View Full Version : Official Texans vs. Bills Game Thread, 9/28/2014
The 2-1 Texans will be hosting the 2-1 Buffalo Bills this Sunday in an early game. Both teams are coming off their first loss of the season. Both teams currently occupy first place in their respective divisions, though the Bills are tied with New England.
The Texans fell 6 spots to #20 in the ESPN Power Rankings (http://espn.go.com/nfl/powerrankings). The Bills fell 7 spots to #19.
TV = CBS (channel 11 local), Sunday, noon, Sept 28
Announcers (http://506sports.com/nfl.php?yr=2014&wk=4) = Spero Dedes, Solomon Wilcots
The line (http://www.madduxsports.com/nfl-odds.php) = Texans by 3
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Bye weeks begin this week with Cincinnati, Cleveland, Denver, St. Louis, Arizona and Seattle all having the week off.
HPF Bob
09-26-2014, 09:44 AM
Sure looks like an even matchup from that description. For those who don't know Vegaspeak, the home team normally gets three points just for being at home so the oddsmakers are essentially saying that, on a neutral field, this game is a "pick em".
Bills did not look that good against the Chargers at home but, frankly, the Bills will rise and fall on the play of second-year QB E.J. Manuel. If he's not sharp, the defense can play up against the Bills' running attack which is probably the best group of backs we've faced so far this year.
Sammy Watkins hasn't really gotten into the offense the way the elite receivers do but he's always a threat. Hopefully J-Jo is healthy.
The Bills, like the Texans, have some good players on defense but they don't really add up to a dominating force. Houston will need to tighten up their run defense while the Bills must improve on pass defense in order to get the W.
Really tough call this Sunday, sort of like choosing between Manuel and Fitzpatrick.
Keith
09-28-2014, 11:47 AM
Foster active. Buoye out.
If pregame warmup speeches are any indication, Fitzpatrick sure is fired up and ready to face one of his former teams today.
Bill down the opening kickoff in the end zone. Bill's ball at their 20.
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Pass to FB Sommers is good for 3.
Pass to Watkins goes inc. 3rd and 7 coming up.
Manuel hit as he passes....ball is inc.....flag on Bills for hand to the face is declined. Bills have to punt.
D Johnson brings the punt back to the Texan 33. Texan's ball.
Fitz hits AJ for 13.
Foster caught in the backfield for loss of 6.
Pass to Hopkins over the middle goes for 10. 3rd and 6 coming up.
Fitz scrambles but throws inc. Texans have to punt.
Lechler's punt is downed at the Bill's 2 yard line. Bill's ball.
Previous punt was reviewed and one of the Texans had his foot on line in coverage = touchback, Bills ball at their 20.
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Spiller for 2.
Crick with the sack! Loss of 5. 3rd and 13 coming up.
Pass is deflected, inc but they get JJ for roughing the passer. First down at the Bills 32.
Spiller for 5.
Pass to Williams down the sideline goes inc. 3rd and 5 coming up.
Spiller TFL'ed by Morris. Bills will have to punt.
Punt is downed at about the Texan 31 yard line. Texan's ball.
Pass over the middle to Hopkins gets 4.
Pass to Hopkins gets 5. 3rd and 1 coming up.
Fitz scrambles for a half yard, short of the 1st down. Texans will have to punt.
Punt is fair caught at the Bills 18 yard line. Bill's ball.
Spiller for 3 or 4.
Manuel pressured, runs for no gain. 3rd and 4 coming up.
Pass to Watkins is dropped, inc. Bills will have to punt.
D Johnson brings the punt back to the Texan 24 yard line. Texan's ball.
(It's a 3-and-out puntfest!)
Foster for no gain.
Pass to Foster in the flat goes for about 12 and a 1st down.
Foster for no gain.
Pass over the middle to Graham gets 5. 3rd and 5 coming up. D Brown shaken up on the play. Injury timeout.
Fitz is pressured and sacked for loss of 2. Texans will have to punt.
