Official Texans @ Saints Fake Game Thread, 8/25/2012
 

Sounds like Cushing still out.

Should be a really good test for defense and offense.

I can even see the Texans losing this game and not being too worried about it. The Saints will have an interesting strategy trying to account for the upcoming suspensions so it will be hard to know how they'll be. I could see the Texans pulling their big names out of the lineup at halftime even though this is the game that is supposed to be the dress rehearsal for the starters.

How long do you want to play guys like Foster, AJ and Schaub on turf when the game really means nothing and staying healthy is the most important thing?

I see the starters coming out to start the 3rd quarter. Kubiak want to simulate a real game, and coming out in the 3rd quarter is something I can see him wanting to be practiced. He has already moved the daily practice to noon to simulate the noon kickoffs on most Sundays.

I am just glad we don't have to subject ourselves to Joel Myers.....

Game is on CBS this evening.

Eheh, after listening to Chris Berman and Trent Dilfer the other night, I'm OK with Joel Myers. Berman/Dilfer - those two together - oy. Myer's thing is he's a rental announcer from California hired by the Texans so he's not always on top of things. Since ABC (Ch 13) is not normally an NFL channel (like FOX and CBS), I don't think he gets a lot of help from the production department...

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Looks like there's a one hour pregame show on CBS prior to kickoff, I assume about the Texans....

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This game probably won't feature much of the "new Texans" since the starters will be playing for much of the game. Thursday's game against Minnesota should feature more of the 3rd and 4th string - the bubble guys...

I hate preseason football because it is semi-pro, homer announcers. It is one of the best things about the NFL, national announcers for every game. They aren't all great but at least they aren't rooting for a team. I hate announcers rooting for a team (even my team). If I want whining about officials I will do it myself.

Well, well, well... Ian Eagle and Phil Simms...

Kickoff in a few......

Must be a national game...

Saints kickoff and drive it out of the endzone. Texans ball at the 20.

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Pass to OD goes for 16.

Pass to AJ gets 11.

TE screen to Graham gets about 7.

Tate hits the left side for about 7 and a 1st down. Ball at the Saints 38.

Tate get about 7 up the middle. 2nd and 3 coming up.

Schaub's pass to AJ broken up, inc.

Pass to AJ over the middle inc, but it looks like the Saints interfered. Yep, 1st and 10 at the Saints 27.

Schaub hits Graham for big gainer inside the 5. Ball at the 1.

Tate pushes it in for the TD!

Texans 7, Saints 0

11:03 left in the 1st quarter.

Nice play by Newton on that drive.

That's how you play offense.

Also, doesn't look like dreesen will be missed much.

After that all I need to see is a three and out...or a couple sacks...no injuries and I am satisfied...Newton looked pretty solid.

Saints bring the ensuing kickoff back to their 19.

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Dumpoff to Thomas gets about 9.

Deep pass to Henderson inc. KJ right there with him.... 3rd and 1 coming up.

Ivory hits it up the middle but stumbles and GQ nails him causing a fumble. Texans recover! Ball at the Saints 40.

Wow, Glover Quin with the hit.

...after Kareem when step for step with Henderson.

Man, squint a little bit on that catch, and Lestar Jean sure looked like Angry Dre.

Pass to Casey in the flat gets 5.

Foster got caught in the backfield for -3 but flag on the play. Holding Texans. Do-over makes it 2nd and 15.

Pass to Jean gets about 16 yards. Flag on the Saints DB for not letting go of Jean and the ball. 1/2 the distance. Ball at the 13 of the Saints.

Tate caught in the backfield for a loss. Ball at the Saints 19. 2nd and 16.

Dumpoff to Tate goes for 9. 3rd and 7 coming up.

Pass to K Martin over the middle goes for the TD!

Texans 14, Saints 0

7:11 left in the 1st quarter.

Too bad these fake games don't count.

I don't care if it is the middle of the 1st quarter. Sit these guys RIGHT NOW.

I am assuming/hoping Marciano is telling Bullock to kick short. 2 in a row failed to make the end zone.

