Texans @ Pats

[Vin+ 3,121]

http://hosted.stats.com/fb/preview.asp?g=20170114017&home=17&vis=34

 

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Bill O'Brien knows all about how tough the New England Patriots are at this, or any time, of year.

 

That's why the former New England offensive coordinator and current Houston Texans coach knows what his team is up against when it visits for Saturday's night's AFC divisional playoff game.

 

"It's a big challenge. It's a team that has done it year in and year out," O'Brien said earlier this week. "Last week was only this organization's third playoff win. We've got a big challenge ahead of us.

 

"We've got a bunch of good guys in our locker room that are looking forward to the challenge. We know that the Patriots are a great football team. We feel like if we go up there and we practice well - we have a good week of practice - we go up there and show up and play hard for 60 minutes, you know, we'll see what happens."

 

History, and the oddsmakers, are both against the Texans, a 9-7 division champion that disposed of the Oakland Raiders in last weekend's wild card game. Houston has never won at Foxborough, has beaten the Patriots just once, lost 27-0 in New England - with Tom Brady out, no less - in September and has lost the last two games to the Patriots by a combined score of 54-6.

 

The Texans come into this one as a 15 1/2-point underdog.

 

They're also a warm weather team playing in the cold night air.

 

The Texans do bring the league's No. 1 defense into this game, while the Patriots have allowed the fewest points.

 

Back in Week 3, Jacoby Brissett was the New England quarterback and J.J. Watt played his final game of the season before undergoing back surgery. The Texans fumbled away two kickoffs and saw Brissett run for a 27-yard touchdown.

 

Now, Brady will run the potent Patriots' offense, which should be bolstered by the return of wideout Danny Amendola, who missed four games with a sprain ankle. He was back at full participation on Wednesday's practice report, while Malcolm Mitchell, out last week with a knee injury, was limited.

 

LeGarrette Blount, who has had a strong year running the ball, missed practice Wednesday and Thursday due to illness but was removed from the injury report on Friday.

 

The Patriots come in 14-2 with seven straight wins and have gone 11-1 since Brady returned from his Deflategate suspension. They have spent the week doing what they always do - not saying anything even close to bad about the opposition.

 

"I think that they're playing really well in all three phases," New England's Rob Ninkovich said. "I think that their running game is very strong, so we have a challenge. It starts today preparing for that challenge."

 

Added Malcolm Butler: "Of course we won the (first) game, but teams are not peaking early in the season, so you most definitely say they got better, we got better, so time will tell."

 

The Texans had eight players listed with limited participation Wednesday, six of them of defense - including Quintin Demps (hamstring, game-time decision), Jadeveon Clowney (elbow, wrist) and Brian Cushing (ankle).

 

Brady finished the regular season with 28 touchdown passes and just two interceptions as the Patriots set the record for fewest picks thrown (two) in a season.

 

The New England defense, suspect when it blanked the Texans in Week 3, has gotten better and better and even traded away Jamie Collins, who had a big game against Houston.

 

"It's tough," O'Brien said. "They're obviously a team that lines up in different fronts. They challenge you with - not only their players, which their players are very, very good. You got (Alan) Branch and (Dont'a) Hightower and (Rob) Ninkovich and (Jabaal) Sheard and Malcolm Brown. You have a bunch of really tough, hard-nosed players that are very, very well-coached so their scheme presents a problem too.

 

"We're going to have to have a great week of practice. We're going to have to be very focused on every single play, limit mistakes, really communicate really well because they're a tough team, run or pass, to go against."

 

The Patriots have outscored their last three opponents, 92-20, over the last three games, with Brady and Co. always in high gear.

 

"I think it's more about execution," O'Brien said of the task at hand. "We're not going to show him anything that he hasn't already seen. He's been doing it for years, 17 years or whatever it is.

 

"I mean, that's part of what makes him who he is. He's seen it all. He's very well-prepared. He's played against a lot of these players. He's played against this scheme. We just need to kind of do what we do and execute and play every play. Be very focused on every single play, I think that's big for us."

 

 

 

[RazorStar 4,025]

15,5 point underdog, god dayum.

 

 

...

 

Pats Cover.

 

34

17

[FartWaffles 1,857]

Biggest upset since '12 season. Pats drop as 16 point favorites.

[BC 331]

Defense still technically does win championships in the NFL. And Denver did beat NE last year with the league's best defense despite having the worst QB. Probably an apples and oranges comparison especially without JJ Watt. But things are possible even if not likely. New England needs to not win the Super Bowl this year if possible. Would not be good for the league. So hopefully the Texans can feed off that formula and shock the world.