Bills fair catch the punt at about their 19 yard line. Bill's ball.
Pass by Manuel is deflected at the LOS, inc.
Jackson for 9. Brings up 3rd and 1.
Pass to Jackson goes for about 3 and the 1st down. Ball at the Bill 33.
Jackson tripped up for loss of 1. 2nd and 11 coming up.
Pass to Jackson gets 3. Flag on Watt again for roughing the passer. Places the ball at midfield.
Spiller hits the right side for 22 yards.
Flags presnap.....false start Bills, -5. Makes it 1st and 15.
End of the 1st quarter.
Nconroe
09-28-2014, 12:43 PM
two tough roughing calls and first downs on JJ, but he's hitting Manuel right at the knees.
On 1st and 15, Spiller gets 1 or 2.
Pass to Watkins complete for 7. Brings up 3rd and 5.
Manuel hits Chandler for the 1st down at the Texan 12 yard line.
Pass to Chandler good for 4.
Timeout Bills.
Jackson for maybe 1. Brings up 3rd and 6 at the Texan 8.
Bills use another timeout.
Flags presnap. Offsides Bills. Brings up 3rd and 11.
Pass to Williams is knocked loose, inc. Bills to go for the FG.
Carpenter's 31-yarder is good.
Bills 3, Texans 0
11:37 left in the half.
The ensuing kickoff sails out of the end zone, touchback. Texan's ball at their 20.
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Pass to Hopkins down the sideline, inc but flag on the play. Illegal contact on the Bills, 5 yards and an auto 1st down.
Blue for 1.
Pass to AJ good for 9 and the 1st down.
Pass to AJ good for big gainer. Ball at the Bills 40 yard line.
Short pass to AJ only good for 3 or 4 but AJ fumbles going to the ground. Unnecessary roughness called on D Brown adds 15 more. Bills will get the ball at the Texan 49.
Spiller goes left for about 7.
Manuel's pass too high, inc. 3rd and 3 coming up.
Pass to Watkins good for 7 and the 1st down.
Jackson for 2.
Draw to Jackson goes for 13 and a 1st down at the Texan 21.
Texans use a timeout.
Spiller goes left for 9. 2nd and 1 coming up.
Pass to Spiller goes to the 5. 1st and goal.
Pass to Watkins good for the TD.
Bills 10, Texans 0
5:54 left in the half.
chuck
09-28-2014, 01:14 PM
The Texans have negative yards rushing and their second-round pick, 33 overall, an interior lineman, sucks so much that he can't even see the fcking field.
This is a terrible team and they have received effectively zero production from their first six picks. It's amazing, really.
The ensuing kickoff goes out of the end zone, touchback. Texan's ball at their 20.
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Fitz's deep pass is INT'ed by McKelvin. Bill's ball at their 37.
5:47 left in the half.
Pass to Watkins too high, inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.
Pass to Watkins good for 10 and the 1st down.
Bills use their final timeout. 5:01 left in the half.
Dumpoff to Spiller goes for 5. 2nd and 5 coming up.
Spiller fumbles for the Bills recover. Brings up 3rd and 4.
Pass to Woods goes inc. Bills will have to punt w/3:38 left to go in the half.
Punt goes into the end zone, touchback. Texan's ball at their 20.
Foster for 4.
Foster for 3. Brings up 3rd and 3.
Flare pass to Foster goes for nice gainer. 17 yards and a 1st down. Ball at the Texan 44.
2 minute warning.
Foster for 1. A Bill (Dareus) is injured on the play...... 2nd and 9 coming up.
Fitz is pressured, throws inc. 3rd and 9 coming up.
Fitz scrambles for 12 and the 1st down.
Pass to Graham goes for 9. Texans use a timeout (#2).
Pass to Hopkins down the sideline goes for the TD! 35 yards.
Flag down for excessive celebration by Hopkins. Will be enforced on the kickoff.
Illegal formation on the Bills on the extra point = -5 so, a net of -10 against the Texans on the kickoff.
