Official Texans @ Ravens Divisional Playoff Game Thread, 1/15/2012

[Keith]

Couldn't wait to start this thread.

Anyone else tired of seeing everyone outside of Houston picking the Ravens to dominate? Easy to see how it might motivate the Texans.

[WMH]

I'm ready.

#Leggo

[chuck]

As I say every year this is easily my favorite weekend of the season. And what do you know? Our team is playing!

Keith, yes, no one, literally no one is giving the Texans a chance. And that's OK with me. Having some clown in a double-breasted suit say you're going to win does not put points on the scoreboard.

Do we have lots of people with Bar Mitzvahs and probation hearings and so on this week or is everyone going to be here?

[Warren]

Texans inactives
7 QB Jeff Garcia
15 WR Jeff Maehl
26 CB Brandon Harris
33 FS Troy Nolan
61 G Thomas Austin
66 T Andrew Gardner
88 TE Garrett Graham

Ravens inactives
17 WR Tandon Doss
23 CB Chykie Brown
25 CB/RS Chris Carr
35 RB Anthony Allen
49 LB Josh Bynes
67 G/C Justin Boren
94 OLB Sergio Kindle

[Warren]

In case anyone missed it, Casserly just said on CBS that the Texans "absolutely" want to re-sign Mario. His franchise tag would be around $22 million.

[Keith]

Ravens inactives
23 CB Chykie Brown
25 CB/RS Chris Carr

@capannfl #Ravens (https://twitter.com/#!/search?q=%23Ravens) have 4 CBs active vs. #Texans (https://twitter.com/#!/search?q=%23Texans). Veteran CB Chris Carr, who carries a base salary of $2.5 million for 2012, is a healthy inactive.


Hmm...

oh and this:
@hannahstormin Sal Pal reporting @HoustonTexans are surprisingly loose before the game. #fearthebull

[TheMatrix31]

So pumped up, I don't even know what to say.

You boys ready?

[Arky]

Ready, Freddie.

Let's get 'er done, boys....

[Keith]

Texans to receive opening kickoff.

Yates, PA pass deep to Jacoby? That's my playcall. I smell a handoff to Foster though.

[Arky]

Ravens win the toss and will defer. Texans to receive.

Nice return by Manning! Brings it back to the Raven 41.

[Arky]

Yates hits AJ for 11, 1st down.

Pass to AJ good for about 5. 2nd and 5 coming up.

Foster for 4. Brings up 3rd and 1.

Foster comes up short of the 1st down. Texans to go for the FG.

Rackers 4-yarder is good.

Texans 3, Ravens 0

12:24 left in the 1st qtr.

[TheMatrix31]

Wish we coulda stayed on the field there. I'll take it though!

[Arky]

Wish we coulda stayed on the field there. I'll take it though!

Ya, there's a stat going around about how when the Ravens score first, they always win...don't remember the details, though....

[Nconroe]

Pretty good start. Too bad we didn't get fumble recovery.

[TheMatrix31]

Yeah kick that shit.

[Arky]

Ravens bring the ensuing kickoff back to their 22 or 23. Ravens fumble but recover.

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

Rice for no gain. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Deep pass to Smith is inc. 3rd and 10 coming up.

Flacco can't find a receiver and throws it away. Ravens have to punt.

Oh man, JJ muffs the punt. Ravens recover at the Texan 2.

[Arky]

Rice to about the 1/2 yard line. 2nd and goal coming up.

Flacco sneaks for no gain.

Pass to Wilson in the endzone is good for the TD.

Ravens 7, Texans 3

9:51 left in the 1st qtr.

[TheMatrix31]

I don't ever want to see Jacoby Jones play football for my team ever again.

[chuck]

I am literally shaking with anger at that dickbrain's stupidity.

[Arky]

Manning brings the ensuing kickoff back to the Texan 22.

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

Foster for 3.

Yates rolls out and can't find a receiver and throws it away, inc. 3rd and 7 coming up.

Pass to KW is dropped. Texans have to punt.

Ravens fair catch at their 40. Ravens ball.

[Nconroe]

Early game jitters seem to be in effect. Even Walters dropped an easy pass.

[Big Texas]

If you ever wanted to give a team some momentum at home, fumble a punt on the 5 yard line...

After your teams 3 AND OUT...:mad:

[Arky]

Rice for about 6. 2nd and 4 coming up.

Pass to Boldin goes to the Texan 33.

Rice for 6. 2nd and 4 coming up.

Pass in the endzone is broken up by JJo, inc. 3rd and 4 coming up.

Flacco sacked/fumbles but Ravens recover. Ravens to go for the FG.

Cundiff's 48-yarder is good.

Ravens 10, Texans 3

6:02 left in the 1st qtr.

