Official Texans vs. Ravens Game Thread, 12/21/2014

[Arky]

The 7-7 Texans take on the 9-5 Baltimore Ravens this Sunday in an early game at NRG stadium. The Texans are coming off a 17-10 road loss against the Colts while the Ravens are coming off a 20-12 home win over the Jags. The Texans lost two QB's in the Colts game and have acquired Thad Lewis and re-signed Case Keenum to manage/be a backup in this game - it is unknown who the starter will be, the Texans aren't talking. The Ravens are currently holding on to the last wild card playoff spot (http://espn.go.com/nfl/standings/_/type/playoffs/sort/conferenceRank/order/false) (6th) in the AFC. The Texans are currently ranked 18th in the ESPN power rankings (http://espn.go.com/nfl/powerrankings), the Ravens are 12th.

TV = CBS (channel 11 local), Sunday noon CST, Dec 21

Announcers (http://506sports.com/nfl.php?yr=2014&wk=16) = Andrew Catalon, Steve Beuerlein, Steve Tasker

The line (http://www.madduxsports.com/nfl-odds.php) = Ravens by 5 to 6 (83% of the money coming in on Baltimore)

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Two Saturday games this week:

NFLN = Philadelphia at Washington, 3:30 pm CST

CBS = San Diego at San Francisco, 7:25 pm CST

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Other Sunday viewing in the Houston area:

CBS (late) = Indianapolis @ Dallas -- Jim Nantz, Phil Simms

FOX (late) = NY Giants @ St. Louis (LATE) -- Thom Brennaman, David Diehl

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Prime Time:

TNF = Tennessee at Jacksonville

SNF = Seattle at Arizona

MNF = Denver at Cincinnati

[Arky]

The 0-8 Keenum was 2-5-1 against the spread last year.....

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Though I've noticed some mostly good Texan pass protection in the last few games, Dumervil + Suggs against Keenum = ewwww.....

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OB's strategy to get one of these QB's (Keenum/Lewis) up and going for this game might show a thing or two about his abilities..... One would think he will ask whoever to be a game manager: lots of handoffs, short, quick passes and when the time is right, the occasional deep ball.... The Ravens secondary is not that strong but will Keenum/Lewis have time?

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Gotta go with the Ravens to win..... Gotta feeling this will be very similar to the Philadelphia game...

[Keith]

I'm not great against the spread, but this seems like a home dog that has some bark. So the early money is coming in on Baltimore... wait for the sharps later though.

Texans D is still playing strong, basically healthy. Can't see the Ravens just piling on points in this one. Maybe Baltimore wins, but this is probably a tough cover. The Texans are cornered, season truly on the line this week. I know BOB called last week "the BIG one", but this is really the team's playoff game.

[Nconroe]

Other than unknown QB, this is almost previous Texans offense including coach against current Texans offense. Plenty fun to watch.

I'm thinking similar result to last week, never know.

[Arky]

I'm not great against the spread, but this seems like a home dog that has some bark. So the early money is coming in on Baltimore... wait for the sharps later though.

Texans D is still playing strong, basically healthy. Can't see the Ravens just piling on points in this one. Maybe Baltimore wins, but this is probably a tough cover. The Texans are cornered, season truly on the line this week. I know BOB called last week "the BIG one", but this is really the team's playoff game.

While I agree with most of this, one thing I've learned is when a team has to win (i.e., the cornered team) then they aren't that good to begin with. A good amount of the time (don't have any stats), a "must win" turns into a loss. But I agree that it could be tough cover for the Ravens.... I'm picking the Ravens to win and the Texans to cover the spread... But whatever happens, I'll be rooting for a Texan win.... ;)

Texans ATS = 9-5
Ravens ATS = 8-6

[HPF Bob]

I can't imagine Terrell Thuggs and company going easy on inexperienced QBs, particularly when a playoff berth is on the line. Houston won't score above 10 points and Baltimore will get at least 17 even if the refs have to bail them out at the end.