Bills 10, Texans 7
57 seconds left in the half.
Bullock's ensuing kickoff is brought back by Spiller to the Bills 34 yard line. Bill's ball.
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Manuel's pass over the middle goes inc.
Pass to Jackson goes for 13.
Pass to Morris goes for -2.
Spike with 7 seconds left in the half. 3rd and 11 coming up.
Pass to Jackson gets about 11 but time runs out.
Halftime.
Halftime stats:
Passing: Fitz 12/15, 151 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Foster 6/1, Fitz 2/11, Blue 1/0
Receiving: Hopkins 4/54, AJ 4/52, Foster 2/29, Graham 2/16
Tackles: Cushing 6, Watt 4, JJo/Swearinger/Morris/Jackson/Crick/Tuggle 3 each
Total yards: Texans 161, Bills 156
1st downs: Texans 8, Bills 12
3rd down efficiency: Texans 2/5, Bills 4/9
Red zone: Texans 0/0, Bills 1/2
Penalties: Texans 4/60, Bills 4/20
Time of possession: Texans 11:11, Bills 18:49
Turnovers: Texans 2, Bills 0
The 2nd half kickoff goes out of the end zone. Texans will have the ball at their 20.
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Fitz's pass is tipped at the LOS and INT'ed by the Bills. Bills will have the ball at the Texan 19. Oy.
Spiller for about 4.
Spiller for 4. Brings up 3rd and 2.
Woohoo! Pick 6 by Watt! 79 yards!
Texans 14, Bills 10
Officially 80 yards on the Watt INT.
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Bills bring the ensuing kickoff back to their 21. 13:22 left in the 3rd qtr.
Jackson for about 7. 2nd and 3 coming up.
Manuel's pass to Woods sails inc. 3rd and 3 coming up.
Pass to Watkins broken up by JJo, inc. Bills will have to punt.
Martin brings the punt back to about the Texan 36. Texan's ball.
Pass to Graham goes for 12.
Pass to Fido is popped loose, inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.
Fitz's pass sails over Graham, inc. 3rd and 10 coming up.
Screen to D Johnson goes for 10 and the 1st down.
Foster for 2 or 3.
Pass to Foster over the middle goes for 8 and the 1st down.
Foster for almost 2. 2nd and 8 coming up at the Bills 31.
Pass to Foster goes for 7. 3rd and 1 coming up.
Flags presnap. Offsides Bills gives the Texans a 1st down at the Bills 18.
Short pass to AJ goes for 4.
Fitz starts to scramble but loses 2. 3rd and 8 coming up.
Flags presnap. Offsides D Brown -5. 3rd and 13 coming up.
Fitz muffs the snap, falls on it and loses 2. Texans to go for the FG.
Bullock's 42-yarder is good.
Texans 17, Bills 10
6:18 left in the 3rd qtr.
The ensuing kickoff is downed in the end zone, touchback. Bills will have the ball at their 20.
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Spiller for 8.
Spiller for 2 and the 1st down.
Screen to Jackson gets 9. 2nd and 1 coming up.
Screen to Spiller goes for nice gain, 1st down.
Screen to Woods gets 3.
Lewis gets the TFL for a loss of 4. 3rd and 10 coming up.
Manuel's pass to Woods thrown short, inc. Bills will punt.
Punt goes into the end zone, touchback. Texans will have the ball at their 20.
Fitz's pass to AJ goes inc but flag on the Bills for holding, 5 yards and an auto 1st down.
Pass to AJ gets 15.
Pass to AJ gets 5 but flags down..... They get D Brown for blocking downfield, makes it 1st and 20.
Fitz gets sacked by M Williams....flag down....holding against the Bills, 5 yards and an auto 1st down.
Pass to Prosch good for 29. Nice play call. Ball at the Bills 41.
Blue powers for 3.
Blue for no gain.
End of the 3rd qtr.
3rd and 7 on the Bills 38 coming up.
Timeout Texans.