[Arky]

The ensuing kickoff is downed in the endzone. Texans ball at their 20.

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

Foster for 1. 2nd and 9 coming up.

Screen to Foster gets 3. 3rd and 6 coming up.

Pass to AJ is broken up, almost INT'ed. Texans have to punt.

Ravens fair catch at their 32 yard line.

4:29 left in the 1st qtr.

[Arky]

Pass to Boldin goes inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Williams for 5. 3rd and 5 coming up.

Pass over the middle to Dickson goes inc. Ravens have to punt.

Goodness, JJ muffs it again but picks it up and brings it back for a small gain to the Texan 23.

[Arky]

Yates' pass to AJ is INT'ed. Raven ball at the Texan 34.

[TheMatrix31]

What a waste of great defense. Again.

[Arky]

Rice for 1. 2nd and 9 coming up.

Flacco's pass over the middle sails inc. 3rd and 9 coming up.

Screen to Rice goes all the way to the Texan 13, 1st down.

Rice for 3. 2nd and 7 coming up.

Pass to Boldin in the endzone is complete for the TD.

Ravens 17, Texans 3

1:08 left in the 1st qtr.

[Nconroe]

Oh-on. TJ. Our defense better be good todays. Need our own turnovers now.

[Big Texas]

I don't care, all this came from Jacoby Jones...

[Arky]

Manning brings the kickoff back to the Texan 26.

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

Foster for 7. 2nd and 3 coming up.

Deep pass to KW is almost INT'ed by Reed. 3rd and 3 coming up. Reed is shaken up. Ravens gets charged a timeout...

Pass over the middle to Foster goes to near midfield, 1st down.

End of the 1st qtr.

[Arky]

I don't care, all this came from Jacoby Jones...

The one thing I didn't want to see was the Texans to choke away the game....

[Arky]

Foster for about 18 and a 1st down. Ball at the Raven 32.

Foster goes right for about 3. 2nd and 7 coming up.

Screen to Foster goes for no gain or -1. 3rd and 8 coming up.

Pass to OD goes to the Raven 12, 1st down.

Foster for about 3. 2nd and 7 coming up.

Pass in the endzone to AJ is inc, out of bounds. 3rd and 7 coming up.

Timeout Texans with 11:55 left in the half.

[TheMatrix31]

Gee, what a novel concept. Use tight ends to be a security blanket for a shaken rookie.

[Big Texas]

The one thing we could ill afford to do was turn the ball over...and we did it twice...both of which turned into points for the Ravens...

It's going to take a HUUUUUUUGGGGE play to quiet this crowd...

[Arky]

On 3rd and 7, Yates can't find a receiver and throws it away. Texans to go for the FG.

Rackers 28-yarder is good but flag on Dreessen for offsides -5. Bring it back.

Rackers 33-yarder is good.

Ravens 17, Texans 6

11:42 left in the half.

[Big Texas]

The defense is playing their asses off...once again the offense looks like the weakest link....

[Arky]

Let's go defense.....

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

Ravens down the ensuing kickoff in their endzone. Ravens ball at their 20.

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

Screen pass goes inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Rice for about 8. 3rd and 2 coming up.

Flacco's deep pass sails inc. Ravens to punt.

JJ runs east/west and goes out of bounds at the Texan 22. Flag on the play. Illegal block in the back on McManis. Texans ball at their 14.

[Arky]

Foster sweeps left for nice gain. 28 yards. Harbaugh throws the red flag and challenges that Foster stepped out of bounds early in the run. 10:10 left in the half.

[TheMatrix31]

I like that we're running outside. They can't defend that with any regularity.

[Big Texas]

For once I actually like Kubiak's offensive game plan...Too bad 2 dumb ass plays have us down right now...

[Nconroe]

Nice to see Arian running and some receptions. On this drive.

Time for a TD

[Warren]

Pollard on AJ? There's a matchup to exploit.

[Arky]

Play stands as called. Ravens charged a timeout.

Pass to AJ good for 12. Ball at the Ravens 46.

Foster gets maybe 1. 2nd and 9 coming up.

Pass to Casey is broken up. 3rd and 9 coming up.

Pass to AJ gets 14 and a 1st down at the Raven 32.

Foster up the gut for 14.

Foster for 6. 2nd and 4 coming up at the Raven 12.

Flags presnap. False start on Caldwell -5. Makes it 2nd and 9 coming up.

Whoa, pass should've been picked in the endzone but falls inc. Makes it 3rd and 9 coming up.

Screen to Foster goes to the 5. 1st and goal Texans. Nice catch.

Foster to the 1. 2nd and goal coming up.

Foster to the 1/2 yard line. 3rd and goal coming up.

