{"id":8167,"date":"2016-09-21T09:17:57","date_gmt":"2016-09-21T13:17:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patsfans.com\/patriots\/blog\/?p=8167"},"modified":"2016-09-21T09:17:57","modified_gmt":"2016-09-21T13:17:57","slug":"patriots-texans-key-matchups-razors-edge-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patsfans.com\/patriots\/blog\/2016\/09\/21\/patriots-texans-key-matchups-razors-edge-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Patriots – Texans Key Match Ups, Who Has the Razor’s Edge?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The New England Patriots<\/strong><\/a> will play the Houston Texans on Thursday Night Football at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:30 p.m.<\/p>\n

The game will be televised by CBS and can be seen locally on WBZ-TV Channel 4 in Boston. Jim Nantz will handle play-by-play duties with Phil Simms as the color analyst. Tracy Wolfson will work the sidelines. The game will also be aired on the Patriots flagship radio station 98.5 The SportsHub with Bob Socci and Scott Zolak on the call, produced by Marc Capello.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0Patriots<\/strong>\u00a0(2-0) defeated the Miami Dolphins 31-24 on Sunday in Foxboro. New England jumped out to a 31-3 lead in the third quarter with Jimmy Garoppolo having a strong game. But after his injury, the Dolphins rallied and the Pats needed a Duron Harmon interception in the end zone with two seconds left to seal the victory.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0Texans<\/strong>\u00a0(2-0) beat the Kansas City Chiefs 19-12 on Sunday. The Houston defense was stout, allowing just four field goals and holding the opponents out of the endzone for the past six quarters. J.J. Watt who had offseason groin and back surgeries looks healthy to start the season. Against KC, he had 1.5 sacks, five tackles, and a fumble recovery.<\/p>\n

We here at\u00a0PatsFans.com<\/a>\u00a0are continuing our \u201cRazor\u2019s Edge\u201d\u00a0column in 2016 to give some quick\u00a0analysis on some of the key matchups of the game and what you can look for in how the game plays out.<\/p>\n

Series History:<\/strong>
\nThe Patriots and Texans will be meeting for just the 8th<\/sup> time as Houston entered the league in the 2002 season. The Patriots hold a 6-1 advantage in these contests while holding a perfect 3-0 advantage at home, including a 41-28 playoff win over the Texans in 2012.<\/p>\n

The Patriots dominated the Texans 27-6 just a year ago in Houston but that team that faced New England especially offensively is vastly different than the one they will put on the field on Thursday night.<\/p>\n

Here is a look at some of the key matchups and who holds the Razor\u2019s Edge.<\/p>\n

First up is the Patriots offense:<\/p>\n

Patriots RBs vs Texans Front Seven –\u00a0Razor\u2019s Edge Houston
\n<\/em><\/strong>The Patriots running game really took off on Sunday against Miami. LeGarrette Blount had 29 carries for 123 yards and a touchdown. Most impressive was the final drive where Miami knew they were going to run and they were successful, burning over five minutes of the clock and forcing the Dolphins to use all of their timeouts.<\/p>\n

There are potential gaps in the Texans defense to run against. Because of their aggressiveness in getting after the QB, there are opportunities to run there. But with a starting rookie QB, the scenario changes, and Houston will put a premium on stopping the run and forcing the ball in Jacoby Brissett\u2019s hands.<\/p>\n

One has to wonder at Blount\u2019s effectiveness this week. After carrying the ball 29 times on Sunday, can he duplicate that type of effort in a very short week? We may see more of Brandon Bolden and James White in the running game this week.<\/p>\n

Look for the Patriots to run away from JJ Watt and attack the other side of the formation. Patience in the running game will be even more important this week as they\u2019ll try to ease the pressure on Brissett. Of course, the middle will be ably plugged by big Vince Wilfork who did it for so many years for the Patriots. ILB Benardrick McKinney was lauded by Bill Belichick this week as one of the better inside backers in the league.<\/p>\n

Patriots WRs vs Texans Secondary –\u00a0Razor\u2019s Edge Houston
\n<\/em><\/strong>The Patriots passing game was looking positively lethal on Sunday and even without Rob Gronkowski before Garoppolo went down with an injury. They were much more conservative with Brissette in there throwing only nine passes. How much they open things up with him remain to be seen but he hasn\u2019t had as much work this summer as Garoppolo and Brady. And with only really two walk-thru sessions before the game.<\/p>\n

Houston\u2019s defense has been their strength and it starts with Watt in the center of the line. He played in Week 1 and said he was rusty but his performance on Sunday says he\u2019s quickly rounding into condition. Jadeveon Clowney is healthy this season and showing his potential. Whitney Mercilus is another excellent pass rusher from the edge in the Texans 3-4.<\/p>\n

This is an intriguing matchup, with Garoppolo at the helm, I thought the Patriots quickness underneath gave them a decided edge. The Texans linebackers are great in coverage and Gronkowski if he plays (still a big IF), and Martellus Bennett would have given them plenty of opportunities. Will Brissett have the experience and poise to run the offense like that? I don\u2019t think he\u2019s ready yet and they\u2019ll be forced to be much more conservative, as they were in the 2nd<\/sup> half on Sunday.<\/p>\n