Flags presnap......neutral zone on the Bills.... Makes it 3rd and 2 coming up.
Flags presnap. False start on Brooks. Makes it 3rd and 7 coming up.
Deep pass to AJ goes inc. Texans to punt.
Punt goes out of bounds at the Bills 13. Bills' ball.
Manuel's pass is nearly INT'ed by KJ but inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.
Spiller caught by JJo for a loss of 2. 3rd and 12 coming up.
Manuel pressured, throws it deep and inc. Bills will have to punt.
K Martin brings the punt back to the Texan 48. Texan's ball.
Blue for -2.
Fitz dumps off to Blue for a gain of 4. 3rd and 8 coming up.
Dumpoff to Foster is dropped, inc. Texans will have to punt.
Lechler's punt is downed at the Bills 1 yard line. Bills' ball.
Nconroe
09-28-2014, 02:48 PM
honorable mention to left handed shuttle pass by Fitz.
Texans unable to establish much running attack today.
Jackson for 2. 2nd and 8 coming up.
Pass to Chandler broken up, inc. 3rd and 8 coming up.
Bills use a timeout (#1, two left).
On 3rd and 8, deep pass sails inc. Bills will have to punt.
Punt is brought back by K Martin to the Bills 43. Texan's ball.
Blue for 3.
Pass to Graham off the mark, inc. 3rd and 7 coming up.
Pass to Foster goes for 4 or 5.... Texans will try the long FG..
Bullock's 55-yarder is good!
Texans 20, Bills 10
9:21 left in the game.
AJ going to the locker room.....
barrett
09-28-2014, 02:57 PM
I think Bullock is officially fixed. Crazy how mental kickers are. I remember Kris Brown sandwiching 2 great seasons around a year with like 10+ missed FGs. It's like these guys just fall apart and forget how to kick it.
Spiller downs the ensuing kickoff in the end zone. Bills will have the ball at their 20.
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Wow, deep pass to Williams goes for 80 yards and the TD.
Texans 20, Bills 17
9:08 left in the game.
Manning brings the ensuing kickoff back to the Texan 35. Texan's ball.
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Pass to Blue goes for 12. Ball at the Texan 48.
Short pass to Blue inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.
Blue for 6. Brings up 3rd and 4.
Fitz scrambles for just enough for the 1st down.
Pass to Martin goes for nice gainer but flag is down. PI on Hopkins, -10. Makes it 1st and 20.
Reverse/end around to D Johnson goes for 8. 2nd and 12 coming up.
Pass to Hopkins gets 10. 3rd and 2 coming up.
Screen to Foster goes inc. Texans to go for the FG.
Bullock's 50-yarder is good!
Texans 23, Bill 17
4:49 left in the game.
C'mon defense!
Spiller brings the ensuing kickoff back to the 20 yard line. Bills' ball.
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Short pass to Williams goes for 4.
Manuel's pass to Chandler goes inc. 3rd and 6 coming up.
Manuel's deep pass down the sideline sails inc. Bills will punt.
K Martin fair catches the punt at the Texan 32. Texan's ball.
Blue for no gain. About 3 minutes left in the game.
Fitz's pass to Prosch off the mark, inc. 3rd and 10 coming up.
Pass to Foster goes for 10. Smart by Foster to roll for the 1st down.
Blue caught in the backfield for loss of 4. Bills use a timeout w/2:07 left.
Blue goes right side for 2. 3rd and 12 coming up.
2 minute warning.
On 3rd and 12, screen to Foster loses 2. Texans will punt on 4th and 14.
Bill bring the punt back to their 28. Bills' ball.
Manuel can't find a receiver and scrambles for 3.
Manuel pressured by Mohammed throws it away, inc. 3rd and 7 coming up.
Screen to Jackson goes for 13 and the 1st down. 1:21 left in the game.
Pass to Wood good for 12. Ball at the Texan 41.
Manuel's pass is INT'ed by Morris! Whew! Texan's ball.
Texans kneeling it out.