 

Anyhow...

 

9

24

Edited January 14, 2017 by BC

[Sparty 110]

10

24

[Favre4Ever+ 4,476]

I hope this is more of a game, but in what world does New England not just crush the Texans?

[SteVo+ 3,702]

31

6

 

 

Edited January 14, 2017 by SteVo

[Sparty 110]

Texans have that SB home field to go for tho.

[BradyFan81 404]

If the Pats don't win by 30 I'll be STUNNED.

[Bay 2,003]

31

6

 

 

lmao, must be OJ with ton of pulp

[Vin+ 3,121]

 

Malcolm Mitchell (knee) is inactive for the Divisional Round against the Texans.

With Mitchell scratched, it will be Michael Floyd's time to shine against the Texans. Floyd is an excellent low-dollar dart throw in DFS leagues. Also inactive for the Patriots are CB Cyrus Jones, CB Justin Coleman, RB D.J. Foster, QB Jacoby Brissett, OT LaAdrian Waddle and S Jordan Richards.

Source: Ryan Hannable on Twitter

 

 

 

Texans declared QB Brandon Weeden, S Quintin Demps, OLB John Simon, ILB Max Bullough, OG Walker, WR Wendall Williams and DE Ufomba Kamalu inactive for the Divisional Round against the Patriots.

The Texans are healthy as they look to spring one of the biggest upsets of all time in New England.

[seanbrock 1,684]

A Texans win here would be the biggest upset since the Giants knocked the Pats off in the super bowl the first time imo.

[BwareDWare94 723]

Watching the Texans on offense is like having an invasive procedure while conscious.

[seanbrock 1,684]

Just turned on the game to see it's 13-14. What's happening? Lol

[Favre4Ever+ 4,476]

Just turned on the game to see it's 13-14. What's happening? Lol

 

Brock Osweiler sucks, that's what. Texans should have at LEAST 21 points right now.. lol

[seanbrock 1,684]

That TD won the game for the Pats. Houston isn't capable of scoring more than 24

[Favre4Ever+ 4,476]

I feel so bad for Texans fans and for their defense... They deserve better. They put up a good fight, no matter how many points the Pats end up with. Fuck you Brock Osweiler, you worthless piece of shit.

[FartWaffles 1,857]

I feel so bad for Texans fans and for their defense... They deserve better. They put up a good fight, no matter how many points the Pats end up with. Fuck you Brock Osweiler, you worthless piece of shit.

And when Brock has $16M guaranteed for next season, you know he isn't going anywhere. It sucks. Don't even need an All-Pro QB, just an average QB would make such a difference.

[Favre4Ever+ 4,476]

The Texans front office needs to come out... Sack up, and just say... Hey, we fucked this up guys and cut Brock TOMORROW. He's got his money whether he is on the team or not. Osweiler cannot be allowed back under any circumstances. Him being on the roster is a disgrace and major disservice to every fan, player, and coach in Houston and around the country.

Texans should be exploring any and every QB option out there...

Edited January 15, 2017 by Favre4Ever

[seanbrock 1,684]

Jimmy G would make a lot of sense.

[SteVo+ 3,702]

Texans should be exploring any and every QB option out there...

 

[FartWaffles 1,857]

Jimmy G would make a lot of sense.

Going after Patriots backup QBs definitely fits the Texans M.O.

 

Wouldn't be opposed to this, but they don't have the cap room to make a move for Romo. (Mostly due to Brock's guaranteed money for '17)

Edited January 15, 2017 by FartWaffles

[RazorStar 4,025]

15,5 point underdog, god dayum.

 

 

...

 

Pats Cover.

 

34

17

 

Pfft, one point off, damn I'm good.

[BwareDWare94 723]

Look, Osweiler ain't shit but Houston lost to a better team. I saw dropped passes, a ST touchdown, etc. The QB isn't the best but damn, look the whole game over. Some of these comments look like they came straight from an ESPN comment thread.

[Favre4Ever+ 4,476]

Look, Osweiler ain't shit but Houston lost to a better team. I saw dropped passes, a ST touchdown, etc. The QB isn't the best but damn, look the whole game over. Some of these comments look like they came straight from an ESPN comment thread.

 

Will Fuller dropped Brock's one good throw of the night.. In the endzone. Texans got the ball with great field position numerous times and couldn't capitalize. Don't look at the score and the Patriots piling on as if they manhandled this game.

 

If the Texans had even a mediocre QB, they would have won.