Official Texans vs. Browns Game Thread, 12/2/2018

[Arky]

Final score:

Texans 29, Browns 13

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Colts lose. Texans with a 3 game lead.

Just one offensive TD by the Texans but hard to argue with success.

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by Arky

Final score:

Texans 29, Browns 13

----------------------------------------

Colts lose. Texans with a 3 game lead.

Just one offensive TD by the Texans but hard to argue with success.

Exactly. Built up a commanding lead at the half, sat on the lead and ran the clock out in the second half.
Then the Jags shut out the Colts to leave the Texans with a 3 game lead with just 4 more games to play in the regular season.

[Arky]

Early line has the Texans as about a 4-4½ pt. favorite over Indy next week. Might've opened at 5½ (can't always trust the listed opener) which if true, would mean the early birds are jumping on Indy....

[Keith]

Things have really come together over the past ten weeks for this team in all three phases. Are they a perfect team? Of course not, but this is as solid a team this franchise has possibly ever had. I know they are benefitting from a soft schedule, but they are building confidence and feel as though they can handle any adversity having overcome an 0-3 start.

I have dogged on Zach Cunningham most of the season (and rightfully so), but he played a great game (on his birthday, too, no less). The pick six was awesome, and when RAC uses him appropriately, he can fly all over the field. I think his game has limits, but today I finally saw some of the upside I think the team hoped would surface back when he was drafted.

O'Brien seems to have finally figured out how to be employ Lamar Miller and Alfred Blue as a two-headed backfield. The result has been the best we've seen Miller play into December. Blue is keeping Miller's legs fresher. O'Brien seems to realize that Miller doesn't need to grind out the short yardage stuff, that Blue is actually not too bad at it. Taking incomplete parts and making them better as a function of the whole is one way a head coach can demonstrate his value.

[barrett]

Originally Posted by Keith

Things have really come together over the past ten weeks for this team in all three phases. Are they a perfect team? Of course not, but this is as solid a team this franchise has possibly ever had. I know they are benefitting from a soft schedule, but they are building confidence and feel as though they can handle any adversity having overcome an 0-3 start.

I have dogged on Zach Cunningham most of the season (and rightfully so), but he played a great game (on his birthday, too, no less). The pick six was awesome, and when RAC uses him appropriately, he can fly all over the field. I think his game has limits, but today I finally saw some of the upside I think the team hoped would surface back when he was drafted.

O'Brien seems to have finally figured out how to be employ Lamar Miller and Alfred Blue as a two-headed backfield. The result has been the best we've seen Miller play into December. Blue is keeping Miller's legs fresher. O'Brien seems to realize that Miller doesn't need to grind out the short yardage stuff, that Blue is actually not too bad at it. Taking incomplete parts and making them better as a function of the whole is one way a head coach can demonstrate his value.

The RB usage has been excellent the last 2 weeks. Miller is feasting on cutbacks all the way to the backside of zone plays. The backside end is permanently attached to Watson so it's like free money. Blue meanwhile has been used like a less showy version of Marian Barber. Bring him in to pound out yards with a lead. Blue isn't huge but he gets the best of every collision that happens on a football team. He's the classic guy who 'if you need 3 yards he gets you 3 yards, and if you need 5 yards he gets you 3 yards.'

[chuck]

This team has a lot of obvious problems, but I am slowly realizing that we're maybe one TMZ shown Tyreek Hill headlock away from being able to beat anyone in the AFC.

There are a lot of really good teams in the AFC and the playoffs, however they shake out, are setting up to be great.

[HPF Bob]

We are finally seeing what happens when a healthy Watt and Clowney are on the field at the same time while enough other veteran talent is around that can't be ignored.

I'd love to see us have a first-round bye for once. The table is set.