Timeout Texans with 4:52 left in the half.

[Warren]

Why is Caldwell in for Brisiel?

[Big Texas]

Arian looks in rare form today...we need to get in the endzone...

[Arky]

Why is Caldwell in for Brisiel?

Probably still alternating....

[Arky]

On 3rd and goal, Foster punches it in!

Ravens 17, Texans 13

4:48 left in the half.

[Arky]

Ravens down the ensuing kickoff in their endzone. Ravens ball at their 20.

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

Let's go defense!

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

Williams for about 5. 2nd and 5 coming up.

Williams for 4. 3rd and 1 coming up. Less than 4 minutes left in the half.

Williams gets about 5 and the 1st down.

Rice for about 5. 2nd and 5 coming up.

Deep pass to Boldin goes to the Texan 33.

[Arky]

Gotta hold 'em to a FG ...

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

On 1st and 10 at the Texan 33, Flacco dumps off to Rice for no gain. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Pass down the sideline is broken up by KJ.... 3rd and 10 coming up.

Flacco is sacked by Watt! Ravens have to punt.

Punt is downed at the Texan 1. Refs to review the play to see if the Raven player had a foot on the goal line..... 28 seconds left in the half.

Play is ruled a touchback. Texans ball at their 20.

[Nconroe]

Ok, KJ had gpod coverage. This should be a touchback.

Reasonable comeback given we spotted ravens 14.

We still are in the game.

[barrett]

Perfect time for our pass rush to show up. A stop out of halftime and the you'll see the ravens really pucker up.

[Arky]

Texans kneel it.

Halftime:

Ravens 17, Texans 13

Whew, coulda been a lot worse.....

[chuck]

The Texans are squarely in this thing despite two crippling turnovers. That has to be tremendously confidence building.

[barrett]

The Texans are squarely in this thing despite two crippling turnovers. That has to be tremendously confidence building.

Not to mention two Ravens fumbles we failed to recover.

I really think the Ravens must be very tight right now. They had everything go right and got up big on a rookie QB, and they walk off the field at halftime feeling down after our OL and Foster slugged them in the mouth on the last drive. And you know their defense has no trust for the offense, so it is likely a very tight locker room right now.

[Arky]

Halftime stats:

Passing: Yates 9/18, 87 yards, 1 INT

Rushing: Foster 15/95

Receiving: AJ 4/41, Foster 4/29, 1/17

Tackles: Watt/Reed 4 each, Ryans/Cush 3 each, many with 2

Time of possession: Texans 16:02, Ravens 13:58

First downs: Texans 10, Ravens 6

3rd down efficiency: Texans 5/9, Ravens 3/8

Red zone: Texans 1/2, Ravens 2/2

Penalties: Texans 3/20, Ravens 0/0

Turnovers: Texans 2, Ravens 0

Total yards: Texans 181, Ravens 118

[Keith]

Texans 13...Ravens 10...Jacoby 7


Texans have outplayed the Ravens if you take away Jacoby's fumbled punt return. Have to be encouraged.

Genius move to put JJo on Smith and leaving Kareem to Boldin. Boldin has made an amazing catch or two, but Smith would be burning Kareem for TDs otherwise. JJo is basically shutting down half the defensive backfield right now.

And good job by the OL... Duane Brown is keeping T-Sizzle off Yates, and even though the Ravens are a very disciplined run D, they are getting Foster a chance to find whatever holes he can.

[HPF Bob]

The Texans are squarely in this thing despite two crippling turnovers. That has to be tremendously confidence building.

Agreed. We're only losing at two aspects - committing unforced mistakes and converting opportunities. Correct those and we can dominate the second half. We're outrunning them and outpassing them.

[Arky]

More AJ, more Foster......

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

Ravens down the 2nd half kickoff in their endzone. Ravens ball at their 20.

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

Rice for a couple. 2nd and 8 coming up.

Rice for 2 or 3 more. 3rd and 6 coming up.

Flacco sacked by Reed! Ravens have to punt.

JJ fields the punt, runs backwards and gets tackled. Texans ball at their 20.

13:03 left in the 3rd qtr.

[TheMatrix31]

Have to get seven here.

[Arky]

Foster for 7. 2nd and 3 coming up.

Foster for 1. 3rd and 2 coming up.

Yates rolls out, receivers are covered so he throws it away. Texans have to punt.

Ravens fair catch at their 30.

[TheMatrix31]

Good news is that we got eight, not seven.

Bad news is that it was yards, not points.

[barrett]

JJ decided shuffling in place after the catch didn't screw us enough so he goes with the backwards punt return.

[Arky]

Ball is spotted at the Raven 31.

Rice TFL'ed -1 by Watt. 2nd and 11 coming up.

