View Full Version : Patriots Pre-Game Thread
Keith
01-06-2013, 04:29 PM
To get you ready for what the Texans can expect from the Boston mindset this week...
The 2012-13 Texans? Pure frauds. The worst 11-1 team in the history of the NFL. These Texans have absolutely zero chance of beating New England here next week. And everybody knows that this is true. ...
The great J.J. Watt was a zero in that game. Then he was unavailable for comment after the game. Houston’s ever-overmatched defensive coordinator, Wade Phillips, was scratching his head, perhaps wondering why his guys were unable to cover all those Patriots wide receivers. ...
http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2013/01/06/texans-win-puts-patriots-easy-street-again/Nn59dnCMHkyP2TKiaAetIL/story.html
chuck
01-06-2013, 04:32 PM
"Dan Shaughnessy is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at dshaughnessy@globe.com."
HPF Bob
01-06-2013, 05:19 PM
Patriots always do seem like they have 13 players on the field.
Me and 2 buddies are aiming for some punishment. We have just booked our trip to Foxboro....
Hope its fun. :D
Patriots always do seem like they have 13 players on the field.
They do! 11 players in football uniforms and the line judge and field judge.... ;)
Me and 2 buddies are aiming for some punishment. We have just booked our trip to Foxboro....
Hope its fun. :D
Wow, that is cool. I think we all would like a full report when you get back... ;)
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From what I hear and read, Shaughnessy is a bit of a pot stirrer unliked by even Bostonians. He's got us talking so mission accomplished... The article would make good bulletin board material in the Texans locker room...
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Honestly, the Pats are not some invincible machine. To hear this writer and even some of our fans speak, we shouldn't even show up. They've got weaknesses - not as many as your average team, but they are there nonetheless. They (Patriots) were razor sharp in the first meeting - the Texans were on their 3rd road game in a row. I do not believe the Texans have put a total game together yet this year where offense, defense and special teams all were clicking at high efficiency (possibly the Baltimore game but that's it) - next Sunday would be a good time to start. I truly expect a different game than was the MNF debacle...
Keith
01-06-2013, 09:56 PM
Revenge + Underestimation is a nasty combination to face in a football opponent. Certainly understandable why the Patriots may be overconfident (and to remember this writer's opinions are not necessarily those of the team), but the Texans should enter this game feeling like they have nothing to lose. No one expects them to win. Don't play so tight.
The Texans put a little too much pressure of themselves last time (Thanks Dre for calling it 'the most important game in team history', which it wasn't), and they probably faced a team who wanted it more than them. Couple that with a couple funky bounces (like the fumble recovery Kareem missed and that forced fumble from the defense that the Pats recovered in the endzone for a TD), and this is not the mismatch it may seem. And we also wonder how much of the offensive playbook Kubiak employed...
The Texans need to (a) get to Brady by only rushing four. Blitzing great QBs like Brady, Rodgers, and Manning will not work. They can do this if they not only get the effort from J.J. Watt, but they also need guys like Antonio Smith and Connor Barwin to play like champions. And, more obviously, they also (b) need to keep this from becoming a track meet. Lastly, (c) they need to take an early lead, stetching the field from the start.
nunusguy
01-06-2013, 10:21 PM
And whatever you do guys, please don't wear those hokie "Letterman sweaters" up to NE this trip.
Nconroe
01-06-2013, 11:21 PM
I think Texans showed they can play with intensiity and focus to win in playoffs.
If they control both sides of line of scrimmage like they did Saturday they can play with and beat any team.
All the underdog talk should help Texans and if Pats are celebrating early that is even better.
barrett
01-07-2013, 08:14 AM
We don't have a great chance to win this football game. High scoring teams cause Kubs to clench up. Not to mention fantastic QBs find their way to big plays against all of our man coverage, and Tom Brady turns it over less than anyone in history (and never gets sacked) so we are unlikely to get the negative plays that offset the big plays. Plus we are still not playing well. The Cincy win was an ugly one.
With all that said, we have no pressure and no expectations. We are being regarded by too many as some kind of broken team, and I think their is plenty of pride in our guys. I don't know if we can make the plays when we need to, but I think the game will be close enough that we will have a chance to make them.
