Official Texans @ Jaguars Game Thread, 12/17/2017
 

The 4-9 Houston Texans travel to Jacksonville this Sunday to play the division leading 9-4 Jaguars in an early game this Sunday. The Texans are coming off a 26-16 home loss to the San Francisco 49ers and the Jags are coming off a 30-24 home win over the Seattle Seahawks. The Jags are 6-1 in their last seven games.

If the Texans can keep the turnovers, penalties and injuries down, they can possibly make it a close game.

Note: Two Saturday games on NFLN this weekend.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

TV = FOX (channel 26 local), noon CST Sunday, December 17, 2017

Announcers = Chris Myers, Daryl Johnston

The line = Jags by 11½ to 13

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Saturday viewing:

NFLN (late) = Chicago @ Detroit, 3:30 CT, Mike Tirico, Kurt Warner

NFLN (night) = LA Chargers @ Kansas City 7:25 CT, Greg Gumbel, Trent Green

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Other Sunday viewing in the Houston area:

CBS (early) = NY Jets @ New Orleans, Kevin Harlan, Rich Gannon

CBS (late) = New England @ Pittsburgh, Jim Nantz, Tony Romo

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Prime time:

TNF = Denver @ Indianapolis (NBC/NFLN)

SNF = Dallas @ Oakland (NBC)

MNF = Atlanta @ Tampa Bay (ESPN)

TJ Yates to start vs. Jags

So I'm getting pretty excited about this game tomorrow, even tossed down an extra IPA to put myself into the proper game mood.
So you know the Chuckster is cranked about tomorows big game vs the Jags since he's probably already out there celebrating the baby Jesus so I expect him to be cranked and oiled up for the Jags game.
What kind of chances do the Texans have ? Not to be immodest here but a few weeks ago I called it on our game vs the Cards but I'm not gonna lie here - winning this weekend is a long-shot but I'm giving the Texans a punchers chance.

So tickled to be in your thoughts, nunu. My MIL is in town and one of the benefits of that situation is the ability to go out with my wife, which I am now preparing to do. Actually, she is the one preparing. I am prepared. I do believe I will have an IPA also. There's a brewpub right around the corner called la Rana Dorada (golden frog) that brews and serves a perfectly fine IPA. There is a local brewery called Casa Bruja that brews an IPA called Chivoperro that I don't especially love, but they make a pale ale called Chitra which may very well be my favorite beer on the planet. They also make a Gose style beer called Frambuesa that is sour and salty that is surprisingly good. I don't know where to find Chitra on tap outside of the Casa Bruja brewery bar.

I have said this before, but Jacksonville is an excellent place to see a game. There are usually plenty of Texans fans on hand, and since the stadium was renovated it is a perfectly nice place to visit. If you stay downtown, and I have no idea where else you'd stay, you can walk to the stadium. And there's more going on in downtown than you might imagine. It surprises me how good a time I always have there. If you guys are looking into a future road trip, you could do worse, especially if they're playing in December and not September.

Our guys are going to get their asses kicked tomorrow, but who cares?

You've traveled to Texans' road games ? You are more of a Texans' fan than I imagined.
I haven't even been to a game here in town for years. Why bother when the seats are free for everyone including friends and family at home. No hassle in driving to the game or returning to home after its' over.
Plenty of beverages and snacks just feet away from the comfy chair in the
living/family room in the nearby fridge.

Jags win the toss and defer. Texans to receive.

The opening kickoff is a touchback. Texan's ball at their 25.

-------------------------------------------------------

Yates throws inc. to the flat. 2nd and 10 coming up.

L Miller for 1.

On 3rd and 9, flags presnap. False start on Hop, -5.

Checkdown to Prosch only gets a few but a flag is down... personal foul on the Texans is declined. Texans to punt.

Punt is brought back to about the Jag 28 but holding on the Jags backs it up. Ball placed at the Jag 19. Jag's ball.

13:36 left in the 1st qtr.

Jags try a run, holding on the Jags is declined. Makes it 2nd and 10 coming up.

Ivory for 4.

On 3rd and 6, pass to Cole is broken up, inc. Jags have to punt.

Fair catch of the punt at the Texan 29. Texan's ball.

12:15 left in the 1st qtr.

Direct snap to Blue gets 4.

Yates' pass goes to no one, inc.

On 3rd and 6, Yates is sacked. Loss of 8. Texans to punt.

Jags bring the punt back to their 22. Jags ball.

10:44 left in the 1st qtr.

Pass to Lewis gets 9.

Pass to O'Shaughnessy gets 15 and the 1st down.

Ivory for 4, ball at midfield.

Pass to Westbrook gets 7 and the 1st down.

Ivory for 3.

Checkdown to Yeldon gets 8 and the 1st down. Ball at the Texan 32.

Pass to Lewis along the sideline gets 9.

Ivory for about 8 and the 1st down. Ball at the Texan 15. A Jag (M Lee) injured on the play. Injury timeout.

Bortles pressured, can't find a receiver and rolls out and throws it away, inc.

Ivory sweeps left and loses 1. 3rd and 11 coming up.