I'm more sure Baltimore will win than whether they will cover.

[Nconroe]

Sounds like Case will be QB. It would be nice if Texans get a win.

[Arky]

Weeks 16 & 17 - the last two weeks of the regular season: these have traditionally been in the past weeks when the NFL turns upside down. The strongest teams that have already clinched are slipping into rest-up-for-the-playoffs mode. Next tier teams still fighting for a playoff spot will inexplicably lose to lesser teams. Underdogs will rule the day......

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The following is the complete of inactives for Sunday's game against Baltimore.

HOUSTON
QB Tom Savage
TE Garrett Graham
S Josh Aubrey
ILB Mike Mohamed
WR DeVier Posey
G Xavier Su'a-Filo
OLB Jason Ankrah

BALTIMORE
WR/RS Michael Campanaro
CB Chris Greenwood
ILB Arthur Brown
DT Terrence Cody
G/C Gino Gradkowski
OL Ryan Jensen
DT Casey Walker

[Arky]

And here we go......

Ravens win the toss and defer.

Kickoff goes out of the end zone, touchback. Texans ball at their 20.

[Arky]

Pass to AJ good for 36!

Snap to Foster goes for 3. 2nd and 7 coming up.

Pass to Hopkins gets 8 and the 1st down at the Raven 34.

Short pass to AJ gets 7.

Foster in the wildcat gets 4 and the 1st down.

Pass to AJ goes to the 9 yard line. 1st and goal.

Foster gets caught for loss of 2 but holding makes it -10. Makes it 1st and goal at the 19.

Pass to Hopkins on the sideline goes inc. 2nd and goal coming up.

Draw to Foster just gets a couple. 3rd and goal from the 17 coming up.

Screen to Foster misfires, inc. Texans will go for the FG.

Bullock's 35-yarder is good.

Texans 3, Ravens 0

10:33 left in the 1st qtr.

[Nconroe]

pretty good start for Case with all those quick passes to 80.

[Arky]

Jacoby brings the ensuing kickoff back to the Raven 15. Raven's ball.

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

Forsett for 2.

Forsett loses 1. Brings up 3rd and 9.

Flacco scrambles and fumbles out of bounds short of the 1st down. Ravens will have to punt.

K Martin goes nowhere on the punt return. Texans will have the ball at their 25 yard line.

[Nconroe]

Foster and Brandon Brooks both injured on first down run by Foster. hope just bruises.

Foster back in, but Brooks headed to locker room.

[Arky]

Foster for maybe 1.

Pass to Griffin gets 8. Brings up 3rd and 1.

Foster gets 5 and the 1st down but limps off. Ball at the Texan 39. Brooks also injured on the play. Injury timeout.

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Blue gets 5.

Oy, Keenum's pass is INT'ed at the Raven 23 yard line. Raven's ball.

[Arky]

Flacco pressured throws inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Outlet pass to Forsett loses 1. Brings up 3rd and 11.

Ravens use a timeout with 5:36 left in the 1st qtr.

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Pass to S Smith off his hands, inc. Ravens will have to punt.

Martin lets the punt roll to the Texan 24. Texan's ball.

[Arky]

Deep pass to Hopkins off the mark, inc.

Foster gets caught for no gain. Brings up 3rd and 10.

Draw to Foster gets 11 and the 1st down.

Foster goes left for 3 or 4.

Blue gets about 3. Brings up 3rd and 3.

Pass to Foster gets 23. Offsides Ravens is declined. Ball at the Raven 35.

Pass to D Johnson goes for 22!

Flags presnap, offsides Texans, -5. Places the ball at the Raven 18.

Keenum's pass sails inc but offsides on the Ravens gets the 5 yards back. 1st and 10 at the 13 yard line.

Foster for 2 tough yards.

Keenum pressured, throws inc. Brings up 3rd and 8 at the 11 yard line.

Short pass to D Johnson only gets 4. Texans will go for the FG.