Flacco is sacked! Loss of 8. Makes it 3rd and 19 coming up.

Dump off to Dickson gets about 16. Ravens have to punt.

JJ brings the punt back to the Texan 22.

9:35 left in the 3rd qtr.

[barrett]

Duane brown has owned Suggs so far.

[Arky]

Foster for about 2. 2nd and 8 coming up. Let's grind 'em down....

Pass to AJ good for 16. Ball at the Texan 40.

Foster for 3 or 4. 2nd and 6 coming up.

Pass over the middle to KW goes for about 24, 1st down.

Foster for 2. Ball at the Raven 34. 2nd and 8 coming up.

Foster for 2 more. 3rd and 6 coming up.

Ball over the middle to AJ goes inc. Texans will try the long FG.

Rackers 50-yarder hits the crossbar, no good.

Score remains:

Ravens 17, Texans 13

5:54 left in the 3rd qtr. Ravens ball at their 40.

[Nconroe]

Rackers 50x yd fg hits crossbar. Darn.

[barrett]

Our defense has given us two stops and we failed to cash in either time this half. We need to do something before they get a little confidence back.

[Arky]

Pass to Pitta gets about 15. Ball at the Texan 44.

Pass is batted down by Cush, inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Williams for about 5. 3rd and 5 coming up.

Pass to Evans down the sideline is complete to the Texan 9.

Rice gets 5. 2nd and goal at the 4.

Goodness, fumble but Ravens recover. 3rd and goal from the 2.

Rice to the 1/2 yard line. Makes it 4th and goal. Ravens use a timeout. Ravens to go for it on 4th down.

Rice is stopped! Texans takeover at the 1 yard line!

[Nconroe]

Man , three Ravens fumbles and we don't get any of them.

Wow, Dobbons stuffed rice. Texans ball.

[chuck]

That was bad ass.

[Keith]

Massive, massive goalline stand right there.

[Arky]

Yates deep pass down the sideline to AJ is too long, inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Foster for about 2. 3rd and 8 coming up.

Foster for no gain. Texans have to punt.

Ravens fair catch about midfield. Ravens ball.

[barrett]

Dobbins! .

[Arky]

Rice for 4. 2nd and 6 coming up.

End of the 3rd qtr.

[TheMatrix31]

Hope what happened last time doesn't happen this time. Texans D plays very well for three quarters, offense can't stay on the field, D gets worn down, and Rice/Flacco go off.

[Arky]

One mo' time, defense....

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

On 2nd and 6, screen to Rice is sniffed out by Ryans -4. 3rd and 10 coming up.

Dump off to Rice only gets 4. Ravens have to punt.

Punt goes into the endzone. Texans ball at their 20.

13:30 left in the game.

[barrett]

Hope what happened last time doesn't happen this time. Texans D plays very well for three quarters, offense can't stay on the field, D gets worn down, and Rice/Flacco go off.

Not sure how we'll finish but our offense has been on the field more than theirs today.

[TheMatrix31]

Not sure how we'll finish but our offense has been on the field more than theirs today.

I haven't looked at TOP. It's just, ugh, we need points lol

[barrett]

They have no penalties all game somehow.

[Arky]

We're still in it.....

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

Foster for about 6. 2nd and 4 coming up.

Foster for 7 and a 1st down.

Foster for 2. 2nd and 8 coming up.

Screen to Tate is too soft, inc. 3rd and 8 coming up.

Pass to KW only gets 5 or 6. Texans have to punt.

Turk's punt goes out of bounds at the Raven 25.

[chuck]

In all seriousness I think Hartman's injury has been the most damaging of any.

[Arky]

11:07 left in the game.

Williams for about 3. 2nd and 7 coming up.

Pass to Dickson is broken up by Manning, inc. 3rd and 7 coming up.

Flacco is sacked by Brooks/Watt! Big loss, 12 yards. Ravens to punt.

JJ fields the punt and is tackled immediately at the Texan 31.

[barrett]

JJ has been baltimore's MVP.

[TheMatrix31]

JABRONY Jones man.

[Big Texas]

We don't have ANYBODY to replace Jacoby?

[Arky]

9:34 left in the game...

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

Pass to AJ goes for about 18.

Screen to Foster loses 7. 2nd and 17 coming up.

Foster fumbles but it's recovered by JJ. Whew! 3rd and 12 coming up.

Yates' pass is INT'ed by Webb. Ravens ball at their 29.

[Nconroe]

Jj covers a fumble and then TJ throws really ill advised pass into coverage. Oh boy now our defense needs to get a turnover.

[Arky]

Rice for 2 or 3. 2nd and 8 coming up.

Pass to Pitta good to the Raven 44, 1st down.