Pass to Mickens in the end zone goes inc but a flag is down.....PI on K Johnson gives the Jags an auto 1st down at the Texan 3. 1st and goal.

Ivory for 2. Clowney shaken up on the play. Ball at the 1, 2nd and goal.

Ivory stopped for no gain. Makes it 3rd and goal.

Handoff to Bohanon is good for the TD.

Flag on the extra point...2 fouls on the Texans, illegal formation is declined, 12 men on the field will be enforced on the ensuing kickoff.

Jags 7, Texans 0

3:52 left in the 1st qtr.

I've traveled to preseason road games, dude. I don't think I've made any secret of this. And I was an original season ticket holder.

My ardor has cooled somewhat over time.

The ensuing kickoff is a touchback. Texan's ball at their 25.

------------------------------------------------------

L Miller shuffles his way for 11.

L Miller for 3.

Pass to Hop running down the sideline is complete but out of bounds, so inc.

On 3rd and 7, Yates is sacked, fumbles, but the Texans recover it. Texans will have to punt after the loss of 10.

Punt is brought back for a nice gain but Mickens fumbles it and the Jags fall on it. OB challenging that the Mickens stepped out of bounds earlier in the play....

Play is overturned. Ball is placed at the Jag 41. Jag's ball.

1:44 left in the 1st qtr.

Ivory for 2.

Pass to Cole goes all the way to the Texan 15.

Ivory for 5.

End of the 1st qtr.

----------------------------------------------------

On 2nd and 5 at the Texan 10, Bortles is pressured by Clowney and throws it away, inc.

Pass into the end zone goes inc but holding on Gilchrist gives the Jags a 1st down at the 5.

Pass to Mickens goes for the TD.

During the extra point, flag on the Texans (Watkins) for unsportsmanlike conduct, will be assessed on the kickoff.

Jags 14, Texans 0

14:45 left in the half.

The ensuing kickoff is danced back all the way to the Texan 10, nice return Thompson...

--------------------------------------------------------

Blue for 6.

Blue for maybe 1.

On 3rd and 2, Yates is stripped and the Jags pick it up and score, however, play is under review.....

Refs rule incomplete pass. Texans will have to punt on 4th and 2.

Punt goes out of bounds at the Jag 37. Jag's ball.

13:18 left in the half.

Pass to Cole gets 11.

Ivory for about 2.

Pass to Cole goes for big gain, flag at the end on JJo for horse collar tackle. Ball at the Texan 18.

Yeldon for 4.

Bortles can't find a receiver and scrambles for no gain.

On 3rd and 6, pass to Mickens goes for the TD.

Jags 21, Texans 0

10:12 left in the half.

Yates = 1/5, 3 yards, 2 sacks, 39.6 passer rating

Bortles = 10/13, 137 yards, 2 TDs, 149.7 passer rating

1st downs = Texans 1, Jags 13

-------------------------------------------------------

The ensuing kickoff is a touchback. Texan's ball at their 25.

-------------------------------------------------------

Pass to Hop gets 10.

L Miller for 4.

Direct snap to Blue gets 7 and the 1st down.

Pass to Fuller gets 15. Nice catch.

L Miller for maybe 2.

Quick pass to Fuller gets 3.

On 3rd and 5, flags presnap, false start on Allen. Makes it 3rd and 10.

Yates pressured, throws inc. Texans to punt.

Punt is fair caught at the Jag 8 yard line. Jag's ball.

6:02 left in the half.

Texans = 0/5 on 3rd down

------------------------------------------------

Ivory for 2.

Pass to Cole goes for 31.

Flags presnap, false start on the Jags, -5. 1st and 15 coming up.

Ivory spins for 7.

Bortles checks down to Cole for 2 or 3. Brings up 3rd and 5.

Pass to the TE goes for no gain. Jags have to punt.

Fuller fair catches the punt at the Texan 20. Texan's ball.

2:56 left in the half.

Pass to Hop behind him, inc.

L Miller for 1. 3rd and 9 coming up.

Check down to L Miller goes for no gain but a flag is down.....illegal hands to the face on the Texans is declined. Texans to punt.

2 minute warning.

-------------------------------------------------------

Punt is brought back to the Jag 41. Jag's ball. Unsportsmanlike on Lechler. Ball ends up at the Texan 45.

Bortles pass sails inc.

Pass to Westbrook gets 14.

Bortles uses a timeout with 1:39 left in the half. Ball at the Texan 31.

Bortles pass to the TE goes inc.

On 2nd and 10, screen to Yeldon goes for a 1st down at the Texan 20.

Pass to Mickens is inc.

Bortles pressured, throws inc. 3rd and 10 coming up.

Bortles pressured, throws it away. Jags going for the FG.

Lambo's 38-yarder is good.

Jags 24, Texans 0

53 seconds left in the half.

The ensuing kickoff is a touchback. Texan's ball at their 25.

-------------------------------------------------------

Pass to Anderson is broken up, inc.

Yates can't find a receiver and throws it away, inc.

Yates' pass is INT'ed at the sideline by Church. Jag's ball at the Texan 45.

37 seconds left in the half.

