Patriots Pregame Thread Pre-Game - Divisional Round Texans at Patriots

[WinstonSmith]

According to Brady, one of the great things about snow games is that it slows down the pass rush.

According to my weatherman, Will Campbell, the latest update is that the snow most likely won't start until 8pm-ish.

 

[upstater1]

LOL at Orlovsky on Stroud: "He's going to play well and he's not going to make the mistakes that keep New England in the game."

 

[Tunescribe]

It's important to understand that the chess set is all bishops, and the New England Patriots' opponents are the Nwoo Lengndan Pituitaries.

That is some seriously incomprehensible AI slop.

Does this mean you won't make me a sandwich?

 

[DaBruinz]

LOL at Orlovsky on Stroud: "He's going to play well and he's not going to make the mistakes that keep New England in the game."

Dan might be right that Stroud may, eventually, start playing well and not making mistakes.. But that's not something that happens overnight. Based on Stroud's play, I'm going to guess that it will happen in 6-7 years..

 

[upstater1]

They're right. New England's defense at full strength is one of the 3 toughest defenses

Except they specifically named Houston

 

[jimnance]

do the pats take a page out of the texans book and go jumbo a lot......two TE's, tonga who is projecting to play, jumbo packages......and just pound straight at that defense......negate the edge advantage, use the extra blocking, their young lineman are much better run blockers who struggle with line stunts on the pass rush - stunts are much easier to handle run blocking.....and then run play action off that?

they will still take their deep shots, but this feels like a game where they will pound the run, and take away the run, daring stroud to beat them without his #1


then again, josh has attacked defenses like this with up tempo and tired them out, so who the **** knows

I think it's a combo of both v. Texans:
Pound the rock and also go with tempo for stretches. Both those things slow down a pass rush.
Against a very good D you can't do just one thing, gotta be multiple. Screens,etc. the whole 9 yards. Josh will need to empty his bag in this game.Fortunately, Pats have the qb,oc and personnel to do both.
There will also be sa few deep shots.
Texans pass D v. deep shots is very mediocre so there will be a few opportunities.
One aspect not to be overlooked that a lot of pundits always overlook: physicality.
Both teams are physical but the Pats are more physical if you look at all players on both sides of the ball. Patriots definitely more physical on offense and maybe slightly more on D. Texans D is more about speed than physicality. But they also really tackle well better than anyone else. Our CBS are definitely more physical. Gonzo is one of the most physical Cbs in the NFL he can hit you like a safety and is an excellent tackler.
Very contrary to some of the idiotic fake predraft analysis.
That's on top of being one of the best cover corners in the NFL. He has been huge in run support this year. He's better than Stingley who is very good.
As long as Pats can keep big mistakes to a minimum, they should win. They're the much better all-around team.

 

[upstater1]

Wouldve preferred cleaner weather for our passing game. Weather is always and equalizer.

Let's not forget though that defenses slow down in snow.

 

[Triumph]

I think you're giving Rodgers more credit than he deserves. Texans didn't make it easy, but he didn't help himself - or his team.

Tomlin is the kiss of death.

Any good defense wants to make the opponents offense 1 dimensional. That usually entails stopping the run. Pitt quit rushing after 18 carries and played directly into what Houston loves to do.

 

[PatsFan2]

According to Brady, one of the great things about snow games is that it slows down the pass rush.

IF Maye has time we're winning by Four Scores.

 

[Lansdowne]

LOL at Orlovsky on Stroud: "He's going to play well and he's not going to make the mistakes that keep New England in the game."

I can only guess that Orlovsky chose to skip the MNF game instead of watching it like the rest of us. Because an interception and two lost fumbles says Stroud is exactly the kind of quarterback who makes the mistakes to keep New England in the game. That wasn’t exactly the Steel Curtain defense he was up against either.

 

[upstater1]

I can only guess that Orlovsky chose to skip the MNF game instead of watching it like the rest of us. Because an interception and two lost fumbles says Stroud is exactly the kind of quarterback who makes the mistakes to keep New England in the game. That wasn’t exactly the Steel Curtain defense he was up against either.

Yes, but on the flip side, we're saying the same thing about Maye. He's not going to make those big mistakes again.

 

[jdlboot14]

Going just by the numbers, the Texans are in the top 5 or so of most main Defensive categories, while Pats are ~5 spots lower.
But, Pats are in the top 10 (even top 5) in most main Offensive categories, and Texans are around 15-20.

Verdict - Our defenses are closer in strength than our offenses - where Pats hold greater margin.
Barring unlikely breaks like defensive TD's, or multiple errors/TO's that allow explosive plays, this seems like a:
Pats 17 - Texans 16 type of game.

 

[The Gr8est]

Nerd!!!

 

[Triumph]

 

[jal]

Wouldve preferred cleaner weather for our passing game. Weather is always and equalizer.

Snow games give advantage to passing offense, as it slows the pass rush / coverage. Plus Texans dome team, warm weather, etc.

I would love snow. But if it ends up being rain - no bueno

 

[Triumph]

 

[Triumph]

 

[jal]

I'm really worried about our receivers. The chargers figured out Diggs, totally shut him down. Drake had to hold the ball for a long time. Wish Mack practiced but he's out. I feel the backs have to fill in the gaps as receivers. Pop, chism, Williams have disappeared. Boutte seldom getting looks. Drake has to run unfortunately.

This is gonna be a Hunter Henry intermediate, shot plays to Williams/Boutte, and check downs to the backs type of game. That's ok - we need to go jumbo and run the ball + play action pass intermediate to deep as the core of our gameplan. We also need to stay no huddle in these looks when we get 3rd Texans linebacker on field to keep him on / Anderson & Hunter take a rest so we keep them off.

We may only get 3-4 redzone possessions. We need to score at least 2 TDs on those, and not turn the ball over generally. 20 points probably wins the game.

 

[PatsFan2]

I'm really worried about our receivers. The chargers figured out Diggs, totally shut him down. Drake had to hold the ball for a long time. Wish Mack practiced but he's out. I feel the backs have to fill in the gaps as receivers. Pop, chism, Williams have disappeared. Boutte seldom getting looks. Drake has to run unfortunately.

Boutte showed up last game: Diggs disappears for stretches this is why I'm in on A.J. Brown if he's available in the Offseason. I would love for Efton Chism to get Pop's snaps. Would love for us to hit Kyle Williams or K Boutte Deep. Yeah we really miss my Binkie Barefoot.

 

[PatsFan2]

This is gonna be a Hunter Henry intermediate, shot plays to Williams/Boutte, and check downs to the backs type of game. That's ok - we need to go jumbo and run the ball + play action pass intermediate to deep as the core of our gameplan. We also need to stay no huddle in these looks when we get 3rd Texans linebacker on field to keep him on / Anderson & Hunter take a rest so we keep them off.

We may only get 3-4 redzone possessions. We need to score at least 2 TDs on those, and not turn the ball over generally. 20 points probably wins the game.

I can see McDaniels using the hurry up Offense a lot. I think if we get up a couple of scores on them the games in the bag.