Official Texans vs. Bills Game Thread, 11/4/2012
 

Ok, got a game this weekend.

Mario against Texans Offensive Line.

Both teams coming off a bye week.

I'd like to see our special teams look much better.

Depending on which Mario shows up, him vs. Newton could be a little nerve racking.

Per the twitter - We have claimed Grimes and released Mister Alexander. Doesn't look real peachy for Tate this week.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Mario have a nice game. When he was here he had some of his best performances when the coaches took him aside and challenged him, and ever since the schedule came out he's been acting like he has something to prove against the Texans for not breaking the bank to keep him.

TV = CBS (channel 11 local), 12 noon Sunday

Announcers = Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts

The line = Texans by 10 to 12

I feel good about having "The Bird and The Beard" in the booth. We're usually solid when those two are the announcing crew. Most of the country is getting Denver-Cincinnati. Our game is being seen throughout Texas and upstate New York.

Grimes will be active the first week back. Hopefully, we'll be in a spot to see him in "real" action.

Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) tweeted:
Coach Kubiak: RB Ben Tate didn't practice (hamstring) and will not play in Sunday's game.

Gametime 5 minutes away...

Nice to be back....

Texans win the toss and will receive.

Poochy kickoff is covered up by Keo at the Texan 25. Texans ball.

It's a broken record every freaking week. How are the special teams this bad?

Foster goes left side for 11.

Foster for 1.

Foster up the middle for about 5. Brings up 3rd and 4.

Pass over the middle to OD is off the mark, inc. Texans to punt.

Bills fair catch the punt about their 8 yard line.... flag down... Texans have to rekick...

Flags presnap..... false start Texans -5.....

Bills bring the punt back to their 28. Bills ball.

Pass by Fitzpatrick is batted down by Cody, inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Jackson for gain of 1. 3rd and 9 coming up.

Pass complete to S Johnson for 14 and a 1st down.

Jackson caught in the backfield for loss of 1. 2nd and 11 coming up.

Fitzpatrick's pass is high and outside, inc. 3rd and 11 coming up.

Dumpoff to Jackson only gets 2 or so. Bills have to punt.

Punt goes out of bounds about the Texan 4 yard line. Texans ball.

Foster goes left for no gain.

Schaub's pass can't find a home, inc. 3rd and 10 coming up.

Foster up the gut for 11 and a 1st down.

Deep pass to Walter complete but holding on the Texans brings it back. Makes it 1st and 17.

Pass to AJ goes for about 9 but flag on the play....offsides Bills makes it 1st and 12.

Schaub's dumpoff to Foster off the mark, inc. 2nd and 12 coming up.

Pass complete to AJ for 13 and a 1st down.

Short pass to OD complete for 7.

Forsett for 1. 3rd and 2 coming up.

Schaub gets sacked. Makes it 4th and 10 so Texans have to punt.

Bills return the punt to their 26. Bills on offense.

Spiller for about 3.

Pass complete to S Johnson for 7 but short of the 1st down.

On 3rd and short, Spiller is caught in the backfield for a loss. Bills have to punt.

Martin brings the punt back to the Texan 23. 2:36 left in the 1st quarter.

Throwback to KW complete for 18.

Slant to AJ complete for 7.

Foster runs down the left sideline for 14 and a 1st down. Ball at the Bill 39.

Deep pass to OD wide open goes for the TD! 39 yards!

Texans 7, Bills 0

36 seconds left in the 1st quarter.

Bills bring the ensuing kickoff back to their 26.

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Pass to S Johnson good for 9. 2nd and 1 coming up.

End of the 1st quarter.

Spiller for 5 and the 1st down. Ball at the Bills 40.

Timeout Bills.

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Flags presnap. Offsides A Smith makes it 1st and 5.

Pass to Jones good for 7 and the 1st down.

Dumpoff to Spiller goes all the way to the Texan 19.

Dumpoff to Jackson is sniffed out for loss of 1. 2nd and 11 coming up.

Fitzpatrick can't find a receiver and scrambles for loss of 1. 3rd and 12 coming up.

Fitzpatrick pressured again scrambles for 3. Bills to go for the FG on 4th and 9.

FG is no good.

Score remains:

Texans 7, Bills 0

10:31 left in the half.

Pass to AJ along the sideline good for 13.

Foster gets loose for 21. Ball at the Bills 39.

Flags presnap. False start on Caldwell makes it 1st and 15.

