowadays, but I expected one against KC last year in week one too. Should be fun either way! Football is back!

 

[Uptown]

 

[Kontradiction]

I’d actually take the under.

 

[patsinthesnow]

I will eat crow next Monday if need be but Houston is one of, maybe the most overrated team in the league.

• The worst OL in the NFL

• Joseph is cooked with age, Kevin Johnson is terrible & Colvin is an unproven CB3 that played alongside Ramsey/Bouye. Throw in the fact that Kareem Jackson who also blows is starting at safety...

Their secondary legitimately sucks. Now we may not have the WRs Sunday to take advantage but as long as Brady isn’t killed by the DL I expect a good passing day.

edit: To not come off as a complete homer dink Watt, Clowney & Mercilus may be the best pass rush group the league has to offer. I’m just not sure the elite pass rush/poor pass D defenses work that well anymore. Mathieu also hasn’t been himself in a few years now.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

Belichick better not put in a contain the QB strategy for this one, at least early on - Watson won’t be the same coming off a torn ACL. Test him early. I remember how frustrated I was with the Seattle regular season game a few years ago. Wilson had a bum knee and Belichick just sat back on defense.

 

[Sicilian]

I’d actually take the under.

I was thinking the same thing. I would never bet on a week 1 NFL game, but if I had to I'd take the under here, between the Pats receiver group (sans Edelman), Houston's defensive potential, and seemingly improved NE front seven, and a Houston QB coming off an ACL tear. Just feels like there's going to be some offensive sloppiness on Sunday.

 

[Tony2046]

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.

1 Watt is not a lot of power. It just isn't.

 

[Ras-IR Dowling]

Question for the fantasy geeks out there, flex play for PPR. James white or John Ross? Does white figure to be used heavy this week with uncertainty surrounding burkhead and Michel?

 

[A Defiant Goose]

I’d actually take the under.

Same. I'm thinking 47 at the most

 

[Hyped]

Gonna be a HUGE game. I am going to be in the nose bleeds for this one....looking forward to it. Bringing my young nephews to the game....their first Pats game...hope we pull out the W somehow.

 

[Hyped]

Question for the fantasy geeks out there, flex play for PPR. James white or John Ross? Does white figure to be used heavy this week with uncertainty surrounding burkhead and Michel?

White without a doubt.

Ross could be something this year, but wait and see if the 2nd year kid can do anything yet. White is good for 5 rec and 50 all purpose yards AT MINIMUM, IMO.

 

[Ras-IR Dowling]

White without a doubt.

Ross could be something this year, but wait and see if the 2nd year kid can do anything yet. White is good for 5 rec and 50 all purpose yards AT MINIMUM, IMO.

Thanks, that was my thinking too. I like Ross as a deeper stash wait and see. I think he could be sneaky good opposite green, prob the best Cincy duo since chad Johnson and tj.

 

[FCB02062]

So who's the target on 3d and long? D will man the wr, 87 surely doubled, Hogan can't get open...we're relying on James white to catch a 4 yard pass and break tackles....not good....spare me dorsett and ****ing Patterson....

 

[PatriotsNumero1Fan]

I expect a close game. Let’s see how this defense does against a QB like Watson. Good test early.

 

[PatriotsNumero1Fan]

So who's the target on 3d and long? D will man the wr, 87 surely doubled, Hogan can't get open...we're relying on James white to catch a 4 yard pass and break tackles....not good....spare me dorsett and ****ing Patterson....

Let’s see what dorsett and Patterson can do. Hogan needs to do a better job getting open against man coverage. He has struggled with that.

 

[luuked]

Belichick better not put in a contain the QB strategy for this one, at least early on - Watson won’t be the same coming off a torn ACL. Test him early. I remember how frustrated I was with the Seattle regular season game a few years ago. Wilson had a bum knee and Belichick just sat back on defense.

I think you are in for disappointment. Of course we will go with contain.

 

[1960Pats]

We should see a better run defense with Shelton on board.

White can play WR too, so I say that the dire straits NE WR situation is overblown. Brady still has some familiar faces at his disposal.

The JJ Watt fellatio fest should begin about Wednesday. JJ had Mrs Butterworths pancakes this morning. JJ drives a Ford truck. WWJJD?

JJ Watt concerns me because he's the king of the late hit. I can't recall seeing another player get away with as many hits on the QB long after a pass has been thrown.