Next up the Houston offense:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Texans RBs vs NE Front Seven –\u00a0Razor\u2019s Edge New England
\n<\/em><\/strong>Lamar Miller was a steal in free agency for the Texans as they snatched him away from Miami with a four-year deal worth $26 million. He\u2019s been their workhorse carrying the ball 53 times thus far for 189 yards. Like New England, they stuck with the running game and were rewarded with Miller having a solid 4th<\/sup> quarter against KC. They\u2019re still having some issues with the offensive line, 2nd<\/sup> round draft pick, center Nick Martin was lost for the season. They\u2019re trying to sort things out there.<\/p>\n

The Patriots have been very good against the run thus far in 2016, allowing just 81 yards per game. Alan Branch and Malcom Brown have been very good in the middle. Jamie Collins and Dont\u2019a Hightower (if he plays this week), are outstanding at reading the play, flowing downhill and plugging the gaps.<\/p>\n

I expect Houston to be patient as well with the run this week. Miller is a very good back and he\u2019ll get better as the game wears on.<\/p>\n

Texans WRs vs NE Secondary-\u00a0Razor\u2019s Edge New England
\n<\/em><\/strong>Brock Osweiler was a needed upgrade at the QB position for the Texans this season. Brian Hoyer and T.J. Yates weren\u2019t going to get the team over the hurdle into being a title contender. He\u2019s still learning the new offense of O\u2019Brien\u2019s and his progress is steady.\u00a0 Houston now has a viable option opposite DeAndre Hopkins in the person of Will Fuller. The speedster from Notre Dame has been electric thus far and both of them were over 100 yards receiving last week.<\/p>\n

The Patriots secondary laid an egg in the second half on Sunday. After frustrating Ryan Tannehill and going up for four TDs early in the third quarter, everything changed. Going to a no-huddle, Miami picked them apart. Malcolm Butler, Logan Ryan and Justin Coleman were probably not happy coming out of the film session from Sunday\u2019s game.<\/p>\n

The Patriots will need the pass rush to step up this week, Chris Long, Jabaal Sheard, and Trey Flowers on the edge will have to disrupt the timing of Osweiler and his receivers, especially if they attempt to stretch the field. Hightower, Collins, and Barkevious Mingo can help by blitzing in the gaps this week.<\/p>\n

Osweiler has thrown three TDs but also three picks, early in games. The Patriots can use one or two of these to help the offense get a short field this week. I look for the secondary to have a much more solid effort this week.<\/p>\n

Special Teams-<\/strong>\u00a0Razor\u2019s Edge New England
\n<\/em>The Patriots special teams went from the penthouse (Week 1) to the outhouse in Week 2 with generally subpar play all around including a field goal miss at crunch time by the normally reliable Stephen Gostkowski. Texans kicker Nick Novak made all four attempts last week in the win over KC.<\/p>\n

Houston\u2019s coverage units were awful in 2015, which is why they hired former Patriots STs maven Larry Izzo as their ST\u2019s Coordinator. After a good Week 1, they reverted to last year\u2019s form against KC. They allowed 158 yards on six kickoff returns a week ago, an average of over 26 yards. Their punt coverage team struggled as well. KC averaged nearly 16 yards per punt return. The Pats punt return game got a boost from Danny Amendola who averaged 11 yards (3 for 33), per return against the Dolphins.<\/p>\n

Next up, who wins and why\u2026<\/p>\n

Prediction:
\n<\/strong>This game is going to be a tough, hard-fought affair. Houston is a team that is improving and has a ton of ex-New England players and coaches that are showing the players the right way to building a winner.<\/p>\n

I think the Patriots with Brissett will struggle to throw the ball. Not to cast doubts on the young man\u2019s ability. But being the 3rd<\/sup> QB in the system thru training camp didn\u2019t allow for much in the way of reps for him. And compounded with being a rookie and trying to learn the Patriots offense, he\u2019s just not ready yet.<\/p>\n

This one would be reversed if New England (read Garoppolo, Gronk, and Hightower) were up to full strength but Bill Belichick has a habit of pulling out these type of games. If the defense can force a couple of turnovers, they could flip this around. But I think the Houston defense will carry the day here.\u00a0Texans 17-14<\/strong><\/p>\n

Follow me on Twitter\u00a0<\/em>@SteveB7SFG<\/em><\/a>\u00a0or email me at\u00a0<\/em>stevebpatsfans@gmail.com<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

Listen to our\u00a0<\/em>Patriots 4th<\/sup>\u00a0and 2<\/em><\/a>\u00a0podcasts on blog talk radio as the writers Russ Goldman, Derek Havens and I from\u00a0<\/em>PatsFans.com<\/em><\/a>\u00a0discuss the latest Patriots news Wednesdays at 12 noon.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The New England Patriots will play the Houston Texans on Thursday Night Football at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro. 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