End of the 1st qtr.

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Bullock's 25-yarder is good.

Texans 6, Ravens 0

14:57 left in the half.

[Nconroe]

Two nice drives by Texans but looks like only 6 pts. Defense looking good too.

[Arky]

Jacoby brings the ensuing kickoff back to the Raven 25. Raven's ball.

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Flacco to Forsett for 2.

Pass to S Smith gets 9 and the 1st down.

Deep pass to Aiken goes inc.

Pierce caught for a loss of 2.

On 3rd and 12, pass to S Smith only gets 8. Ravens will have to punt.

Punt goes into the end zone, touchback. Texans will have the ball at their 20.

[Nconroe]

1000th catch by AJ, second fastest to get there after Marvin Harrison, twelfth season by AJ.

Way to go Andre.

AJ being only 10th player in NFL history to get to 1000 catches.

[Nconroe]

Somewhat dirty play on Ravens Defense hitting Keenum on a slide out of bounds in the head with elbow and knee in the back which could have been avoidable.

[Arky]

Oy, deep pass to Hopkins off his hands, inc.

Pass to AJ gets 4. #1000.

Keenum scrambles for the 1st down and gets a roughing call on the Ravens. Ball is placed at the Raven 48.

Screen to D Johnson loses 1.

Pass to Fido goes inc. Brings up 3rd and 11.

Pass to AJ off the mark, inc. Texans to punt.

Lechler's punt goes out at the Raven 8. Raven's ball.

[Arky]

Flacco's pass goes inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Flacco pressured, throws inc. Flag on Flacco for intentional grounding places the ball at the 2 yard line. 3rd and 16 coming up.

Forsett gets 6. Ravens will have to punt.

K Martin returns the punt to the Texan 49. Texan's ball.

[Arky]

Keenum rolls out and can't find a receiver, throws it away, inc.

Foster for 1. Brings up 3rd and 9.

Pass to D Johnson only gets 4. Texans will have to punt.

Ravens fair catch the punt at their 14 yard line. Raven's ball with 7:35 left in the half.

[Arky]

Forsett for 1 or 2.

Pass goes inc but flag is down.. PI on the Ravens is declined. Brings up 3rd and 9.

Flacco's pass is deflected, inc. Ravens will have to punt.

K Martin brings the punt back to the Texan 45 yard line.

6:30 left in the half.

[Arky]

Keenum's pass is batted down, inc.

Pass to D Johnson off the mark, inc. Brings up 3rd and 10.

Direct snap to Foster only gets 6. Texans will have to punt.

Lechler's punt goes into the end zone, touchback. Raven's ball at their 20.

[chuck]

Enough with this wildcat bullshit, enough of this junior high trickery. Throw the ball downfield, goddamn it, or spread the field and run the ball. Use your normal offense, not some junior high bullshit.

[Arky]

Forsett for 1.

Pass to T Smith is bobbled and inc. Brings up 3rd and 9.

Flacco's pass is tipped and INT'ed by Bouye! Texans will have the ball at the Raven 16!

[Nconroe]

Crick is having a good game with that batted ball that Buoye intercepted. 32 league leading turnovers.

well Randy is padding his stats with all these short FGs. ok, we are winning at this point.

[Arky]

Pass to AJ over the middle gets 4.

Pass to AJ goes inc/dropped. Brings up 3rd and 6.

Pass to Hopkins in the end zone is broken up, inc. Texans will go for the FG.

Bullock's 30-yarder is good.

Texans 9, Ravens 0

3:54 left in the half.

[Arky]

Jacoby takes a knee on the ensuing kickoff. Raven's ball at their 20.

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Flacco's pass to S Smith off the mark, inc.

Flacco's pass is INT'ed by KJ! Texans ball at the Raven 19!

[Nconroe]

Lets get a TD here. Nice halfbnack pass Foster to Fidorowitz. first td pass by Arian, first TD catch by Fido.