The biggest problem I see is we need to catch breaks in this game, but they don't turn it over and we don't make special teams plays. So that means we need to be lucky and have fumble recoveries break our way, tipped passes find our guys hands, etc...
But we don't need to be better than them, we just need to be better than them Sunday.
Got interviewed by Jeremy Desel @ Channel 11 about our decision to goto the game. Will air at 5 or 6......
chuck
01-07-2013, 09:40 PM
Got interviewed by Jeremy Desel @ Channel 11 about our decision to goto the game. Will air at 5 or 6......
I'l give you $50 if you guys get letter jackets made up.
I'l give you $50 if you guys get letter jackets made up.
LMAO.
Ummm, no thanks. ;)
Pretty good read here:
http://www.thebiglead.com/index.php/2013/01/07/dan-shaughnessy-says-the-patriots-have-two-byes-calls-texans-pure-frauds/
TV = CBS (channel 11 local), Sunday 3:30 pm CST
Announcers (http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4738048/nantz-simms-to-call-7th-pats-game) = Jim Nantz, Phil Simms, sideline - Steve Tasker
The line (http://www.madduxsports.com/nfl-odds.php) = Patriots by 9.5 to 10
WalterFootball (http://walterfootball.com/nflpicks2012_19early.php) offer this nugget of hope:
Now, it's time to review what the media overreacted to last week:
1. This week, the major overreaction is to the Texans. Everyone's giving up on them after two losses.
Fading the media is now 13-4-1 since Week 12. There are two things the media's overreacting to this time:
1. The Texans dominated the Bengals but only won by six, so they're getting a ton of flak. No one's giving them a chance against New England, yet they have the same record.
2. Everyone is just assuming the Seahawks are going to beat the Falcons. Michael Wilbon said that Atlanta winning would be a surprise. Umm... aren't the Falcons favored?
Keith
01-09-2013, 02:57 PM
I agree with both points. The Falcons getting slighted is worse than any slight the Texans have endured this week (mostly because the Texans have earned much of their derision). There is a perverse media inclination to set up a Packers-Seahawks rematch (remember the TD-INT call with the fake refs?) since it makes for a 'good story', and it really just adds to my general distate of the media.
As for the Texans... They were just 4-pt dogs last time (though that jumped to like 6 near kickoff). They had a bunch of unusual things go against them early, like the illegal formation penalty on the 1st play (negating a nice run), the INT from Schaub into the end zone with the score still 0-0 I think, the missed fumble recovery by Kareem before the Pats first score, etc. The only usual thing that hurt them was poor special teams (I think Welker had a big 1Q punt return).
barrett
01-09-2013, 03:45 PM
The Texans deserve to be big underdogs in this one. We have not played a good offensive game since Thanksgiving Day.
However, there is no reason for why the media has turned on this team and declared them frauds. They finished 12-4 and the 3rd seed in the AFC and that is exactly what they are. A good 12-4 team who is the 3rd best team in the AFC (and beat the 4th, 5th, and 6th best teams in the conference). There is nothing fraudulent about them. They are exactly what they seem (especially last week when they were the definition of "good, no more, no less").
Now they go into NE with no expectations and plenty of motivation. If they walk out as big losers they have lost nothing. If they walk out after a close defeat they will have gained some 'respect' and they will try to sell it to fans as progress. Or they walk out as upset winners and all of the media stories are re-written and the 24 hour news cycle forgets they were ever left for dead.
I hope the NFL, the networks, the media, and everyone else lives a nightmare come true and by Sunday night, Brady vs Manning has turned into Schaub vs. Flacco.
Saw this in Walter's recap as well:
RECAP: If you think that laying 9.5 with the Patriots means easy money like Shaughnessy apparently does, you're mistaken. New England typically doesn't live up to expectations as a big playoff favorite, owning a dubious 3-8 spread record laying 4.5 or more points in the Bill Belichick era.
Bad thing is, he has been WAY off this year...
A good 12-4 team who is the 3rd best team in the AFC (and beat the 4th, 5th, and 6th best teams in the conference).