Final score:
Texans 23, Bills 17
3-1 baby!
Nconroe
09-28-2014, 03:26 PM
That Morris kid with the INT has been pretty active today. and a game saver.
Keith
09-28-2014, 05:15 PM
Watt is having his best season ever, imo better than 2012. I think he tallied 9 QB hits today, not to mention the game-changing pick 6. High-stepping the final yards Deion-style was pretty sweet too.
Three wins against RG3, Derek Carr, and E.J. Manuel... eh, I'll take it. KC had their turnaround last year beating up the bottom half of the league's QBs, too.
Next three will be tougher though with Romo, Luck, and Roethlisberger. The run game will need to step it up to help keep those offenses off the field. The Texans D played great today, but TOP was a huge negative for most of the game. These guys will be gassed if they have to be out there this much in the next three games.
HPF Bob
09-28-2014, 06:52 PM
The talking head on NFL Red Zone said teams who begin the year 3-1 make the playoffs 63% of the time. Still, I'm skeptical.
HPF Bob
09-28-2014, 07:10 PM
When you amass more wins in one month than you had all of last season, it is hard to complain. The defense still has some run issues but they are fairly good, at least against mediocre or worse offenses. J.J. Watt was everywhere on defense today. I can only imagine what we can do when we get Clowney back. Cushing has been quietly solid so far as well which has been a big help.
Special teams: Lechler and Bullock are both above average. Still not impressed with our kick returning but the rest of the units have definitely earned their keep and we haven't seen nearly the penalties on special teams that we saw under Marciano.
The offense? Oy vey! Fitzpatrick sometimes looks like a 10-year veteran and sometimes he looks like a 10-week veteran. Makes too many bad throws, especially on the run or to receivers out in the flat. The run game looked great for two weeks and then got stuffed these last two weeks which apparently turns Fitz from being a decent quarterback to one who takes unnecessary risks.
I'd like to see them work some screens to the backs into the offense to slow down the pass rush. Until we have a dependable quarterback, what we have seen so far is really the only script that can win for us - solid defense, solid special teams and a really iffy offense.
With the AFC South still on their schedule, they have a chance to sneak into the playoffs as a 9-7 team if they catch some breaks but, more likely, they will come in between 6-10 and 8-8 and get a 12-18 draft choice in the first round.
barrett
09-28-2014, 07:32 PM
3 wins are nice, but none of it matters until we get a QB. We can sneak our way to 10-6 every year by winning the turnover battle and getting JJ Watt miracles, but without a QB we can never really go anywhere.
On that note, Teddy Bridgewater sure looked good today. I was not a fan of drafting him, but getting no QB at all almost ensured that we will get second guessed if any of those guys play well.
HPF Bob
09-28-2014, 08:55 PM
It's probably a good thing that the Cowboys are destroying the Saints right now. We all know how hot and cold Romo can be. To a lot of people, beating the Cowboys would legitimize everything O'Brien is doing.
It's probably a good thing that the Cowboys are destroying the Saints right now. We all know how hot and cold Romo can be. To a lot of people, beating the Cowboys would legitimize everything O'Brien is doing.
Yep, looks like it will be the 3-1 Cowboys vs. the 3-1 Texans. Maybe they'll be feeling full of themselves when we go up there. They seem built to give the Texans trouble: strong running game and Romo is a pretty accurate passer. He won't misfire as much as EJ Manuel did today..... I expect a spread of around 7 to 10...
After that matchup, gotta turn it around quick and play the Colts on Thursday night. :rolleyes: The good news is, it's at home....
Keith
09-28-2014, 09:52 PM
If pregame warmup speeches are any indication, Fitzpatrick sure is fired up and ready to face one of his former teams today.