Pass to Smith goes for 9. 2nd and 1 coming up.

Leach gets 1 and the 1st down. Under 5 minutes left in the game.

Rice for 1. 2nd and 9 coming up.

Slant to Boldin goes for about 14 and a 1st down.

Rice for 5. Ball at the Texan 26. Texans use a timeout (#1) with 3:04 left in the game.

[Big Texas]

This offense sucks right now...

[Big Texas]

Whatever happens in this game...its all on Jacobys inability to do anything...

[Arky]

On 2nd and 5, quick pass goes inc. Makes it 3rd and 5 coming up.

3rd down pass sails inc. Ravens to go for the FG.

Cundiff's 44-yarder is good.

Ravens 20, Texans 13

2:52 left in the game.

[Nconroe]

Well, gotta have a TD now. Still throwing. Crap, Reed in good position.

[Arky]

Manning brings the ensuing kickoff back to the Texan 28. Texans ball.

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

Pass to AJ good to the Texan 46, 1st down.

Pass to AJ gets another nice gainer, 16 yards. AJ fumbled but looks like he was down. Ball at the Ravens 38.

[Arky]

Yates' deep pass is INT'ed by Reed. Reed is downed at the 4.

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

Rice for 9. 2nd and 1 coming up. Texans use timeout #2.

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

Rice for 1 and the 1st down. 1:38 left in the game.

[Big Texas]

That was the worst decision ever...he threw that like there was no time left on the clock...stupid ass decision...

[barrett]

Brutal spot.

[Arky]

Officials are reviewing the spot of the ball.....

Refs change it to 3rd and 1 coming up......

Leach comes up short! Ravens have to punt! Texans out of timeouts. Timeout Ravens with 53 seconds left in the game.

Punt is downed by the Ravens at the Texan 48.

[Arky]

Pass to OD gets 8.

Pass is batted down at the LOS. 3rd and 2 coming up.

Pass to AJ on the sidelines is inc. 20 seconds left in the game. 4th and 2 coming up.

Hail Mary is batted down at the goal line. Ravens ball with 11 seconds left.

Ravens kneel it out.

Final score:

Ravens 20, Texans 13

[barrett]

Why are we throwing a hail Mary to jacoby jones with :20 left?

[Nconroe]

Heck of a game, we'll be even better next year.

[chuck]

Why are we throwing a hail Mary to jacoby jones with :20 left?

That is a fantastic question. The funny thing is Walter could have (should have) caught that if he'd had his head out of his ass.

[Big Texas]

What the FU...was that? WE NEEDED 2 FREAKIN YARDS...

[barrett]

In the end it came down to tj Yates is tj Yates and Ed reed is Ed reed.

[HPF Bob]

I disagreed with the deep ball on the last two possessions but not because they didn't work. On the one to AJ that was intercepted, it was poor clock management and, even if successful, would have left too much time for Baltimore to come back with the winning FG.

On the second one, it's fourth down. Go get your two yards and spike the ball. Then you have at least two more shots to take down the field. I blame the OC for those decisions.

Still, it was a good game and a good season. We made great strides and next year we'll be better. With any luck, next year we're the ones hosting games like this and we can march deeper into the playoffs.

[jcp]

Looked to me like Walter just whiffed on that hail Mary. Hit him in the hands without being touched.

Tough loss as we outplayed them in every aspect but special teams. We should come back real solid next year but this one hurts.

[Arky]

Incredible game by the defense... Jeminy, JJ Watt = 12 tackles, 2.5 sacks....

Too many turnovers....

[HPF Bob]

Road teams are 0-7 so far in the playoffs. THAT'S why home field is critical.

[Big Texas]

I blame the last two drives on the offensive coordinator...it seemed as though TJ had no clock awareness...we kept making last second lob passes...BUT IT WASNT THE LAST SECOND IN ANY OF THE THROWS...

[barrett]

I disagreed with the deep ball on the last two possessions but not because they didn't work. On the one to AJ that was intercepted, it was poor clock management and, even if successful, would have left too much time for Baltimore to come back with the winning FG.

On the second one, it's fourth down. Go get your two yards and spike the ball. Then you have at least two more shots to take down the field. I blame the OC for those decisions.

Still, it was a good game and a good season. We made great strides and next year we'll be better. With any luck, next year we're the ones hosting games like this and we can march deeper into the playoffs.

I am guessing the thinking is that they are up closer to the line on 4th down, and that is your best chance to get them deep. Obviously didn't work, but with how bad Yates had played, I don't mind trying to steal a TD. We hadn't come close to earning one all half.

As for the first deep ball for INT, there is no way you can blame the play call. You are going to have a guy running a deep route on almost every play and your QB has to be smart enough to not throw it into double coverage with Ed Reed over the top.