[Arky]

Foster goes right side and loses 1.

Foster for 4. Brings up 3rd and 7.

Pass to Griffin goes to the 4 yard line. 1st and goal.

2 minute warning.

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Hey, hey, looks like Foster was sweeping right and he throws to Fido in the end zone for the TD!

Texans 16, Ravens 0

1:53 left in the half.

[Warren]

You think Foster may be the emergency QB? O'Brien has never disclosed who that is.

[Arky]

Jacoby takes a knee in the end zone on the ensuing kickoff. Raven's ball at their 20.

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Screen to Forsett gets 10.

Deep pass to S Smith is broken up by Bouye, inc.

Deep pass to S Smith is caught but out of bounds, inc. Brings up 3rd and 10. S Smith shaken up on the play....

Flacco's pass floats over the receiver, inc. Ravens will have to punt.

K Martin brings the punt back to the Texan 23. Texan's ball.

[Arky]

Deep pass to D Johnson off the mark, inc.

Foster goes left for 5. 37 seconds left in the half.

Foster loses 2. Texans will have to punt. Ravens use their last timeout with 33 seconds left.

Jacoby fair catches the punt at the Raven 26. Raven's ball with 25 seconds left in the half.

[Arky]

Flacco's pass over the middle goes inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Flacco is sacked by Crick! Time runs out.

Halftime.

Texans 16, Ravens 0

[Arky]

Halftime stats:

Passing: Keenum 13/27, 140 yds, 1 INT

Rushing: Foster 15/44, Blue 2/9

Receiving: AJ 5/64, D Johnson 4/27, Griffin 2/19

Tackles: Crick 4, Watt/Merci 3 each, Reed/Dent/Cushing/Lewis 2 each

Total yards: Texans 211, Ravens 31

1st downs: Texans 12, Raven 2

3rd down efficiency: Texans 5/12, Ravens 0/7

Red zone: Texans 1/4, Ravens 0/0

Penalties: Texans 2/15, Ravens 3/26

Turnovers: Texans 1, Ravens 2

Time of possession: Texans 19:47, Ravens 10:13

[Arky]

Jacoby brings the 2nd half kickoff back to the Raven 33. Raven's ball.

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Flacco's pass to OD goes inc.

Forsett rumbles for 6. 3rd and 4 coming up.

Forsett for 1. Forsett injured on the play..... Ravens will have to punt after the injury timeout.

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Martin fair catches the punt at the Texan 8 yard line. Texan's ball.

[Nconroe]

Bad return by Jacoby. seems to me John Harbaugh has convinced refs to throw flags on Texans. Hmm

[Arky]

Foster for 1.

Keenum's pass to Foster off the mark, inc.

On 3rd and 9, Foster slips and only gains 1. Texans will have to punt.

Jacoby has a nice return, 45 yards, on the punt but flags are down.....illegal block in the back on the Texans... 10 yard penalty = 1/2 the distance to the goal from the Texan 19 places the ball at the Texan 9.5 yard line. 1st and goal for the Ravens.

[chuck]

Keystone Cops kick coverage.

[Arky]

Pass to S Smith is caught but out of bounds in the end zone, inc.

Run to the right is sniffed out for a loss..... flags down.... personal foul on the Texans makes it 1/2 the distance to the goal, 1st down. Ball at the 8.5 yard line.

Forsett for maybe 1.

Pass to T Smith in the end zone is good for the TD.

Texans 16, Ravens 7

11:10 left in the 3rd qtr.

[Nconroe]

the punter outpunted the converage with long punt. but then sideline opened up for Jacoby. somewhat expected.

[Nconroe]

looked like a catch by Andre to me. come on ref, give it to him.

[chuck]

the punter outpunted the converage with long punt. but then sideline opened up for Jacoby. somewhat expected.

WTF are you talking about? Pleasant whiffed on a tackle that would have meant no return.

[Arky]

Manning downs the ensuing kickoff, touchback. Texan's ball at their 20.