The bad part about this is the fact that OBrien is gonna get the brunt of the blame while these corners and safeties will walk right back on this field next year without any accountability.

Pass to Mickens goes all the way to the Texan 4. 1st and goal.

Delay of game on the Jags backs it up 5.

Pass to Cole in the end zone goes for the TD but a flag is down. Roughing the passer on Clowney will be enforced on the kickoff.

Jags 31, Texans 0

26 seconds left in the half.

L Miller for about 4.

Halftime.

Jags 31, Texans 0

----------------------------------------------

I'm gonna take the rest of the day off. This game is pretty much over.

Please post whatever comments you wish....

You're right. The corners aren't even playing. They've totally given up.

You'd think that this is the last we'll see of these OTs. Allen may be the worst starter I have ever seen. But with the Godfather in control you never know.

Why the hell was this game on Fox, by the way?

Not since the earliest days of the franchise back when David Carr was under center can I remember games as tough to watch as this one for Texans fans.

I think it has something to do with the flex-scheduling that happens this time of year. From wiki:

Clears it right up, no?

I don't normally get too perturbed when the Texans lose but this was pretty dang perturbing....

When your roster is decimated with injuries and lacks depth because your GM is an idiot, the silver lining is you get to tank for a draft pick. Draft pick tanking makes the team quitting much more acceptable because you figure the coaches don't mind.

But when your team has traded away the top of it's draft and has no incentive to tank, the quitting becomes more disgusting because you know the coaching staff was actually trying to win and just got tuned out by the players. So much for Mike Vrabel Defensive Coordinator. Maybe some team will take him as a HC because he looks the part and we can go back to Crennell next year.

Early line has the pissed off Steelers coming to town an 11 pt favorite next Monday (Xmas day).

Team has been in quit mode since around the Ravens or Titans second halves. Not sure this is fully O'Brien's fault, but if McNair or Smith wanted him gone, they can point to the team's effort down the stretch.
The secondary is mostly healthy, so the lack of pass rush is exposing them, especially in man coverage, which Vrabel seems to love. Not sure if this is just a learning curve for Vrabel as DC, but if so, I thought Crennel would be around enough to keep a season like this defensively from happening.

I realize the OL has been a season-long issue, but Jeff Allen at LT was a predictable disaster. And he left with a concussion.

And the line immediately improved and had fewer penalties.

They're going to fire BOB, obviously, and bring in some young, churchgoing dumbass while BOB will have his pick of jobs and take his new team directly to the playoffs while Ned Flanders ruins Deshaun.

Coaching in the NFL is hard and not that many guys can do it well. Coaching a mobile QB in the NFL is even harder and takes a flexibility that does not often go with the other skills of a successful NFL head coach. Very few guys in the history of the NFL have designed an NFL offense that appeared to maximize the skills of a mobile QB.

If the Texans let O'Brien leave after he proved he could get the most out of Watson I will simply stop watching NFL football forever.

I certainly have no idea what McNair is gonna do with the coach & GM after the season is over, but if O'Briens team loses as badly Christmas day in front of a national TV audience as they did today in FLA I doubt that MCNair keeps him around any longer.

So if bad losses on national TV make firing the coach an unavoidable step than what do those same losses do for the GM that oversaw those losses?

I've got my issues with BOB and I'm sure you do, too, but we all saw how BOB radically, I mean, RADICALLY altered the offense for Deshaun, and we all saw the results. If these idiots run him off and keep Slick Rick around, well, they deserve all they get.

But that's what they're going to do, and I suspect you know it. You know, Sundays are nice days to go to the park.

They either have to fire BOB or extend him. McNeck isn't the sort of person to possess the vision to extend a head coach after a 4-12 season.

Although he did extend Slick Rick for the OUTSTANDING work of signing Brock 0 to a 900 million dollar contract before B0 had ever fumbled a snap, and they do have an OUTSTANDING history of extending players right after or, better, during a significant injury. So I guess you really never know.

TJ was terrible. 13 targets to Hop for just 4 catches. Hop still managed 80 yards and a TD to remain in 2nd place in receiving yards (1313 for the year). Antonio Brown leads with 1533.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

I'm just not feeling it anymore with L Miller. When was the last time he had a big play? I'm finding his timid, shuffling running style increasingly off-putting. He was 9/32 for a 3.6 avg. OTOH, Blue was 12/55 for a 4.6 avg. L Miller can be replaced. Easily.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

B Ellington was sorely missed. Along with about a dozen others....

----------------------------------------------------------------------

I think they'll keep OB. McNair, I believe, realizes the injury situation...

I'm only taking a shot at what McNair will do with Obrien in the event of another humiliating loss in front of the whole world but this time on the baby Jeuss BD.
OK but on RS, I think the relationship McNair has with his GM is far too complicated for us outsiders to figure out and threfor know what the future holds for Rick Smith here in Houston.
So Barrett what is your view on whether or not to retain the HC & GM beyond the 2017 season ?

I been meaning to ask, what's with the "Neck" reference that you use from time to time in an obviously disparaging manner ?

And Rick Smith ?

Safer than OB.

They all get a pass, even Vrabel, IMO....

Somebody might fall, though, maybe Izzo....