The mothership has the video and audio of Fitzy's pregame speech. Beating the Bills obviously meant something to him.
http://www.houstontexans.com/tv-media/videos/Cant-Miss-Fitzpatrick-pregame-speech/5f49f918-83a2-491a-97b5-d0cf7b5550d2
HPF Bob
09-29-2014, 10:04 AM
Reflecting on Chuck's earlier comments about our draft choices:
1. Clowney - injured. Due back soon.
2. Su'a-Filo - MIA. Have seen extremely little of him.
3. Federowicz - Blocks well, drops passes
3a. Nix - Filling up two spots on IR I believe.
4. Savage - third stringer.
Blue, Pagan, Hal - Making plays on special teams and backups.
barrett
09-29-2014, 10:23 AM
Reflecting on Chuck's earlier comments about our draft choices:
1. Clowney - injured. Due back soon.
2. Su'a-Filo - MIA. Have seen extremely little of him.
3. Federowicz - Blocks well, drops passes
3a. Nix - Filling up two spots on IR I believe.
4. Savage - third stringer.
Blue, Pagan, Hal - Making plays on special teams and backups.
Chuck is flustered by this 3-1 start and needs something to whine about like a baby needs it's blanky.
But Chuck is still right that the first 3 rounds of this year's draft class do not look very good right now.
Keith
09-29-2014, 11:07 AM
But Chuck is still right that the first 3 rounds of this year's draft class do not look very good right now.
We all know it is tough to grade a draft class after four weeks into their rookie seasons, but yes, the early round picks do not appear to be slam dunks. Clowney, when healthy, does, but questions about his ongoing, long-term ability to stay healthy seem valid right now.
Couple that with those like me who wanted to see a QB (ahem, Teddy), and the early rounds seem even more depressing.
There have been some great late round and FA pickups this year though, which tend to be decisions made less by committee and more by the scouts, I would presume.
The mothership has the video and audio of Fitzy's pregame speech. Beating the Bills obviously meant something to him.
http://www.houstontexans.com/tv-media/videos/Cant-Miss-Fitzpatrick-pregame-speech/5f49f918-83a2-491a-97b5-d0cf7b5550d2
Fitz has his flaws but he is one scrappy dude. He's a placeholder, sure, but I think he's out there giving it his all when he plays. Can't fault him for that. Still, I would like to see some of Mallet eventually, when one of these games gets out of hand one way or the other...
chuck
09-29-2014, 11:35 AM
3-1 is 3-1 and you can't argue with that. But gaining 30 yards on 30 carries or whatever it was is not a blueprint for success. My overall point is that this team is going to be stuck in NFL purgatory until it starts producing at least average drafts every year.
We're coming up on a stretch where we play some varsity teams for a change and if we bring no running game we're likely to get exposed. If you're going to spend 33 on an interior lineman and he's healthy then he should be doing a lot more ass kicking on the field than ass scratching on the sidelines, especially if your team is having trouble running the ball.
Or you should find someone else to supervise your drafts.
Man, early returns (http://www.madduxsports.com/nfl-odds.php) have the Cowboys as a 4 pt favorite over the Texans. "Vegas" definitely has a higher opinion of the Texans than some of us fans do....
Edit: The lines have disappeared. Check back later...
barrett
09-29-2014, 01:52 PM
3-1 is 3-1 and you can't argue with that. But gaining 30 yards on 30 carries or whatever it was is not a blueprint for success. My overall point is that this team is going to be stuck in NFL purgatory until it starts producing at least average drafts every year.
We're coming up on a stretch where we play some varsity teams for a change and if we bring no running game we're likely to get exposed. If you're going to spend 33 on an interior lineman and he's healthy then he should be doing a lot more ass kicking on the field than ass scratching on the sidelines, especially if your team is having trouble running the ball.
Or you should find someone else to supervise your drafts.
At least part of that is due to Foster not being healthy, and the total lack of fear for our passing game. It's not like the OL got worse since the first 2 weeks.
But that is more an overall OL excuse from me. Issues with Su'a Filo are totally legit. The guy can't see the field because of Ben Jones? It may be a month into his career, but that has all the early makings of a blown pick.
And Nix has made Clowney look like Ironman so far.
