Official Texans vs. Broncos Game Thread, 12/8/2019

[Arky]

The 8-4 Houston Texans will be hosting the 4-8 Denver Broncos this Sunday in an early game. It will be Battle Red Day for the Texans who are coming off a 28-22 home victory over the New England Patriots on SNF. The Broncos are coming off a 23-20 home win over the San Angeles Chargers. The Broncos are expected to start rookie QB Drew Lock (Missouri) as he did a competent job vs. the Chargers. Von Miller's status (knee) for the game is up in the air.

I'm expecting a little bit of a let down from the Texans after the hard fought win over the Pats. I expect them to win but I don't think they will cover the 9½ pts.

Texans 24, Broncos 17

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TV = CBS (channel 11 local), Sunday, noon CST, 12/8/2019

Announcers = Kevin Harlan, Rich Gannon

The line = Texans by 9½ to 10½

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Other Sunday viewing in the Houston area:

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

FOX (late) = LA Chargers @ Jacksonville, Dick Stockton, Mark Schlereth

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Prime time:

TNF = Dallas @ Chicago (FOX/NFLN)

SNF = Seattle @ LA Rams (NBC)

MNF = NY Giants @ Philadelphia (ESPN)

[HPF Bob]

Texans won't cover. Denver lost four games this year in the final minute. They could easily be 8-4 as much as 4-8. Both teams are sloggers that keep the score close. When they win, it's by less than a TD. I think the Texans will win - they just won't cover.

[Arky]

Gametime!

Texans to receive the opening kickoff.

Texans get a couple of first downs but stall out just inside Bronco territory. Texans have to punt.

Broncos will start at their 8 yard line.

10:26 left in the 1st qtr.

Bengals (FG), Saints (TD) and Colts (TD) are the first on the on the board..............

[Arky]

Broncos drive right on down the field and Lock hits Fant for the 14-yard TD.

Broncos 7, Texans 0

7:27 left in the 1st qtr.

[Arky]

Coutee fumbles at the Bronco 29 and the Broncos pick up and score 67 yards later.

Broncos 14, Texans 0

3:33 left in the 1st qtr.

OK, that's enough. Time to get your head in the game, fellas....

[Arky]

1st qtr ends with the Broncos facing 3rd and 9 at their 21.

Still:

Broncos 14, Texans 0

[HPF Bob]

Saw two plays - Watson gets sacked and then Hopkins gets decleated. Need to settle down.

[Arky]

Broncos drive right on down the field again and Lock hits Heuerman for the 8 yard TD.

Broncos 21, Texans 0

11:24 left in the half.

Drew Lock - 9/11, 173 yards, 2 TD, 158.3 rating. Not bad for a little over a quarter of work...

Broncos 3/3 on 3rd downs.

[HPF Bob]

If you're looking for a silver lining, the Broncos jumped out to big leads recently against the Vikings and Chargers and were caught both times. A 21-pt. hole is pretty steep though. And the defense must still be having a Brady hangover.

[Arky]

Woohoo! Fairbairn is good from 54!

Broncos 21, Texans 3

8:49 left in the half.

[Arky]

Texan's defense finally gets a 3rd down stop.

McManus is good from 36 for a Bronco FG.

Denver 24, Texans 3

3:07 left in the half.

[Arky]

Texans go for it on 4th and 1 at their own 34 but the pass is tipped, incomplete.

Broncos take over on downs. Man, I'm running on the 3rd and 1 and 4th and 1..

Broncos now at the Texan 23 with 1:43 left in the half.

[Arky]

Lock hits Freeman on the 3 yard TD pass.

Broncos 31, Texans 3

37 seconds left in the 1st half.

The Texans have achieved a new level of pathetic...

[HPF Bob]

What's the over/under on f-bombs from O'Brien at halftime? After perhaps the most pivotal win in years, the Texans respond like this??? They aren't even in the same camera view as the Broncos crossing the goal lines.

[Arky]

Broncos take the 2nd half kickoff and have no problem driving it down the field. Lindsay gets the last yard on a run up the middle.

Broncos 38, Texans 3

9:15 left in the 3rd qtr.

[Arky]

Watson finds Hopkins for a 43 yard TD.

Broncos 38, Texans 10

7:36 left in the 3rd qtr.

[Arky]

Watson runs it in from 6.

Broncos 38, Texans 17

13:34 left in the game.

[Arky]

Watson runs it in from 3 with 25 seconds left in the game.

Broncos 38, Texans 24

[HPF Bob]

As awful a performance as it was, this game may not cost the Texans as much as it seems. KC seems likely to pass us for third in the AFC but, if Oakland can knock off Tennessee, we will still have the division lead and, even if that doesn't happen, it will still boil down to the head-to-heads in the final three weeks.

BTW, the Denver win prevented a division sweep by the Texans of the AFC West. Houston had previously beaten the Chargers, Chiefs and Raiders.

[Arky]

Once again, the Texans let a golden opportunity slip through their fingers. The Pats fall to the Chiefs. Had the Texans won, they would still be in the conversation for a bye. Not now - their slim chance just got microscopic.

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The Titans had a good 2nd half and beat the Raiders. Though they are both 8-5, the Texans are only ahead of them by their better (1 game) conference record.

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The radio guys were discussing something I mentioned earlier in the year in the Falcon's game thread - that you can't trust these guys. You can't count on them. One week they look like a good and promising team and the next week they are hot garbage. The lows are very disappointing and mind numbing. They make being a fan very tough..... I've been a fan of Houston sports for a long time and seen some pretty bad and disappointing products but for a team that is somehow 8-5, these guys are right up there...

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I send bad juju to the Central Michigan Chippewas, New England Patriots, Oakland Raiders and the New Orleans Saints. I send my thanks to the Appalachian State Mountaineers. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers get a reprieve for a being a push....