Official Texans @ Patriots Game Thread, 12/10/2012

[barrett]

I don't think the best teams are in the NFC at all. I think the 5 best teams are the Giants, Patriots, Packers, Texans, and Broncos (in some order). The NFC might be better at the bottom and that explains the winning percentage, but outside of those 2 teams there is not much in that conference. The Cowboys are in position to win either a division or the wildcard and they are trash. Shanahan said I give up on this year, and is in the same spot 6 weeks later.

As for last night, we got killed. And it is never a good thing to lose no matter what. We were not ready to play early. We were terrible on offense all night (embarrasingly so). And I don't know that I could reasonably disagree with Chuck that the Pats are better than us on every possible key organizational level (ownership, Coach, QB, scheme). The only possible edge we have against them is GM. That and we will play at home next time.

Before the game I would have given us slightly less than 50/50 odds against them in a home playoff game. Last night doesn't really mean much (the Patriots beat up on the Giants before one of their superbowls. They also curb stomped Arizona in like week 15 a few years ago before going out early while Arizona went to the superbowl). The one and done nature of the NFL playoffs means it is all about being healthy, happy, and better on that day. We are not better than NE but we are definitely good enough to have a chance to be better on that day (especially if it's in Reliant).

[popanot]

These guys better wake up next week or that noose is going to tighten significantly. They do not want to go into that Indy road game with the division on the line.

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by popanot

These guys better wake up next week or that noose is going to tighten significantly. They do not want to go into that Indy road game with the division on the line.

Where's all of those guys now who said sweeping Indy would be a slam-dunk ?

[HPF Bob]

I haven't watched much of Indy but they seem to have a knack of winning ugly. That's a bit scary but also a bit comforting. The Patriots embarrassed Indy just as much as they did us.

I'm just hoping this game is what the Texans needed to refocus them on the final three games and the playoffs. If they can hold the #1 seed, I still see them hosting the AFCCG. We've obviously been resting Foster and I think they can still gameplan as well as anyone but New England. Getting the defense healthy and focused is the primary challenge left.