At least uncovering Morris, Bouye, Blue can offset the mid rounds. But Clowney has to get healthy and be good enough to make it worth a wasted year with no QB. Or we accidentally get lucky with Mallet (1 in 50?) or Savage (1 in 100?) as a true franchise guy.
Altogether more than enough issues to keep me depressed even at 3-1 (and more than enough to keep Chuck happy about his half empty cup).
chuck
09-29-2014, 02:26 PM
Our quarterback will have to exceed expectations to be league average. That's fine, everyone knows that. In order for the team to be respectable and give the Colts any sort of competition in the division we need to have an ass kicking defense and a solid running game. Watt is a freak of nature, the secondary is a lot better than I thought it might be, the LBs have disappointed but not so much as to be tremendously alarming. If Clowney ever gets healthy that should change things significantly for the better because that guy also has the makings of a lunatic.
But they need to figure out how to run the ball. Foster being injured is an obvious root cause but his injury shouldn't be any surprise at this point. And the Texans have usually run the ball pretty well with their back up running backs whoever they might have been. That's not happening right now. There are very few teams you can beat in the NFL if you're at second and eleven all day long.
The good news is that the coaches don't seem insistent on doing the same stupid sht every game despite the fact that it doesn't work. For example they brought a jumbo package in and tried to sneak a pass out to Andre. It didn't work, of course, but I was elated at the effort.
So I'm looking forward to seeing how BOB tries to tinker with the running game to get it moving. I'm sure he'll do something reasonably intelligent. Until then I'll enjoy savoring the emptiness of my cup.
barrett
09-29-2014, 02:52 PM
Our quarterback will have to exceed expectations to be league average. That's fine, everyone knows that. In order for the team to be respectable and give the Colts any sort of competition in the division we need to have an ass kicking defense and a solid running game. Watt is a freak of nature, the secondary is a lot better than I thought it might be, the LBs have disappointed but not so much as to be tremendously alarming. If Clowney ever gets healthy that should change things significantly for the better because that guy also has the makings of a lunatic.
But they need to figure out how to run the ball. Foster being injured is an obvious root cause but his injury shouldn't be any surprise at this point. And the Texans have usually run the ball pretty well with their back up running backs whoever they might have been. That's not happening right now. There are very few teams you can beat in the NFL if you're at second and eleven all day long.
The good news is that the coaches don't seem insistent on doing the same stupid sht every game despite the fact that it doesn't work. For example they brought a jumbo package in and tried to sneak a pass out to Andre. It didn't work, of course, but I was elated at the effort.
So I'm looking forward to seeing how BOB tries to tinker with the running game to get it moving. I'm sure he'll do something reasonably intelligent. Until then I'll enjoy savoring the emptiness of my cup.
I love that even though we can't throw the ball, we are still taking shots downfield. If you have a terrible QB, the other team knows you have a QB, and they are selling out against the run because of it, why even bother trying to put together 10 play drives. Just pick good times to try 6-8 big plays per game. Hit 3 or 4 and you win. Or hit 1 and have your DE intercept a pass from 5 yards away and run it back 80 yards for a TD. Either way you win.
And I have not seen it mentioned anywhere, but Swearinger is playing his butt off. It's a bit hard to like the guy on occasion, but he has a manic energy out there that reminds me of pre-injury Cushing. He is flying around with total disregard for himself, his teammates, and his opponents. Everybody gets hit. I am seriously waiting for him to go helmet to helmet on a mascot. I don't even mind that much that he blew the coverage on the 80 yard TD. As time goes by hopefully we are smart enough to pair him with a great cover safety that can protect him (Like Earl Thomas with Chancelor). Until then, I just like watching him create havoc.
chuck
09-29-2014, 10:06 PM
We don't have anything resembling a passing game but as you note we surely can go vertical from time to time and it is great to see that we do that. Fitz has the arm to get the ball downfield and we have at least two receivers who I'm happy to see in one on one coverage with most any corner, certainly any corner in our division.
The bit about Swag going helmet to helmet with a mascot made me laugh.
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