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Short pass to AJ ruled inc. OB challenges that is was a catch.....

Ruling stands as inc.

Screen to Foster goes inc. Brings up 3rd and 10.

Keenum is crunched and throws inc but the refs are treating it like a fumble......

Play is reversed, inc pass. Texans will have to punt.

Jacoby fair catches the punt at the Raven 29 yard line. Raven's ball.

[Nconroe]

ok, looked like a pass in motion to me, not a fumble. but not a good start to this half. calm down guys.

[Arky]

INT by KJ! Returns it to the Raven 19! Texan's ball!

[Nconroe]

alright, needed that int by Jackson, his second of the day.

[Arky]

Foster improvises for 7.

Foster for 2. 3rd and 1 coming up.

Pass to Hopkins goes to the 4. 1st and goal.

Mixup in the backfield, Keenum loses 1.

Pass to AJ goes to the 2. 3rd and goal coming up.

Slant pass is low and inc but flag on the Texans for a "pick".... Texans will go for the FG.

Bullock's 20-yarder is good.

Texans 19, Ravens 7

[chuck]

Red Zone play calling is registering at Kubiakian levels of stupid.

[Arky]

Bullock's ensuing kickoff goes out of the end zone, touchback. Raven's ball at their 20.

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Pass to Gillmore gets 9.

Pierce for maybe 1..... flag down.....holding on the Ravens, -10. Makes it 2nd and 11 coming up.

Pass to T Smith gets 8. 3rd and 3 coming up.

Pass to Brown goes for the 1st down at the Raven 37.

Pass to Forsett loses 2. About 5.5 minutes left in the 3rd qtr.

Flacco's deep pass is over everyone, inc. Makes it 3rd and 12 coming up.

Flacco pressured, throws inc. Ravens will have to punt.

Punt goes out of bounds at the Texan 30. Texan's ball.

[Nconroe]

In the red zone again, OL doing a job. Hope we score a TD this time.

[Arky]

Pass to Griffin gets 6.

Pass to Hopkins gets 6 and a 1st down.

Pass to Hopkins gets 8 or 9.

Keenum sneaks for 2 and the 1st down.

Pass to Fido good for 7.

Prosch gets 2. 3rd and 1 coming up.

Blue gets 2 and the 1st down. About 2 minutes left in the 3rd qtr.

Pass to Hopkins gets 9. Ball at the Raven 26.

Keenum sneaks for 3 and the 1st down.

Foster for 6 or 7.

Foster for no gain. 3rd and 3 coming up at the Raven 16. A Raven (Jernigan?) injured on the play....

End of the 3rd qtr.

[Arky]

Flags presnap..... false start Texans, -5. Brings up 3rd and 8.

Pass to Hop is caught but out of bounds, inc. Texans will go for the FG.

Bullock's 39-yarder is good.

Texans 22, Ravens 7

14:50 left in the game.

[Nconroe]

We covered that kickoff out of the end zone pretty good.

[Arky]

The ensuing kickoff goes out of the end zone, touchback. Ravens will have the ball at their 20.

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Flacco's deep pass to T Smith sails inc but flag is down... holding on the Ravens, -10. Makes it 1st and 20.

Pass to Jones gets 11. 2nd and 9 coming up.

Flacco is crushed by Cushing, helmet to helmet....draws the flag...1st down Ravens at their 31.

Forsett for a couple.

Pass to OD off the mark, inc. Brings up 3rd and 8.

Pass to S Smith gets 12 and the 1st down.

Pass to S Smith gets 5.

Deep pass to Brown overthrown, inc. Brings up 3rd and 5.

Pass to Brown is out of bounds, inc. Ravens going for it on 4th down....

Timeout Texans with 12:30 left in the game....

Pass is broken up inc! Texans takeover on downs. Ball at their 46. 12:26 left in the game.

[Nconroe]

nice wildcat run by Arian there.

[Arky]

Foster for maybe 1.

