Official Texans @ Saints Game Thread, 9/9/19
 

The Texans kickoff their 2019 season this Monday night against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans. The Saints are strong favorites to win the NFCS division again this year. Likewise, with Indy QB Andrew Luck retiring, the Texans are now the favorite to win the AFCS division. Saints vs. Texans games are usually pretty physical so both teams conditioning should be tested.

The Texans vs. Saints series is split at 2-2. The Texans won the last meeting between the two teams 24-6 on 11/29/2015 at Reliant. The Texans two wins came at home, the Saints two wins came at their home.

I don't give the Texans much of a chance here, not even to cover the 7 pts as they waited until the last minute to make major tweaks to their roster. Surprise me, fellas.

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TV = ESPN, 6:10 pm CST, Monday, Sept 9, 2019.

Announcers = (probable) Joe Tessitore, Booger McFarland (talk to me Booger!), Lisa Salters (sideline)

The line = Saints by 7 to 7½

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Other Sunday viewing in the Houston area:

CBS (early) = Kansas City @ Jacksonville, Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts

FOX (early) = Washington @ Philadelphia, Kevin Burkhardt, Charles Davis

FOX (late) = NY Giants @ Dallas, Joe Buck, Troy Aikman

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Prime time:

TNF = Green Bay @ Chicago (NBC)

SNF = Pittsburgh @ New England (NBC)

MNF (late) = Denver @ Oakland (ESPN)

Thanks for the weekend game info for the Houston area Arky !
No I'm not too hopeful for a Texans win either but still looking forward to and excited about the start of the regular season with real NFL football.

Texans' record in domed away stadiums (lest some of you think NRG is a dome) is terrible. I can't see them getting their shift together in one week.

Considering they are 2-13 in Indy I am thinking the domed part doesn't matter as much as the being unable to win road games against Indy part.

My Dad is a huge Saints fan which causes me to give half a care about them.

You have to go back to 2013 to find a season where they won the first game. In the past 5 years, they have lost to the Falcons, Cards, Vikings, Raiders, and Bucs in week 1. They just seem to start off bad (sometimes losing week 2 as well) before running off a streak of 5-6 wins in a row.

This is the main reason I think the Texans have a better than average shot against NO.

2 out of the 3 handicappers in this video (4.5 minute TRT) think the Texans will at least cover the spread.

Also, in a cash pickem contest I am in, 65% or nearly 2 out of 3 are taking the Texans. So, I'd say John Q Public has a lot more optimistic view of the Texans than some of us.... It goes without saying that anything can happen on any given Sunday (or Monday). A tipped ball INT'ed, a fumble at the wrong time......&^^%#@ Penn State going deep with 3 minutes left in a blowout game....

Saints were in the NFL's final four last year. Has anything happened to them that would suggest they are not as good this year? Texans have never made a final four.

Depends on which final four you're talking about, chief.

Not talking about the draft here. The division round of the AFC playoffs is still their high-water mark, leading to a predictable evisceration in Foxboro or Baltimore.

Man, that was one dull SNF game last night (Pitt vs. NE). Pats looked like a machine, Big Ben looked like he has lost his touch. Gotta think the Texans vs. Saints will be a better show......

The Patriots have eviscerated us and the league for almost 2 decades.

Baltimore was a one score game.

Texans don't do much on the opening possession. Punt it away.

Saints do a little better, move it into Texan territory but have to punt. Carter fair catches at the Texan 10.

2 sacks on Watson so far. Pass-protection not so good. Texans punting it away.

Saints get the ball around midfield.

6:57 left in the 1st qtr.

Deshaun should get rid of the ball faster.

Saints driving toward the goal line and Mercilus gets a saving INT. Watt with the pressure on Brees. Texans ball at their own 5.

2:55 left in the 1st qtr.

Boom. Bombs away to Fuller for 54 yards.

Texans at the Saints 29. 2nd and 9 coming up.

End of the 1st qtr.

On 4th and short, Watson keeps around left end, runs for 20 and the TD!

Texans 7, Saints 0

14:13 left in the half.

Nice call.

Saints drive down and answer with a FG. Lutz good from 32.

Texans 7, Saints 3

9:22 left in the half.

Watson shaken up on the TD but looks ready to go....

Texans have driven down the field and are 1st and goal at the Saints 7 as the 2 minute warning is given.

Watson hits Dhop over the middle for the 2 yard TD!

Texans 14, Saints 3

1:47 left in the half.

