Week 13: Pats @ Texans

[PatriotsInGA]

@Patriots: Marcus Cannon, Aaron Dobson & Michael Hoomanawanui have been ruled OUT for Sunday's game in Houston. #NEvsHOU

Can't say I'm too shocked by any of this. Hooman has been hurting for a few weeks and, given the opponent, Dobson/Cannon sitting is the best option. I know the whole "any given Sunday" thing is real, but I'd rather them be out against Houston than against a team like Baltimore.

Also, am I the only one excited to see Svitek get more playing time? He played well in the Denver game IMO.

 

[goheels22002]

Also, I don't buy into their defensive rankings. They gave up 28 to the Raiders, 27 to the Cardinals, 27 to the Colts, 38 to the Rams, 34 to the 49ers, 30 to the Ravens, 24 to the Titans, and 28 to the Chargers. The only reason why their defensive YPG is so low is because they keep throwing pick sixes, which allowed teams to amass huge leads without ever gaining an offensive yard, at which point they went conservative on offense. When opposing offenses do have to step on the field to score, it's usually a short field. Again, this team is 2-9 for a reason. They suck.

A loss is possible, if only because a loss is always possible (remember Cleveland a couple years back?). But their shot to beat us pretty much begins and ends with that. Also, their coach is either a guy who just had a mini stroke or Wade Phillips.

Exactly correct. The context of their games is an offense that is inept and makes crappy teams look good and allows good teams to blow them out.

The Patriots are coming off of two nail biters against vastly superior teams than the Texans. The Patriots offense is also out to prove the three-fumble half that dug them a huge hole against Denver won't happen again. I expect the Patriots to pound these guys early and take the game straight at JJ Watt who will probably get to see Blount run straight at him and wham blocks from Gronkowski to tire him out. Belichick looks for ways to take away your best player, so Watt better be ready.

If Talib and Dennard are playing, it's hard to see the Texans having any success on offense.

 

[FourierSeries]

Pats tend to have stinkers against struggling teams, especially coming off such an emotional victory. And the Texans will want revenge for the humiliation we handed to them last year. So I could see it being a close game.

I have a bold prediction though: Chandler Jones will record 3 sacks in this game.

 

[DaBronxPats14]

I see Pats comin to play. BB will never let them look ahead, take any game for granted. Each game here on out is important. Number One seed is a realistic possibility and just like last year when Texans were on top of their game goin for 1st seed POs Brady put up BIG numbers I look for same result.

 

[CelticPatriot]

Dobson, Hooman, Cannon all out. First 2 shouldn't be a major problem cause our WR's are really up and down these days (in terms of production) and Hooman was only getting like 3 targets a game. Don't fancy seeing a backup's backup against JJ Watt though (they'd be mad not to play him on Svitek's side at times)

Still think we'll win comfortably though. Don't remember Watt doing to great least year when we blew them out twice in month.

 

[Sfpat]

I spend a lot of time in Houston. The Texans are in total disarray and are close to packing it in for the season, if they haven't done so already. Some rambling comments about the Texans
- Everyone, including fans, coaches, players, press don't understand what happened and why. The common question is "why are we losing with such a "talented" team." Unfortunately, they don't understand that having a few Pro Bowl level players does not a "talented" team make and that all NFL teams are "talented", even the Jaguars. Good teams can neutralize one's strenghts and exploit one's weaknesses, a concept that the Texans don't seem to comprehend. The Texans seem to only focus on their strengths (JJ, Andre, Foster) and forget about their weaknesses. Critical review about why they won or lost was lacking which led to the current malaise. The local press oversold the Texans and the players and fans bought into it (witness the varsity jackets for example). A lot of swagger but no mental toughness.
- Kubiak just doesn't cut it as a top level NFL coach (and the staff is just as bad). After every loss he stands up and accepts blame, usually stating that he did not have the team ready to play which, unfortunately, is usually the truth (I would only be able to use that excuse with my boss once or twice, he's been able to do it for eight years). Accepting blame is admirable, but it's the same issue game after game. They run the same offensive and defensive schemes game after game with little to no variation and most NFL teams have long figured them out (including Wade Phillips defense, which the only thing they seem to ever do is blitz).
- While the Texans have some good, top line players, they are and have always been extremely thin in most positions. On defense, other than JJ, their DL is average at best, Cushing is the only LB that's any good and the secondary is below average. The OL has many holes and no depth, Andre is a one man show at receiver as Hopkins can't get separation and their QB troubles are well know. As BB knows, the NFL is about building a team, not collecting players.
- Their success from the past few years was almost exclusively the result of beating up on teams with horrid QBs. Teams with functioning QBs gave them trouble and teams with good QBs (NO, GB, Pats, et al) blew them out. And now, the teams with bad QBs have them figured out. Unfortunately, they drew the wrong conclusions as to why they were winning (i.e. Bulls on Parade) which then contributed to their losses (taking opponents too lightly, lack of proper game plans, etc).
- I don't sense any resolve left in the Texans. Might be wrong, but it seems the life is almost out of this team.