AND beat the 1st seed @ thier house..... ;)
barrett
01-09-2013, 04:08 PM
AND beat the 1st seed @ thier house..... ;)
Exactly. So the Texans have wins over the 1,4,5,6 in the AFC playoffs, meaning the only AFC playoff team we didn't beat is New England. That alone should get Shaughnessy fired (not to mention they played 9-8 Denver in this round just last year). But if his dozens of similar attack pieces against local NE teams didn't get him fired this won't either.
It is depressing that journalism has reached this point. Media outlets now employ professional pot stirrers to drive hits. And as long as they don't cross some racial, gender, or cultural line in the process they can write any drivel they like with as little basis in reality as possible. And it is all led of course by the 'worldwide leader.'
nunusguy
01-09-2013, 04:40 PM
Brady vs Manning has turned into Schaub vs. Flacco.
And that would be Schaub vs. Flacco in Reliant Stadium @ Houston, TX. Here, here !
We can surely hope.
Warren
01-09-2013, 05:11 PM
Boston's other paper (http://bostonherald.com/sports/patriots_nfl/new_england_patriots/2013/01/patriots_plan_different_texans_postseason) doesn't seem as (over)confident:
Belichick’s Pats are 8-6 in playoff games against an opponent they played in the regular season, but 3-6 since their last Super Bowl title in 2004. All of the playoff losses under Belichick have come in a rematch.
HPF Bob
01-09-2013, 09:12 PM
It is depressing that journalism has reached this point. Media outlets now employ professional pot stirrers to drive hits. And as long as they don't cross some racial, gender, or cultural line in the process they can write any drivel they like with as little basis in reality as possible. And it is all led of course by the 'worldwide leader.'
*cough* Richard Justice *cough*
barrett
01-09-2013, 10:48 PM
Every paper has a few. It's sad when it's the old guy who once wanted to be a real journalist but now just wants to be noticed.
today
01-09-2013, 10:52 PM
I just re-watched the first half of our first game with the Pats, pausing at different points in the middle of plays and assessing assignments. I'm a lot more confident in our ability to win this game because I don't think we make a lot of these mistakes again:
1. Pats got 3 3rd down conversions by penalty
2. Harris/Gardner missed 6-7 assignments that blew up plays
3. We dropped key passes
4. Schaub made several poor reads trying to force the ball to Andre
5. Our LBs were awful in coverage
6. JJo got beat a few times in coverage (coming off the groin issue)
7. Quin bit on a play action (leading to wide open TD pass).
I'm hoping that we correct all of the above problems, but I still expect Newton to miss a couple of assignments, and I expect that our LBs will still have major trouble in coverage.
Foster ran the ball well IMO, and with Newton in there to cut down on the RT mistakes, I bet we'll see Arian have at least 120 yards and be north of 4 yds/carry.
GO TEXANS!!!!!
If Phillips goes mostly man again, I hope that Quin has the type of game he did against the Bungles. He was all over Gresham. Did a real good job. Will be interesting to see if the Quin/Manning combo can contain those TE's.
Biggest thing I see is being able to get a rush from the front 4. Watt will be Watt, but the Ninja and the edges need to show up big too.
On O, I really hope Graham passes his concussion test on Saturday, and is able to go. NE's LB's can be abused. I also look for further develop/involvement from Posey. At the beginning of the year, I sure didn't see much, but he has come along really well. Talib will likely be shadowing AJ, which will leave the TE's and WR2/3 as prominent options.
Hope, hope, hope.
Keep it alive.
Any. Given. Sunday.
http://espn.go.com/nfl/picks
Cool. One of the ESPN "experts" actually gave the Texans a vote....
HPF Bob
01-11-2013, 09:36 AM
Weather Underground's forecast as of Friday morning for Sunday in Foxboro:
"Mostly cloudy. Fog early. High of 52F. Winds less than 5 mph. Chance of rain 20%."
So damp but not too cold. Not windy. It ought to be good "football weather" for a playoff game.
