Upcoming playoff game with Ravens 1/15/2012

[NBT]

Sooooo...both teams rely on their defense stopping the run. The emphasis then swings to the QB/WRs/TEs. Ravens advantage with Flucco. Texans advantage with Dre. Young Yates is going to have to mature in a hurry in the passing game if we are to win Sunday.

For us then, the secondary is going to have to step up, and Barwin-Reed are going to have to get after Flucco. Cushing and Ryans will have to plug up the run holes.

Right now 35-40% chance seems to be about right.

If Kubiak can work real hard with the kid, and Dre, OD, and Dreesen and Casey can have huge games we can win. I just don't have that much confidence in Jacobe Jones and Walter.

[edo783]

Don't be surprised if we play a bit loosey goosey and let the ball fly more than one might normally expect. Get the defense backing up a bit and then the ground pounders can likely get going better than they did in game one.

[painekiller]

I like our chances. I think we upset the Ravens and then Denver has to come to Houston for the Championship.

[angrydre]

coming into the Cincy game, my gut said we rout the Bengals and lose in Baltimore. I don't know if it was the game we played on Saturday, the lingering excitement from being in the building, or if I'm really onto something, but if you pressed me right now, I'm taking the Texans by 4.

These 2 teams are so much the same it's ridiculous, with QB's you're not sure your can count on on Sunday (just 'cause Yates is a rook. I believe in the kid in general), great defenses, and 2 of the top 5 running backs in the NFL, good TE's, the list goes on. Yet I think we're gonna pull it out, and here's why (remember that we hung in for 55 minutes the first time, without Dre, and with Foster playing like trash. Hit the damn bong, kid!):

Andre Johnson. It can't be emphasized enough, his impact just being on the field. He had a solid day Saturday, with his 5 for 90 and a touch, but Megatron lapped him with his 12 for 211 and 2. I expect Angry Dre to make a statement.

Johnathan Joseph. Anquan Bolden caught 8 for 132 last time. Considering how well he kept AJ Green in check on Saturday after getting lit up a bit the first time, I expect him to bring the pain.

Arian Foster. He played like trash the first time. 15 for 49?!? THAT won't happen again. I expect him to break at least one for 40+. Am I getting carried away already?

Our defense is just as good as theirs. Anyone who thinks we're gonna sputter while they have a banner day is smoking some REALLY quality shizzle. Put down the pipe. This defense is gonna be hungry.

Our running game is better than theirs. Yeah, Ray Rice is awesome, and he's got Vonta Leach leading the way, so you can call Ray and Arian a wash, but Ben Tate > Ricky Williams, and THAT isn't close.

We're gonna have to stretch the field and work the middle in the passing game to keep everyone honest and really open up the run, but if I know that, Kubiak knows that.

And then there's the other stuff. I've just had a feeling, since the injuries started piling up, that this year is just special. AFC Championship, that's what my gut said.

The Ravens could EASILY be looking forward to New England, satisfied with the way they won the first time, Our first time in the divisional round, with a 5th round rookie QB, the Ravens are SUPPOSED to win. I've seen the line as high as Ravens -9. If I wasn't nearly destitute thanks to my jaunt to Houston for the game last week, I'd be all over that.

Besides, we're just DUE to beat Baltimore. Doesn't it feel like we play them every year, and every time we find a way to lose. This is a year of firsts and getting over the hump. I think we've got a little magic left.

All that combines for a win by less than a TD. For the first time in my life, I'll be rooting for Tim Tebow, HARD. A home AFC Championship game would really be the best thing for everyone, my girlfriend included. Not only do I get really sad when we lose, but playoff victories make for some good lovin', am I right, boys?

[cadams]

game time temp is supposed to be a balmy 36 degrees

[HPF Bob]

I hope there are still a few who remember that overtime loss at Reliant that symbolized that crappy 6-10 season we had last year and will want some payback on the Ravens.

Logic won't tell you we can beat the Ravens but momentum might. Saturday's win showed how hungry they are and I can see them sustaining that with a few breaks. Teams coming off bye weeks can be a crapshoot. When you get right down to it, the only TD drive the Bengals got was mostly on a pass interference call against Quin. If the Texans can limit mistakes, they have a chance.

[popanot]

I'm amazed at how so many of the media 'experts' feel the Ravens are so dominant. I don't see it. Looking at their W' and L's this year, they were in a lot of close games and it's not like their D didn't give up points and totally dominated the opponent. I know it's not the best barometer, but they were in some close games with a few common opponents that we beat pretty handily. They also had a few losses to inferior opponents like we did against the Colts.

I give the Texans a great shot at beating these guys and I hope they use the lack of respect to their advantage. You watch ESPN and NFLN and there is virtually no mention of the Texans. Go to the NFL.com website and see if you can find a Texans article anywhere on the main page. I watched NFLN last night and they had news articles and stories on every playoff team except the Texans. Amazing. This team was one of the best teams throughout the whole year and it's like they're nothing but fodder for the Ravens.

[cadams]

there is a simple reason for this. the texans are on their third qb this year, and they went on a 3 game losing streak at the end of the regular season. it makes sense that a lot of people will just look at those two things to make their assesment. i think flacco is way overrated, but he has won playoff games in the past, and he has had some big passing games.

yates has almost no history, and most of it has been without andre johnson. had johnson been healthy the last half of the year and played in all the games with yates it is likely that there would be a bit of a different perspective by a lot of people. also, even though these guys get paid to follow football, most of them only know that the texans (with schaub) lost by 15 to the ravens earlier in the year. they don't realize that it was a 5 point game with less than 5 minutes left in the game.

but still, the big factor is no schaub and yates was not even dresses for a game this year until week 11. that is why they don't think the texans have a shot. i am not amazed at all that most of the media has not done their homework on this, but the reality is that while i think the texans have a legitimate shot at winning this game, i still think balt has the advantage and should be about a 6 point favorite.

[Joshua]

Originally Posted by angrydre

These 2 teams are so much the same it's ridiculous, with QB's you're not sure your can count on on Sunday (just 'cause Yates is a rook. I believe in the kid in general), great defenses, and 2 of the top 5 running backs in the NFL, good TE's, the list goes on.

What's most amazing to me is that I agree with this statement. Just one year ago, I don't think there was any team in the league we were less like than Baltimore. In fact, in years past, I made many comments after watching Pittsburgh and Baltimore battle in the playoffs that it wasn't even clear the Texans were playing the same sport. It's astounding the leaps and bounds they have made this year in both play and attitude (although these are not unrelated).