Who are these guys?

Lutz taking a shot at a 56 yard FG before the half.

FG is no good.

Score remains:

Texans 14, Saints 3

Halftime.

So, is Genesis trying to get the gangsta luxury car market? Seems that way.

Very surprised the Texans have a halftime lead. Key plays were the Mercilous INT, the 21-yd TD by Watson (my lumbar region hurts for him), the def. holding call on 3rd down against NO and then the TD catch by D-Hop.

I'll be shocked if Texans pull this out. Saints look like they can move at will.

Saints move the ball quickly down the field and score on a Murray 30 yard run to start the second half.

Texans 14, Saints 10

12:51 left in the 3rd qtr.

The Texans answer right back! Nice drive culminating in a 16-yard TD pass to DHop!

Texans 21, Saints 10

8:20 left in the 3rd qtr.

Saints come right back with a long drive ending in a 8 yard TD pass to Hill.

Texans 21, Saints 17

2:39 left in the 3rd qtr.

Watson has a very deep ball INT'ed and Dhop gets flagged for unnecessary roughness on the tackle. Saints ball at the Texan 49.

1:48 left in the 3rd qtr.

Brees hits T Smith on the 14 yard TD reception. Saints take the lead.

Saints 24, Texans 21

14:55 left in the game.

Lutz makes good on 47-yarder.

Saints 27, Texans 21

50 seconds left in the game. Texans with no timeouts.

OMFG! 2 plays, 75 yards. TD Texans! Stills with the 37-yard catch.

Whoa, missed extra point is nullified by a roughing the kicker penalty.

2nd attempt is good. Texans take the lead.

LOL!

Texans 28, Saints 27

37 seconds left in the game.

Gotta keep the Saints outta FG position....

Jeez.

Lutz make the 58-yard FG as time expires.

Final score:

Saints 30, Texans 28

Well, it was an entertaining game.....

Same idiot Texans - give the receiver a 15-yd cushion when they need 7 yds to be in field goal range.

It is absolutely criminal what these fking idiots do with the great players they somehow stumble into.

Do TO, I should say.

This secondary is a new dimension of terrible.

*

Clowneys absence already evident with only Watt left to provide pressure on the QB who the Saints double-teamed all night long.

I've got no problem with the last drive. If you told me the Saints would reach the 41 on that last drive I'd take it 100 times out of 100. If you told me we'd give up a 58 yard FG try I'd take it every time. Drew Brees is going to move a team in that situation. We lost on a guy doing something he's never done in his life.

The bigger concern is the absolutely non-existent pass rush for 4 quarters. Too bad we couldn't have added a high level pass rusher to this team in the last week.

Or better yet don't give a high level pass rusher already on your roster away to another NFL team a week before the season starts.

They simply conceded 60-70 yards on the most important drive of the game. If you have no problem with that, well, I have nothing more to say about it.

This was a carbon copy of the loss last year in Philadelphia where we got a miracle TD in the final minute only to watch the defense piss away the game in the closing seconds.

Six sacks on Watson tonight when all was said and done - the most crucial blew right by Tunsil.

The Saints went from the 25 to the 41. That's 34 yards.

But don't let silly things like facts get in the way of your opinions.

That was a terrible one by Tunsil. I can't blame a guy who's been here 5 days but I can blame the Texans for making a trade 5 days before the season started when the same deal could have been made 5 months ago.

Yep. That's the one I was referring to.

Great, well, that doesn't seem so bad then.

Just kidding. You're still a caricature for thinking that it's ok. I put an asterisk in my post above so I could refer to it when you showed up and went full barrett. Which you did. Like you always do.

Watson really needs to have one of these type of games go his way. Pendergast pointed out on the radio last night that four times in Watson's 23 starts, he has given the team a 4th quarter lead only to have the defense blow the game. Seattle and New England in 2017, Philly last year and last night. McClain takes it deeper:

I suppose he will just have to be content with the fact that he did what he had to do and that he only can control what he can control....

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I'm liking what I'm seeing with the new running backs. Duke Johnson and Carlos Hyde were showing some moves not seen in these parts in a while. It's early but the future looks bright.

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That sound you heard in the late 4th quarter was all the Debbie Downer's heads exploding on social media when Watson engineered the 2-play 75 yard drive to take the lead. Yep, they (the Texans) eventually lost but what a beautiful mess....

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Next up is the Jags and the early line is Texans by 10.