Official Texans @ Colts Game Thread, 11/1/2010

Arky · #1 10-27-2010, 01:46 AM

The Texans travel to Indianapolis this weekend to do battle with the Colts on a Monday nighter. Big AFC South matchup with the winner to get excellent position for the stretch run. Both teams have lost players to injury for the season so both teams will be using backup players in key positions. This will be the Texans first opportunity in their 8.5 year existence to sweep the Colts. It is also Coach Gary Kubiak's 3rd opportunity this year to take his career record (35-35) to over .500 for the first time. Is the 3rd time the charm?

TV: ESPN, Monday 7:30 CST

Announcers: Gruden/Tirico/Jaworski

Opening line: Colts by 6
Current line = Colts by 5.5 to 7

Walterfootball.com projects the Texans to cover the spread.

cland · #2 10-27-2010, 02:06 AM

I think this game will be all about the turnovers, if we can go +1 or +2, we'll have a pretty good shot. The offense has to start hot. If we can get a 7-10 point lead through the air, the Texans will go right back to the Foster/Ward running game to wear the Colts defense down and burn time off the clock.

I expect the defense to again force/allow the short pass. I hope our defense can get week 1 pressure again, but if nothing else we need to tip a few three-step-drop balls in the air and hope our Linebackers or Safeties can snag it.

The colts are a team designed to play with a lead. There won't be any Redskins/Chiefs late game comebacks against them.

cadams · #3 10-27-2010, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cland

I think this game will be all about the turnovers, if we can go +1 or +2, we'll have a pretty good shot. The offense has to start hot. If we can get a 7-10 point lead through the air, the Texans will go right back to the Foster/Ward running game to wear the Colts defense down and burn time off the clock.

I expect the defense to again force/allow the short pass. I hope our defense can get week 1 pressure again, but if nothing else we need to tip a few three-step-drop balls in the air and hope our Linebackers or Safeties can snag it.

The colts are a team designed to play with a lead. There won't be any Redskins/Chiefs late game comebacks against them.

after the way we ran all over them last game you want them to start the game through the air? i was actually joking with someone the other day that kubiak would probably start the game passing to "trick" them instead of seeing if they could run on the from start to finish this time.

HPF Bob · #4 10-27-2010, 09:38 AM

Whether they do it running, passing or by turnover, taking the lead and then chewing up the clock is critical. Keep Manning off the field as much as possible.

I'm hoping the Texans have designed some new wrinkles on defense to grab an early advantage. Schaub will have to be on his game and avoid the stupid INT that so often plagues his performances.

We should not be afraid to go to AJ and JJ with some OD that they didn't see in Week 1 but, at some point, we have to pound them with Foster and Ward just to see if they are capable of stopping it. If they aren't they may cheat up, in which case, they should be vulnerable to deep routes.

Someone on another board mentioned the "Super Bowl loser hex", which afflicts teams the year after reaching the Big One. Seems like the Saints got hit with this worse than the Colts.

NBT · #5 10-27-2010, 02:27 PM

Brown's first game back from the suspension, he is going to be a little rusty, and against Freeny this is not the game to be rusty. Chip on him a little with the TE or RB. I hope we can continue to run on them like we did in game one. That would make the pass blocking a lot easier for the OT's.

nunusguy · #6 10-30-2010, 03:11 PM

I definitely don't expect us to win this game, but no matter because I'm satisfied to finally split with Manning. Maybe we can notch our 5th win a week from tomorrow in Reliant vs the Chargers, but that sure won't be easy either.
Monday will give us an opportunity to see what our modified defense looks like, specifically with the absense of DeMeco and Cushing replacing him in the middle and maybe we'll see more of our rookie DTs including just activated Malcolm Sheppard ? We should get a feel if this defense can play well enough to keep us competitive in most of the rest of this seasons games ?