More difficult team for the Pats to beat: Texans or 49ers?

[Kid~Brady]

After watching these teams play yesterday, I personally have to admit that I think the Texans will be a tough team to beat, even tougher than 49ers. Both teams will supply great defensive matchups with the Patriots but I still think we will be able to score on either one but its the defenses.

49ers has that tough, stiffling defense that pretty much just stops teams in their tracks. Texans has a defense where they can really rush the passer and create turnovers and then score on offense. I hear the "we're at home" and "we are playing two teams that aren't used to to cold weather" talk but defense travels, point blank.

With this being said, which matchup are you most looking forward too? Do you think we win both (back-to-back), lose one, win one or lose both? As I stated, the Texans scare me much more than the 49ers.

 

[goheels22002]

Slow down, dude. 6-3 Colts and Andrew Luck are coming to town on Sunday followed by a quick turnaround on Thanksgiving Day against the Jets. It's way too soon to worry about the Texans and the 49ers.

 

[CityOfChampions]

I think we can win both. Both teams are beatable. I wonder how long Smith will be out with his concussion.

 

[Sicilian]

I say the Texans. Both teams have a great running game, both teams have a great defense (though slightly different styles to get there). The Texans ALSO have a pretty good passing game, where San Fran is less consistent there due to the QB. Both teams are tremendous challenges though, and will give us a true barometer for this team's chances in the playoffs.

 

[DocHoliday]

Houston got blown out by an elite GB offense. Not worried there.

49ers O can be stopped.

Falcons can be stopped with good game planning.

I'm only scared of three teams in the NFL - NO, GB, and Giants.

All three have offenses loaded with talent that can make plays no matter what you take away.

 

[Foxypats]

After watching last nights game, I am really impressed with the Texans D. Everyone knew what the bears d was doing this year but to see the texans play like that at soldier field was very impressive. I am more worried about them, as well as they are in the AFC. If we don't win, that pretty much means we dont get a bye as we have already lost to the Ravens.

 

[doesntmatter1]

I think we will beat both but i think the 49ers will be a tougher outing. The 49ers offense sucks but their defense is so fundamentally sound. Texans offense is good but they won't destroy us and worst case scenario they will look similar to the bills on offense.

The Texans are so proud of their pass rush but i think they won't get home against us. JJ is special but we will shut him down the same way we do all of the other great pass rushers like mario, peppers, freeney, miller, etc. Our tackles are just too good and brady doesnt hold on to the ball long. What we have to worry about is him batting down balls.

 

[Kid~Brady]

I think we will beat both but i think the 49ers will be a tougher outing. The 49ers offense sucks but their defense is so fundamentally sound. Texans offense is good but they won't destroy us and worst case scenario they will look similar to the bills on offense.

The Texans are so proud of their pass rush but i think they won't get home against us. JJ is special but we will shut him down the same way we do all of the other great pass rushers like mario, peppers, freeney, miller, etc. Our tackles are just too good and brady doesnt hold on to the ball long. What we have to worry about is him batting down balls.

Yeah, I thought about this as well. I think BB will find someway to nullify Watt, he absolutely has too if we have any chance in this game.

 

[Kid~Brady]

Slow down, dude. 6-3 Colts and Andrew Luck are coming to town on Sunday followed by a quick turnaround on Thanksgiving Day against the Jets. It's way too soon to worry about the Texans and the 49ers.

Agreed but honestly, neither of these teams will be a "barametor" for the playoffs, these are wins that are more likely than the teams I'm discussing.

 

[CheeseMonkeys]

Slow down, dude. 6-3 Colts and Andrew Luck are coming to town on Sunday followed by a quick turnaround on Thanksgiving Day against the Jets. It's way too soon to worry about the Texans and the 49ers.

It's not too early... Those matchups are around the corner and there's a lot of improvement needed before those games.

 

[patsinthesnow]

The GB-HOU game gives me hope that the pats can shred the Texans D.

The 49ers game will be interesting going spread vs. that amazing LB core.

 

[Kid~Brady]

The GB-HOU game gives me hope that the pats can shred the Texans D.

The 49ers game will be interesting going spread vs. that amazing LB core.

Right, but Rodgers was perfect that night. Brady would have to be on his A-game in order to achieve that.

 

[patsfan-1982]

the Texans have a better offense they can match brady point for point as for the 49ers Brady will be jumping out of he's skin to beat the team he rooted for as a child

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

I see little chance that the Pats beat both.....I also see little chance that the Pats lose both as well.

I think Houston will whoop the Pats,their offense is full of trouble for a pathetic secondary and they are simply the best AFC Team and its not even close right now.

I think the 49ers will be beatable,especially if Smith is out for a longer than expected period of time with that concussion and their receivers are not exactly world beaters anyway.

So I say it'll be 1 win-1 loss when those 2 games come to pass

 

[Rob0729]

I really don't think either team is unbeatable.

The Texans did a great job shutting down Jason Campbell last night, but can anyone remember the last team who didn't do a great job shutting down Jason Campbell? Their offense was not all that impressive last night (granted against a great defense). The Texans' offense is still limited although can be impressive. It all comes down to shutting down (or slowing) their running game. Schaub is only effective when he has a running game to take pressure off of him and sell the play action. Their offense isn't really designed to be a pass first offense.

The 49ers are a complete team, but their do not have the offense to be explosive and their defense isn't quite as good as last year.

 

[Kid~Brady]

I really don't think either team is unbeatable.

The Texans did a great job shutting down Jason Campbell last night, but can anyone remember the last team who didn't do a great job shutting down Jason Campbell? Their offense was not all that impressive last night (granted against a great defense). The Texans' offense is still limited although can be impressive. It all comes down to shutting down (or slowing) their running game. Schaub is only effective when he has a running game to take pressure off of him and sell the play action. Their offense isn't really designed to be a pass first offense.

The 49ers are a complete team, but their do not have the offense to be explosive and their defense isn't quite as good as last year.

But on the same token, when has our secondary NOT made any QB look good? Will it really matter if Alex Smith is there or the backup?

 

[MoneyFX]

Texans are a tougher matchup. They can win those ugly games as proved in Chicago and the Steelers last year.

When it comes to Houston against New England, the one thing I fear the most is the play-action, when they get the stretch runs with Arian Foster and Ben Tate working. We all know what happens when that works, as seen in Denver.

The key for New England is to start fast on offense and put Houston in an early hole, just like the Packers did, which will make Houston abandon the run game. When they abandon the run game, they are more predictable on offense. And the Patriots are a more dangerous team on offense than the Packers b/c of the TEs and a good running game. Controlling JJ Watt is key for the O-line too.

But then again, anything can happen on any given Sunday (or Monday).

 

[jah]

I'll be much more nervous before the Texans game than the 49ers game, that's for sure. The 49ers haven't been as good as they were last year. That being said, the Patriots have a real shot at winning any game in the NFL, but they could also easily lose both in their usual 4th quarter fashion.

 

[DaBronxPats14]

Right, but Rodgers was perfect that night. Brady would have to be on his A-game in order to achieve that.

Hopefully Pats will be at full strength with AHern back and Talib and D will be more insync. Pats can run their no-huddle hurry up offense like they did against Broncos our chances are pretty good and bein home helps.

 

[Claremonster]

The Pats defense at times looks pretty good. Most of the time though, they look terrible.

I think it comes down to Brady and the offense. If he plays bad, the Pats could lose to any team.

The Pats defense needs more secondary and pass rush help. The coordinator(s) look like they don't know what the F they're doing either (Josh is also to blame on the offensive side).

The current Pats are a bit like Jekyll vs Hyde out there. Very frustrating to watch.