One more defensive stop and I am satisfied...lets stay healthy...

Roby brings the ensuing kickoff back to Saints 35 - nice return.

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Ingram for 4. 2nd and 6 coming up.

Brees hits Moore over the middle for big gainer. Ball at the Texan 48.

Pass to Henderson gets 14.

Pass to Colston get about 10, 1st down.

Ingram for 4 or 5. Ball at the Texan 20.

Pass to Moore in the endzone is good for the TD. Flag on KJ for PI is declined.

Texans 14, Saints 7

4:03 left in the 1st quarter.

Lets see how the defense responds...

Oh no, Trindon fumbles the kickoff, the Saints pick it up and score.....

Texans 14, Saints 14

3:54 left in the 1st quarter.

The way he went up for the ball I thought the same thing.

I'm going to let someone else open the Pandora's box of complaints regarding our favorite cornerback. The last time I did that during an exhibition game barrett got mad at me.

He wasn't even hit very hard.

Wow...I feel bad for Trindon...

Holliday downs the kickoff in the endzone. Texans ball at their 20.

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Foster for 4 on the left side.

Foster busts one for about 18 or 19, 1st down.

Schaub hits AJ at the Saints 40, 1st down.

Dumpoff to Forsett gets 14.

Forsett gets about 5 tough yards on the left side. 2nd and 5 coming up.

Schaub is sacked - flag also down...... Holding on Texans is declined. Makes it 3rd and long (12).

Dumpoff to Martin is stripped from him... Saints recover at their 26.

I actually thought he looked improved, even on that play. At least he was aggressively contesting the catch instead of hanging on for dear life. Hey, we take what we can get.

Dumpoff to Thomas in the flat goes nowhere. 2nd and 10 coming up.

End of 1st quarter.

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On 2nd and 10, pass to Graham broken up by GQ. 3rd and 10 coming up.

Pass to Graham over the middle goes for 29 yards. Ball at the Texan 45.

Ivory gets 5 on the right side.

Ingram up the middle for about 4. 3rd and 1 coming up.

Dumpoff to Collins gets about 3 and the 1st down.

Pass over the middle to Graham is inc. but PI on Bradie James places the ball at the Texan 11.

Ingram gets about 1 yard. 2nd and 9 coming up from the 10 yard line.

Pass in flat is inc. 3rd and 9 coming up.

Dumpoff to Cadet gets about 6. On 4th and 3, Saints will go for the FG.

Hartley's 22-yarder is good.

Saints 17, Texans 14

11:24 left in the half.

He's right there with the receiver every time but his ball awareness is zero.

I wouldn't say he looked better. I'd say he looked like a cb against the saints. Moore beat Joseph on the same drive. We are 4 drives in and brees hasn't been touched yet. Nobody can cover those guys if brees is clean.

Eheh, Holliday with the redemption return.... 62 yards on the kickoff return - punishes the kicker for trying to tackle him....:p

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Ball is at the Saints 37.

Schaub's pass nearly INT'ed... but inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Foster is caught in the backfield -2. 3rd and 12 coming up.

Pass to AJ broken up, inc. Texans to punt.

Punt is downed at the Saints 1 yard line by McManis. Saints ball. 10:09 left in the half.

Nice return by Holliday. No more Texans turnovers please. How is our defense gonna stop Saints?

Lets not get too bent outta shape...no cody, watt , or cushing...

The right side of the OL is a problem. It is apparently harder to invent guys in our system then it looked. Hopefully we see improvement over time.

Dumpoff to Graham in the flat gets 11, 1st down.

Pass in the flat is complete and then stripped by the Texans! Manning recovers! Texans ball at the Saints 10.

9:35 left in the half.

That was a bad call. I'll take it but it was not correct.

I'm not expecting us to dominate the saints, but we have not TOUCHED brees. Not good for a defense built on team pass rush.

Foster for about 4 tough yards.

Foster punches it in from the 6!

Texans 21, Saints 17

8:55 left in the half.

Big difference when we run right.

I was hoping to see something out of the OLBs.

To hell with it, let's just run left.