Pass over the middle to Casey goes for 25. Ball at the Bills 20.

End around to Martin goes for 1.

Schaub is sacked by Mario. Flag down....holding on Texans is declined. Makes it 3rd and 13 coming up.

Flags presnap. False start on Newton makes it 3rd and 18.

Pass to KW off the mark, inc. Texans to go for the FG.

Graham's 46-yarder is blocked, no good.

Bills takeover on their 38. 6:22 left in the half.

Well, ok, but pretty sloppy with too many penalties and now a blocked FG.

Jackson goes for about 14.

Dumpoff to Dickerson goes for 14. Ball at the Texan 38. B James hurt on the play.

Pass complete to Jones for 14 more.

Jackson for about 4. 2nd and 6 coming up. Ball at the Texan 20.

Timeout Bills. 3:45 left in the half.

Smith up the middle for no gain. 3rd and 6 coming up for the Bills.

Pass to Chandler good for the 1st down at the Texan 12.

Jackson up the middle for 2.

2 minute warning.

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Flags presnap. False start Bills -5. 2nd and 13 coming up from the Texan 15.

Pass to Jackson goes for 5. Texans call a timeout. 1:54 left in the half.

Dumpoff to Jones goes for about 8 or 9. Bills to go for the FG.

Lindell's 22-yarder is good.

Texans 7, Bills 3

1:42 left in the half.

Martin brings the ensuing kickoff back to the Texan 26.

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Schaub's pass off the mark to OD, inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Short pass to OD good for 3.

Pass to OD broken up, inc. Texans have to punt.

McKelvin brings the punt back to the Bills 33. Bills ball. 52 seconds left in the half.

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Pass to Graham inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Pass to Spiller good for 12 and the 1st down.

Pass to Jones goes for 19 to the Texan 37.

Spiller runs all the way to the Texan 15. 16 seconds left in the half.

Fitzpatrick is sacked by Watt! Loss of 6. Timeout Bills. 9 seconds left in the half. Bills elect to go for the FG.

Lindell's 38-yarder is good.

Texans 7, Bills 6

5 seconds left in the half.

Martin field the ensuing kickoff and steps out of bounds at the Texan 23.

Texans kneel it.

Halftime.

Texans 7, Bills 6

Halftime stats:

Passing: Schaub 8/14, 124 yds, 1 TD

Rushing: Foster 7/62, Forsett 1/0, Martin 1/1

Receiving: OD 3/50, AJ 3/32, Casey 1/24, KW 1/18

Tackles: GQ/Watt 5 each, Dobbins 4, JJo/Barwin 3 each, Demp/McCain 2 each

TOP: Texans 14:14, Bills 15:46

1st downs: Texans 9, Bills 11

3rd down efficiency: Texans 1/5, Bills 2/6

Red zone: Texans 0/1, Bills 0/3

Total yards: Texans 174, Bills 189

Penalties: Texans 6/32, Bills 2/10

Penalties on the 2nd half kickoff. Texans have to rekick. Graham's squibby kickoff is fallen upon by the Bills at their 26 yard line. Bills ball.

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Fitzpatrick's pass is dropped by Chandler, inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Fitz's pass too tall, inc. 3rd and 10 coming up.

Deep pass to S Johnson sails inc. Bills have to punt.

Martin brings the punt back all the way to the Bills 43. 26 yards on the punt return.

Ok, let's go Texans. Nice Kick return to Buffalo 42 by Martin.

And nice throw deep to Andre.

Foster slips for 1.

Foster gets 4 going around left end. 3rd and 5 coming up.

Deep pass to AJ goes all the way to the 5 yard line! Williams of the Bills hurt on the play. Injury timeout.

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Foster for 1. 2nd and goal from the 4.

Foster punches it in!

Texans 14, Bills 6

12:11 left in the 3rd quarter.

Bills bring the ensuing kickoff back to their 23.

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Spiller for 3.

Pass complete to Jones for 15 and a 1st down.

Screen to Jackson goes for 3. 2nd and 7 coming up.

Pass over the middle to Chandler goes for 24 yards. Ball at the Texan 29.

Jackson for 2.

Spiller goes around the right end for 6. 3rd and 2 coming up.

Pass to Johnson broken up. Bills to go for the FG.

Lindell's 39-yarder is good.

Texans 14, Bills 9

7:41 left in the 3rd quarter.

