Texans vs. Patriots Pre-Game Discussion

[chuck]

Let's go to NE and give those mofos a game.

[Arky]

Originally Posted by chuck

Let's go to NE and give those mofos a game.

Eheh, can't wait to see the spread..... 10 pts? 12 pts?....

Patriots play such clinical football... gonna be a tough one....

OB better not try the we're-tougher-than-you strategy, again....

[popanot]

Originally Posted by chuck

Let's go to NE and give those mofos a game.

Break out the varsity jackets!!

[nunusguy]

Getting to play this inept rookie QB in the play offs was a gift from the football gods but now it's time to play a real game which probably means going to NE for the divisional round.
If anybody knows you can't beat Brady with FGs that should be O'Brien so maybe they will let the Texans open up their offense for better or worse to score some TDs for the game in Foxburro.

[barrett]

Originally Posted by nunusguy

Getting to play this inept rookie QB in the play offs was a gift from the football gods but now it's time to play a real game which probably means going to NE for the divisional round.
If anybody knows you can't beat Brady with FGs that should be O'Brien so maybe they will let the Texans open up their offense for better or worse to score some TDs for the game in Foxburro.

I see it opposite. How many playoff shootouts have the Patriots lost? When the Pats go down, it is in a defensive struggle, and it has everything to do with guys hitting Brady. If we don't get to him we lose by 30. If we do, we might get lucky. Either way, we aren't winning this game by opening up the playbook and winning a shootout.

[chuck]

Originally Posted by barrett

Either way, we aren't winning this game by opening up the playbook and winning a shootout.

Exactly. The Texans have to knock the shit out of Brady, win the TO battle, maybe score off of one, maybe get a ST score (quit laughing), and run the ball effectively. Don't turn the ball over. It's not rocket science.

I assume they'll lose by 30 but the Patriots are not unbeatable. You just have to play better than they do. Their quarterback is going to play better than our quarterback. Everyone else is going to have to step tf up.

[Arky]

Haha!

Patriots favored by 16 over Houston.

So, if the game was in Houston, it would be roughly Pats by 10 which is still a bunch.... Just no respect for a playoff team - but it could indeed be a blowout ....

[Keith]

Originally Posted by Arky

Haha!

Patriots favored by 16 over Houston.

So it will be interesting to see where the money goes here late. This smells like an over-reaction to the regular season game outcome when Brady was still suspended. Sure the Texans could get blown out again, but even a backdoor cover here seems too good to pass up.

The worse the weather the better for the Texans imo Anything to help level the playing field. The Texans defense isn't allowing 4 TDs to anyone.

[Arky]

Originally Posted by Keith

.......Sure the Texans could get blown out again, but even a backdoor cover here seems too good to pass up......

Ya, that's kind of where I'm at. Just too many points to pass up. Texans outright (money line = +1000) is least probable but pays handsomely.... $100 bet returns $1000 if the Texans win. Betting the big dogs, though, can leave you crying...

In the betting forums, I'm seeing overwhelming Patriots support:

The Pats beat the Texans 27-0 with Jacoby Brissett, The Texans can't score.

This will be a 24-31 point game, The Texans feast on turnovers and short fields to score their very few points, Brady never turns the ball over.

Brock turns the ball over a bunch, That spread could be behind after the first quarter.

No chance. Not with brock

Texans lost to the 3rd stringer already and got shut out.

Although a few like the Texans and the points:

I would take the points. Texans D looks real good.

Still a shit ton of points for a playoff game and Jadeveon is a beast. Few weird bounces and a prevent defense late can bust up a 16 point spread pretty easily.

And then you got your NFL conspiracy theories:

Why would the NFL want the Texans to go to the next round and not New England?

Clearly you could tell in all 4 games this past weekend who the NFL wanted. Crazy that these 10 win teams couldn't do dik with the ball the entire game.

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Frankly, I don't see the Patriots having a markedly greater talent level. I think our athletes can match up with any teams athletes. Yep, we're weak at QB and OL. But I think the biggest difference is with the head coach/coaching. Now, I like OB OK and think he will eventually become a very good HC but right now, Belichick is light years ahead of him.... If he (OB) puckers up or plays scared, it'll be the like the first game all over again....

[barrett]

Originally Posted by Arky

Frankly, I don't see the Patriots having a markedly greater talent level. I think our athletes can match up with any teams athletes. Yep, we're weak at QB and OL. But I think the biggest difference is with the head coach/coaching. Now, I like OB OK and think he will eventually become a very good HC but right now, Belichick is light years ahead of him.... If he (OB) puckers up or plays scared, it'll be the like the first game all over again....

I don't think we're that bad at OL. Brock's biggest issues are with the blitz, so he gets blitzed a lot and doesn't recognize it well. When he did a better job this past week of recognizing it, we shutout Khalil Mack and our QB was not even hit, let alone sacked. I think a good QB can make an OL look good and a bad one can make them look bad.

[Arky]

Originally Posted by barrett

I don't think we're that bad at OL. Brock's biggest issues are with the blitz, so he gets blitzed a lot and doesn't recognize it well. When he did a better job this past week of recognizing it, we shutout Khalil Mack and our QB was not even hit, let alone sacked. I think a good QB can make an OL look good and a bad one can make them look bad.

Well, you left out OL run blocking. Most recently, L Miller, 31/73, 2.4 avg. Take away Miller's long of 19 and it becomes a 1.8 avg. Brutal.

Who would you rather have, the Texans OL or the Pats OL? See what I mean?

[Arky]

Looks like gametime temp will be in the low 30's in Foxboro. Freezing. The Texans didn't do so well in Green Bay but hopefully they learned a few things about playing in cold weather...

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How many punts/kickoffs has Tyler Ervin muffed this year? Dunno, but it seems like a bunch. If you aren't going to use Akeem Hunt in the offense, at least, let him handle the punt/kick return duties.....

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Capt. Obvious keys to the game:

The defense has got us this far and they will have to get it done on Saturday. Everytime Edelman catches a ball, he needs to be punished. Brady needs to feel the heat. Brady is experienced and tough enough (for a QB) to deal with pressure, but when the opportunities present themselves, the defense needs to make him pay.

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Patriot defense has gone somewhat under the radar. They're actually #1 in pts allowed/game with 15.6.

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L Miller is obviously OB's go-to guy but did anyone else notice how effective the fresh legs of Grimes were later in the game? Sometimes, it's like our coaching staff doesn't pick up on these things....