Upcoming playoff game with Ravens 1/15/2012

[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.

[barrett]

The ravens were an average 4-4 on the road, and they had some Ws and Ls like us on the road. At home they were 8-0. We have some great Ws and Ls but are 4-3 since schaub went down. That is why the media is slanting so heavily to Baltimore.

We have a chance and I do hope the media fires us up. But I understand why the media has the ravens as a solid favorite.

[popanot]

I fully understand why the media feels the Ravens will win. And yes, a lot of it has to do with Yates, plus the fact they're playing at home. I don't have a problem with people picking the Ravens. However, listening to the pundits, it's like the Ravens are as dominant as they were back when they won the Super Bowl and we have NO chance. Of course they're good, but I don't see them as this ultimate dominating force. Maybe I'm wrong or seeing it through battle red-colored glasses, but I see a very beatable team overall.

As for media coverage, one would think the Yates story and the Texans overcoming all the injuries would be a great story. Even a story about Kubiak's turnaround or how the team changed this year. But no, we get regurgitated Brees, Packers, Tebow, Patriots, how much the Giants have overcome, yada, yada, yada. Nothing Texans... Not even something bad like how we've gone 4-3 since Schaub's been out.

I mean, it doesn't tick me off or anything. I just find it disappointing the team we root for, 1 of only 8 teams left standing, can't even get the slightest bit of media coverage, or IMO, respect (even on a NFL sponsored network). Like I said, I hope like hell the players find some extra motivation from it.

[HPF Bob]

We were in only one prime time game this year where we had the league's undivided attention and it was our worst game of the season. The wild card game may have restored some respect in some eyes but they could just as easily say that the Bengals backed into the playoffs and were ripe for the picking.

So, I understand the lack of respect but it doesn't bother me. It makes it all the easier to sneak up on people.

[WMH]

@willbrinson: O/U for passing yards by T.J. Yates is 200.5 per Bovada.