We're making this harder than it needs to be. We are averaging 6 YPC against a team that gives up 6 YPC. Avoid the penalties and put them away.

Martin brings the ensuing kickoff back to the Texan 24.

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Foster goes for 1.

Pass to AJ goes for 11 and a 1st down.

Foster spins for 3 but holding on the Texans backs it up. 1st and 20 coming up.

Schaub's pass to AJ off the mark, inc. 2nd and 20 coming up.

Foster for 2. 3rd and 18 coming up.

Pass to Casey goes for 13. Texans have to punt.

Punt goes out of bounds at the Bills 20.

Pass to Graham goes for loss of 1.

Pass to Spiller goes for 4. 3rd and 7 coming up.

Pass over the middle to Jones is inc. Bills have to punt.

Martin fair catches at the Texan 33. Texans ball.

Oy, lost this website for a while.... Here's what I got:

Foster for 2 and the 1st down.

Foster slips for loss of 2.

Pass to AJ goes for nice gainer - down to the 9 yard line. 1st and goal.

Foster loses 2.

Pass to Graham goes to the 4 yard line. 3rd and goal coming up.

Schaub's pass to Graham is good for the TD!

Texans 21, Bills 9

11:25 left in the game.

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Bills bring the ensuing kickoff back to their 31. Bills on offense.

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Dumpoff to Jones goes for 2.

Fitz's pass is batted up in the air by Crick, inc. 3rd and 8 coming up.

Bills about to run out of play clock call a timeout.

On 3rd and 8 at their 33, pass is dropped by Chandler. Bills have to punt.

Punt sails out of bounds at their own 10 yard line. Texans ball.

Foster for 3.

Pass to AJ good for 9 and a 1st down.

Foster for 4. 2nd and 6 coming up.

Foster for 7 and the 1st down. Ball at the Texan 33. 8:04 left in the game.

Foster for 2.

Dumpoff to Casey goes for nice gainer. Ball at the Texan 47.

Foster goes left side for 19.

Forsett for 1. 4:51 left in the game.

Forsett sweep right for 4. Timeout....

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On 3rd and 5, Foster goes nowhere. Bills use their final timeout.

Texans going for it on 4th and 6..... deep pass to AJ in the endzone too long, inc. Bills takeover on downs at their 30.

Fitz's deep pass almost INT'ed but inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Pass to Jackson goes for 5. 3rd and 5 coming up.

Pass to Martin is broken up by Ball, inc. Bills to go for it on 4th down....

Pass to Chandler goes for nice gainer to around midfield.

Pass to the sideline to Jones is inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Fitz scrambles for 11.

Fitz scrambles and has the ball knocked loose by Mercilus - ball is recovered by Demps! Texans ball!

Forsett loses 1.

Forsett for 6. 3rd and 5 coming up.

2 minute warning.

Forsett caught in the backfield for loss of 4. 4th and 9 coming up. Texans call timeout with 1:15 left in the game. Texans punting....

Ball makes the tackle on the punt returner at the Bills 22. Bills ball.

Fitz dumps off to Spiller for gain of 6. 58 seconds left in the game.

Pass complete to TJ Graham for 4 and the 1st down.

Dumpoff to Spiller goes for 13. 25 seconds left in the game.

Flags presnap. False start Bills -5. 1st and 15 coming up.

Fitz is sacked by Mercilus! Time runs out!

Final score:

Texans 21, Bills 9

Not pretty but it'll do.....

The second half was a little better with a lot less penalties.

Mercilus had two impact plays with a forced fumble recovered by Demps and then a sack.

Nice to see AJ have over 100 yds receiving.

Next Sunday night at Chicago will be a good test with two 7-1 teams.

Watched this from Sam's Boat and wasn't typing but a very meh sort of game. Defense took a fairly explosive team and kept them out of the end zone the entire game. The offense committed no turnovers. We had some players dinged up during the game but the subs came in and played well.

Once Aaron Williams (former Longhorn) got hurt covering AJ, it was clear that Schaub could find AJ whenever he wanted to. Still, I didn't understand passing up a 47-yd FG try with a 12-pt. lead to try the deep ball to AJ on fourth down. Unless Graham was hurt (his KOs are lacking distance), it didn't make sense.

Special teams are still scary. Incidentally, Trindon Holliday had a 105-yd KO return for a TD in the Broncos win. Holliday still hasn't been on a losing team all season.

The Bears sure are looking tough so the Texans will need to be at the top of their game next week.