Yates could have had about 6+ INTs today. He lobbed the ball into coverage repeatedly and only some great DB play by AJ and Walter saved him.

[chuck]

I blame the last two drives on the offensive coordinator...it seemed as though TJ had no clock awareness...we kept making last second lob passes...BUT IT WASNT THE LAST SECOND IN ANY OF THE THROWS...

I thought the play calling in the second half was an abomination.

[barrett]

I blame the last two drives on the offensive coordinator...it seemed as though TJ had no clock awareness...we kept making last second lob passes...BUT IT WASNT THE LAST SECOND IN ANY OF THE THROWS...

How is TJ Yates throwing the ball up for grabs a play calling issue?

Our play calling got us 315 yards on the road, against Baltimore, with a rookie QB. Yates got a great running game, great defense, a full strength AJ, and balance all day. But in the end he is a rookie in his 7th game and he just isn't good enough to win that game. I'm not down on him for his effort, but he was terrible.

What is depressing is how bad the AFC is. If we are close to healthy I think we might have walked to the superbowl this year.

[HPF Bob]

As for the first deep ball for INT, there is no way you can blame the play call. You are going to have a guy running a deep route on almost every play and your QB has to be smart enough to not throw it into double coverage with Ed Reed over the top.



Yes I can blame the play call. You're on their side of the field with two minutes left and two time outs. You can still work the middle of the field. You can still run screens and draws. Foster would have all sorts of running room if he can get through the first wall.

The INT play was a bad call even if AJ had caught it for the reasons I explained above. You leave the Ravens with too much time to come back. If you work the ball down the field and score, you're guaranteed to send it to overtime.

[barrett]

I thought the play calling in the second half was an abomination.

Chicken and Egg I guess, but I think the issue was we were calling plays for a QB who threw it at the wrong colored jerseys all day.

[barrett]

Yes I can blame the play call. You're on their side of the field with two minutes left and two time outs. You can still work the middle of the field. You can still run screens and draws. Foster would have all sorts of running room if he can get through the first wall.

The INT play was a bad call even if AJ had caught it for the reasons I explained above. You leave the Ravens with too much time to come back. If you work the ball down the field and score, you're guaranteed to send it to overtime.

The play call does not throw it down field. Every play has a guy running deep. If you have all of your guys go short nobody gets open because they have a smaller area to cover. The best way to get a guy open short in that situation is AJ deep taking two defenders with him.

That is %100 user error on that play. Awful, awful decision. And it was Yates' decision. He had short routes he could have chosen and he did not. He forced it like he did all day.

[HPF Bob]

Alright, well if you are saying that Yates blew the play call, we'd have to wait for post-game confirmation. I'm presuming Yates wouldn't throw deep unless the receiver was much more open than AJ was. We need to find out more before applying the goat horns.

Maybe it all boiled down to rookie impatience. Very possible.

[chuck]

Chicken and Egg I guess, but I think the issue was we were calling plays for a QB who threw it at the wrong colored jerseys all day.

My point is simply that in the second half the team asked far too much of TJ and far too little of Arian.

[barrett]

My point is simply that in the second half the team asked far too much of TJ and far too little of Arian.

Until the final drive with :45 left we had 13 passes and 12 runs in the 2nd half.

[barrett]

Alright, well if you are saying that Yates blew the play call, we'd have to wait for post-game confirmation. I'm presuming Yates wouldn't throw deep unless the receiver was much more open than AJ was. We need to find out more before applying the goat horns.

Maybe it all boiled down to rookie impatience. Very possible.

I agree. If they told him to look deep no matter what it is not his fault. But it didn't look like a max protect, 1 man route. I believe he had other options but never came off of AJ.

[chuck]

Until the final drive with :45 left we had 13 passes and 12 runs in the 2nd half.

I know, I went back and looked at the play by play in the second half. Still, I stand firmly by my point. I don't see how anyone could argue otherwise.

[barrett]

I know, I went back and looked at the play by play in the second half. Still, I stand firmly by my point. I don't see how anyone could argue otherwise.

That is why I said chicken and egg. I would agree on your statement on the grounds that asking anything from Yates was too much. I wish we would have been more stubborn with the run game because I had no confidence we get it done with Yates throwing it.

But to me the bottom line is we don't have enough to win that game with Yates at QB. Even though Joe Flacco and Cam Cameron tried to yak that game away, Ray Lewis and Ed Reed did not let them.

[barrett]

But I will say, the Ravens have pro bowlers on both lines, while we have none. That is a joke after watching this game.

[Big Texas]

Kubiak confirmed that his thinking was for TJ to take the shots downfield because Reed was playing the middle of the field. He said that TJ was not doing enough to look the coverage off.

