I'm optimistic to the point where I think this could be a one possession game very, very late. And that's where I get pessimistic. There's been very little to make me think that O'Brien is going to out-strategize Belichick in both game and clock management in the latter half of the fourth quarter.
The Texans are going to have to get out of their comfort zones to make this upset happen... yes, limiting Osweiler turnovers is important, but that does not mean a run-run-pass-punt offensive approach. Hop will be double-teamed, so read the options and don't force the throws.
And on defense, they will need to blitz the A gaps, not just rely on Clowney and Mercilus to come from the edges. They cannot keep giving these cushions to the Pats receiver as Brady will eat them up in small bites all game.
And rookie returners on special teams is usually a bad idea (Ervin), but maybe give one of them (Fuller) a shot again on punt returns.
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