Texans vs. Patriots Pre-Game Discussion

[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?

[barrett]

Originally Posted by Arky

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?

We definitely aren't a good run blocking team, but Miller tries to bounce everything. He created multiple negative runs the other day by trying to bounce. We run blocked much better when Grimes took the ball and got up field.

[Arky]

Originally Posted by barrett

We definitely aren't a good run blocking team, but Miller tries to bounce everything. He created multiple negative runs the other day by trying to bounce. We run blocked much better when Grimes took the ball and got up field.

So, with our OL, would you start Grimes ahead of Miller?

See, this is one of my gripes with our coaching staff. It's like they're oblivious to what's working sometimes. Case in point: Akeem Hunt. To say Hunt has been used sparingly is an understatement. He's been stopped a few times (which is quite normal) but more than once, he comes in, rips off a 16-19 yarder or catches a screen for a similar gain and then it's "back to the bench with you, young man". What are they saving him for? Use him!

Blue, Grimes and Hunt should all be getting at least 5 touches/game, IMO. Mix it up and take a load off L Miller while you're doing it....