Keith
01-11-2013, 10:36 AM
On the surface that weather report sounds like good news for the Texans, but honestly I think their chances would improve with uglier weather. Anything that would limit the aerial attack of the Patriots would really help to negate their potential to score in bunches.
cadams
01-11-2013, 01:18 PM
I hope the NFL, the networks, the media, and everyone else lives a nightmare come true and by Sunday night, Brady vs Manning has turned into Schaub vs. Flacco.
this would be magnificant. would love to get to sit in my seats one more time before the end of the season.
cadams
01-11-2013, 01:22 PM
On the surface that weather report sounds like good news for the Texans, but honestly I think their chances would improve with uglier weather. Anything that would limit the aerial attack of the Patriots would really help to negate their potential to put of scores in bunches.
i would vote for a torrential downpour if i could.
barrett
01-11-2013, 01:44 PM
I just saw Herm Edwards and Christian Fauria (I believe) outside Foxboro with some ESPN anchors making picks. They were reasonable about the game and all expected a closer score but still a Patriots win.
Then they pointed out that if both games turned out as picked, then we "all" get what we "all" want (Manning vs Brady). At this point they all started grinning and high fiving themselves at the thought of it.
I love a great matchup as much as the next guy, but I seriously hope that parade is rained on and everyone has to watch our boring Houston Texans for at least another week.
I just saw Herm Edwards and Christian Fauria (I believe) outside Foxboro with some ESPN anchors making picks. They were reasonable about the game and all expected a closer score but still a Patriots win.
Then they pointed out that if both games turned out as picked, then we "all" get what we "all" want (Manning vs Brady). At this point they all started grinning and high fiving themselves at the thought of it.
I love a great matchup as much as the next guy, but I seriously hope that parade is rained on and everyone has to watch our boring Houston Texans for at least another week.
I know. Cause everybody loves Tom Brady and Peyton Manning, right? ;) America wants this matchup! :rolleyes:
NFLN has been getting a little unwatchable, lately....
"Did the Texans learn anything from their beatdown at the Pats?".
And then they will proceed to show all negative Texan stats from the first meeting with the Pats like the first game contains all the answers...
"Can Schaub do a better job this time?"
Then they'll show Schaub's stats "before beatdown" and "after beatdown".... and then they'll go to Willie McGinest for analysis "4 for 14 on 3rd down won't get it done" (penetrating insight, Willie!).
Let's play the game, already..... jeez...
today
01-11-2013, 11:03 PM
Graham passed his concussion test and will play on Sunday... Phew!!!
chuck
01-12-2013, 09:45 AM
I'm starting to feel a little better about this game. I saw somewhere that Quin was still nursing a shoulder. Is this a current concern or a hangover from a couple of weeks back?
I'm starting to feel a little better about this game. I saw somewhere that Quin was still nursing a shoulder. Is this a current concern or a hangover from a couple of weeks back?
Looks like here (http://blog.houstontexans.com/tag/injury-report/) he had a hip thing going on before the Vikes and Colts games, was "healthy" the week of the Bengals game and then dinged the shoulder in the Bengals game. Through all of this, none of the ailments kept him from participating in full practices....
HPF Bob
01-12-2013, 07:59 PM
Well, we're now playing for home field advantage again. Baltimore nipped the Broncos in 2OT.
Anyone else get a little sick watching Jacoby Jones and Trindon Holliday scampering all over the field? That game was Holliday's first loss all year.
Well, we're now playing for home field advantage again. Baltimore nipped the Broncos in 2OT.
Anyone else get a little sick watching Jacoby Jones and Trindon Holliday scampering all over the field? That game was Holliday's first loss all year.
And then there were 3. Oh man, what an opportunity......
I'm watching Niners vs. Packers and after the 1st half, the Niners are ahead in TOP 21:47 to 8:13 yet only lead 24-21. Niners seem a bit like the Texans (ball hogs) and the Packers (quick strike) seem a bit like Pats....
Holliday is/was just as likely to be a goat as a hero. He sure hit a couple of home runs today, though...
Somewhat surprised Peyton is out of the race and that the Broncos/Ravens contest seemed fairly refereed for the most part...
chuck
01-12-2013, 09:36 PM
Anyone else get a little sick watching Jacoby Jones and Trindon Holliday scampering all over the field? That game was Holliday's first loss all year.
Nope. It just shows what anyone who's been paying attention has known for a decade. The Texans have the worst special teams coach in the NFL. And since he and the owner are jackoff buddies he's not going anywhere no matter how badly his units underperform.
It became clear to me a number of years back that to the owner winning is at best secondary. Marciano and his bullshit is as stark an example of that as you'd like to find.
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