With that said I still think those were bad calls. There was too much time left. Yes TJ had a bad game; however, bad game and all we still could've won this game with better last minute play calling.

[painekiller]

The outcome of the game sucked, but what a ride this season has been. Thank you Wade Phillips for bringing a real defense back to Houston.

[HPF Bob]

Kubiak confirmed that his thinking was for TJ to take the shots downfield because Reed was playing the middle of the field. He said that TJ was not doing enough to look the coverage off.


I noticed that on the replay of the AJ interception. Yates "tried" to look Reed off but he gave it only a minor glance before going back to AJ. That wouldn't be enough to fool an aging veteran like Ed Reed.

[Nconroe]

The outcome of the game sucked, but what a ride this season has been. Thank you Wade Phillips for bringing a real defense back to Houston.

Agreed. Thanks to all the Texans. We have a very good team going forward.

Gotta be a good year next year.

We have a lot of young players that learned a lot this year.

OL really did good today as well.

[popanot]

Well, Yates definitely hurt us today, but it's glaringly apparent this team needs another weapon at WR and PR. Jones sucks at, well, everything...and Walter doesn't scare anyone and is not the answer. And once again KJ shows how much he's the paperclip weak link in this awesome chain of a D.

[NBT]

The outcome of the game sucked, but what a ride this season has been. Thank you Wade Phillips for bringing a real defense back to Houston.

Oh Well.....on to the Draft and hopes for an upgrade in the receiver corp.

[painekiller]

Oh Well.....on to the Draft and hopes for an upgrade in the receiver corp.

Free Agency first and then the draft. :D

[popanot]

That last pass hit Walter right in the arms. No one even touched it but him. And it looked like he was looking back at the ball. Ugh...!!!

[chuck]

That last pass hit Walter right in the arms. No one even touched it but him. And it looked like he was looking back at the ball. Ugh...!!!

Exactly. I think the pass hit him on the shoulder but the point is it f&cking hit him and he wasn't even looking for the ball. Which is astounding because we discovered after the game that he was in fact the intended receiver.

Walter and Kareem make a hell of a pair.

[itssharif]

I am still pissed about the game today and have to say a few things:

1) What the hell is it going to take for Houston management to realize we can't have this fool Jacoby Jones on this roster anymore?

2) TJ Yates was the one most affected by Jacoby Jones's putrid attempt of a punt return. Playing with the lead (I don't even care if it's as small as 3-0) and the dominating style is so much more different than when we are down in a hole against a damn good football team. The first INT is on AJ and Yates. The 2nd and 3rd are solely because TJ was trying to give his team a chance. I really found his play quite admirable.

3) Is a 50 yard field goal a gimme in the NFL? No! BUT YOU ARE IN THE FREAKING NFL. You are suppose to be a professional at your job and in what you do. Go out there and make it for your team.

4) Andre Johnson has to catch that catch on 3rd down when TJ was getting all out blitzed and he decisively through it to him only to see it go through his hands to end up as an incompletion. He probably would have either taken it to the house or at least to the redzone with all that room.

5) What I don't freaking understand about the unnecessary bomb to AJ that got picked off by Ed Reed was the timing of it. Particularly because IT CAME AFTER THE 2 MINUTE WARNING. Would you as a coach if you're Kubiak talk to Yates about game time decision making. EVEN IF IT WAS COMPLETED FOR A TD you're leaving time on the clock for the Ravens to go down and score. That was the time for a just like an in-Cincinnati to clinch the AFC South like drive to take us down and score the game winning TD, not throw it away and give the game away.

6) WHY WASN'T FOSTER UTILIZED IN SOME SHAPE OR FASHION AT THE END? Run or Pass, ANYTHING. WHYYYYYY?

7) The Texans direly need a YAC receiver. So don't just get me a #2 this offseason but get me someone who can get me yards after the catch PLEASE!

Man that was a lot to get off my chest!

[Arky]

Ok, I've rewatched the KW no-catch (4th and 2, 20 seconds left in the game) about 15 times now on DVR. CBS had 2 angles of it in slow-mo. One angle shows what clearly looks like Reed tipping the ball away and bouncing off of Walter. Announcer Gumbel says at the time he thinks Reed got a hand on it ("he's the one that got the hand on it"). The next angle is the one that is really weird.. it looks like the ball falls straight out of the air and hits Walter on the arm and it looks like he's not even looking for the ball. After watching this angle a few times, I could see Reed's fingers "flap" as he deflects the ball - the ball then bounces off Walter's left shoulder pad. Watching the play develop, Walter had a bead on the pass all the way until that last second or two when I think he goes into self-preservation mode as he was expecting a big collision (that really wasn't really there). However, Walter, JJ, Smith (of the Ravens) and Reed all end up on the ground. Only Pollard remained standing. So, my conclusion is that I'm not sure KW could have caught the ball even if he was fully looking for the ball as it was deflected....