Pats should win easily, but one never knows what might happen on any given Sunday.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

Pats have been a very poor road team this year. I see them turning that around sunday

 

[Archeryaddict12]

Pats have been a very poor road team this year. I see them turning that around sunday

2 losses were arguably the refs screwing us IMO. But we finally have a friggen offense that can move the ball at will to compliment this still good defense.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

2 losses were arguably the refs screwing us IMO. But we finally have a friggen offense that can move the ball at will to compliment this still good defense.

I kinda agree there. But they still would have had to score from the 1 (off subject)

I hope dobson plays hut if hes hurt..no need...thompkins has been playing more and more and that's a good sign

 

[Silver Blue&Red]

@Patriots: Marcus Cannon, Aaron Dobson & Michael Hoomanawanui have been ruled OUT for Sunday's game in Houston. #NEvsHOU

Can't say I'm too shocked by any of this. Hooman has been hurting for a few weeks and, given the opponent, Dobson/Cannon sitting is the best option. I know the whole "any given Sunday" thing is real, but I'd rather them be out against Houston than against a team like Baltimore.

Also, am I the only one excited to see Svitek get more playing time? He played well in the Denver game IMO.

I agree Dobson/Cannon sitting, but this game has making of a classic trap game. They (Houston) should be winning more games and the odds are, this could be their coming out party. If the Pats players don't take it too lightly, I don't see a problem.

 

[doesntmatter1]

If we somehow lose this game, I will just interpret it as BB doing his part to ensure that some freak show defensive line of Clowney and Watt never see the light of day.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

Thought I'd bump this thread...Sign of how uninteresting the Texans are right now: the only Texans related Patsfans thread in the top 12 right now is the 'Predict the Score' contest.

Belichick said the Texans are a good football team and do a lot of things well

Ha! The Texans message boards are hilarious right now. Some highlights:

Just to make it interesting Beli is gonna have their D play both ways and still beat us.

or maybe Brady will be forced to use local children as receivers. After the game Brice McCain comments on giving up 2 TD strike to a 6 yr old:

"wow you know uh those kids got some moves...their not professionals...but they got real small on me."

They are going to destroy us.

This is gonna be the WORSE LOSS IN HISTORY.
Pats - 52
Texans - 9

Patriots 73 - 3

Bullock makes a 59 yard field goal. Signs 7 year / **42 million 100% guaranteed extension 2 hours after the game.

Some guy just posted this:

 

[Rob0729]

If we somehow lose this game, I will just interpret it as BB doing his part to ensure that some freak show defensive line of Clowney and Watt never see the light of day.

People keep talking about Clowney and Watt as a reason to be afraid about them finishing last place in the NFL, but the Texans are more than one potentially dominant pass rusher from being a good team. If they finish with the worst record in the NFL this year, it will prove that.

Personally, I would be more concerned about them getting a franchise QB. Their defense is already good enough. They need an offense.

Odds are the Pats won't face the Texans again until 2015 when they face the AFC South again. Belichick isn't worried about facing a 2015 opponent right now.

 

[Nikolai]

Some guy just posted this:

I think that big dog just tore his acl on the turf there.

 

[fnordcircle]

I'm a little apprehended to write off the Texans just yet.

 

[PP2]

I agree Dobson/Cannon sitting, but this game has making of a classic trap game. They (Houston) should be winning more games and the odds are, this could be their coming out party. If the Pats players don't take it too lightly, I don't see a problem.

I really doubt that this will be a trap game. We've lost 3 in a row on the road, and if we lose again, this will be the first time in the BB/Brady era that they've lost 4 in a row away from home. I think he is pretty aware of that fact, and so are the players if they're not already hearing about it in their dreams.

 

[JMC00]

Tomorrow is the first day of December, right?

Well Belichick and Brady are 38-6* in December and have never had a lost in back to back December's. Last year Pats lost in December.


Belichick is 44-8 in December since he became the Pats head coach.




*2 of those losses came in '02.

 

[VinnyPatrollie]

You hoping the Pats lose tomorrow so you can run over to your butt buddies at JI and say "Whoopie! We lost to the Texans!"?

 

[pherein]

Im just not seeing a loss to the Texans right now. Thier defensive line is very good, and I can see a team sleep on the defense and get suprised, but they have to many issues on offense to face a NE's defense.

Surprisingly HOU OL is not that bad, top 10, and Johnsons still a beast, not sure if he can ever be covered well. Their ST is #2 in kickoff and punt returns. So SP is what I will want to watch to see how its going.
What you have on your hands is a demoralized team trying to find an identity. But Texans dont usually do well late in the season. While Patriots do very well late in the season.

 

[1960Pats]

Any thoughts about this? I'm a little apprehended to write off the Texans just yet. Despite their $hitty record, and despite their #1 receiver claiming they're the worst in the league.

Thoughts? Discuss....

Two things worry me about this game; JJ Watt because he's allowed to come in fairly late and plant QBs and the playing surface because it's terrible.