[TheMatrix31]

I'm more upset we threw the bomb to Andre that was picked by Reed than I was about taking the final shot to Walter.

You had two very nice passes to Andre to set up the position for that. You have two timeouts. Just take your time, man.

Actually. I'm pissed at both. If you're going to take a shot to Walter, do it on first down instead of spiking. Catch them off guard. Don't do it on fourth though.

Ultimately this loss came down to Jacoby Jones. I knew it would come down to some stupidity, and it did. I dare anyone to tell me "games aren't won or lost in the first quarter", because that changed everything about the game.

The thing that pisses me off the most was that we LOST. They didn't WIN. We thoroughly outplayed them. We demolished Flacco, kept Rice in check, had Foster and Andre go off, and our defense absolutely rocked all game. The Ravens scored SIX points off their own volition. SIX. I mean, score the ball for God's sake. Can't believe we couldn't capitalize on all the opportunities we had.

[popanot]

3) Is a 50 yard field goal a gimme in the NFL? No! BUT YOU ARE IN THE FREAKING NFL. You are suppose to be a professional at your job and in what you do. Go out there and make it for your team.I think is one of the most understated and questionable decisions of the game. We were losing the field position battle up to that point and it was a great opportunity to back up the Ravens and let our D take control. Of course you want points whenever you can get them, but 3 wouldn't have given us the lead and it was just too high risk field position-wise to attempt it with the score the way it was at the time. Of course, our D stopped the Ravens and they didn't capitalize from it with a score (I think that may have been the goal line stuff drive), but it allowed the Ravens to continue having good field position, which I think ultimately ended with a Ravens FG. It was an extremely poor decision at the time, IMO.

[Fonz the Boss]

Questioning play calls is the biggest cop out for a fan... If it works it's a great call by the coach to catch them off guard and if it doesn't work then the call was terrible. This game came down to JJ's muffed punt and the decision making of TJ... I can't blame TJ too much because without JJ's muffed punt we would have the lead and TJ wouldn't have been asked to do too much. After all he's still a rookie playing on a road playoff game against a very solid defense.... This loss hurts but I'm still very proud of the team's effort.

[popanot]

Questioning play calls is the biggest cop out for a fan... If it works it's a great call by the coach to catch them off guard and if it doesn't work then the call was terrible.Cop out or not it's a fans perogative to have an opinion, and IMO, that was a high-risk attempt in that situation with the game going how it was at the time. This fan would have preferred they punted there. Did it lose the game? No. But giving Ravens that field position could've very well backfired and put the game that way out of reach had they not stuffed them on goal line. I would have preferred we try to back them up there and with the hope our D could force them into a mistake deep in their zone.

[TheMatrix31]

If a bad playcall is a bad playcall, its a bad playcall regardless if it's successful or if it's a failure. Launching to Andre with a minute and change to go and 2 timeouts would have been a bad playcall even if he caught it instead of Reed.

[Fonz the Boss]

oh yea no doubt every fan will have an opinion, heck even I do. But I'll say it again that it's always the easy way out to blame the play calls. Now I would understand if Kubiak called the play and told TJ to chunk it to Andre no matter what, but I know that wasn't the case. I know this because Kubs himself said that TJ made some throws he shouldn't have thrown. To make it even more clear let's say the ball would have been handed off to Foster then he fumbles and it's game over. Fans would have been like," Kubiak you idiot! Andre just made 2 big catches to put us in Ravens territory!! Typical Kubiak with his bullshit play calls!".... So yeah, I'm ok with the play calls just not ok with TJ's decision making. He could have done a whole lot better but I'm not gonna crush the rookie. I think he's got a good chance at being Schaub's successor.

[HPF Bob]

To make it even more clear let's say the ball would have been handed off to Foster then he fumbles and it's game over. Fans would have been like," Kubiak you idiot! Andre just made 2 big catches to put us in Ravens territory!! Typical Kubiak with his bullshit play calls!".... So yeah, I'm ok with the play calls just not ok with TJ's decision making. He could have done a whole lot better but I'm not gonna crush the rookie. I think he's got a good chance at being Schaub's successor.

I wanted the Texans to make some safer calls because they had two timeouts and needed to burn some clock before scoring the touchdown plus a draw or a screen would have probably crossed up the Ravens after the two passes to AJ got them inside the 50.

Now if Foster had fumbled the ball away, I would have said "same old Texans" but I wouldn't have blamed the play call.