Foster in the wildcat gets loose for 34!

Blue for no gain. Ball at the Raven 20.

Pass is caught by Hop but Suggs was offside, 5 yards. Makes it 2nd and 5 coming up.

Pass to Prosch goes inc. 3rd and 5 coming up.

Keenum's pass to AJ goes inc. Texans will go for the FG.

Bullock's 33-yarder is good.

Texans 25, Ravens 7

9:55 left in the game.

[Arky]

Jacoby brings the ensuing kickoff back to the Raven 23. Raven's ball.

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Screen to Forsett goes for 3.

Flacco somehow gets the ball off to Forsett for a gain of 2. 3rd and 5 coming up.

Pass to OD gets 7 and the 1st down.

Toussaint gets about 12.

Dumpoff pass to Toussaint gets 5. Ball at the Texan 47.

Flags presnap.... false start Ravens, makes it 2nd and 10 coming up.

Screen to Jacoby gets a nice gain, ball at the Texan 35.... Flag on Watt for roughing the passer....oh man, that was kinda weak... Ball at the Texan 20.

Pass in the end zone out of bounds, inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Pass to Forsett off the mark, inc. 3rd and 10 coming up.

Pass to T Smith goes for the TD.

Ravens going for the 2 pointer....

Flacco sacked by Watt!

Texans 25, Ravens 13

5:56 left in the game.

[Arky]

Onside kick is recovered by AJ. Texan's ball at the Raven 47.

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Foster goes right and loses 1.

Blue loses 1. About 5 minutes left in the game. 3rd and 12 coming up.

Foster for no gain. Texans will have to punt. Ravens use a timeout (#2). 4:20 left in the game.

Lechler's punt is downed at the Raven 1. Raven's ball.

[Nconroe]

hey, how about that Texans downed the punt at 2 yard line. Texans defense just needs to close it out now.

[Arky]

Pass to T Smith gets a couple or three.

Pass to T Smith goes to the 25 yard line, 1st down.

Pass to S Smith gets about 14.

Flacco can't find a receiver and throws it away, inc. 2nd and 10 coming up with 2:45 left in the game.

Flacco pressured, throws it inc. 3rd and 10 coming up.

Screen to Toussaint is inc. Ravens going for it on 4th and 10.....

Texans use a timeout (#2). 2:34 left in the game.

Watt with the sack! Texans takeover on downs!

[Nconroe]

JJ Watt and Defense with another 4th down stop. amazing Watt. Watt now bypassed Mario as all time Texans sack leader.

[Arky]

Blue for 2. Ravens use their last timeout with 2:21 left in the game.

Blue caught for a loss of 3 or 4. Brings up 3rd and 12.

2 minute warning.

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Blue loses 2. Texans burn some clock and delay the game. 1:11 left in the game as Lechler is on for the punt.

Punt goes into the end zone, touchback. Raven's ball at their 20 with 1:04 left in the game.

[Nconroe]

oh man, Rolle didn't catch the punt on the 2 yard line, touchback.

Keenum gets a win finally as a Texan. good team win, especially defense.

8-7 Texans. how about that.

[Arky]

Screen to Toussaint goes for 15.

Forsett (?) for 5.

Time runs out.

Final Score:

Texans 25, Ravens 13

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Very nice win. Keenum now 3-5-1 against the spread. ;)

[chuck]

Two straight out of control games by the defense. It's scary to think that there are any number of places where, in the event of a responsible draft, the defense could get a lot better.

[Arky]

This loss may have knocked Baltimore out of the playoffs.... Kinda sweet since we've always been their whipping boys (and minor league farm club)....

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Watt led the team in tackles with 8 total (solo and assisted). I'm only seeing him credited with 1 sack so he's at 17.5 for the year and I believe maybe #1 in the NFL....

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Keenum was not sacked today. Good job o-line, OB and Keenum......

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Defense was just outstanding as chuck mentioned. Wish the chemistry could have been gelled a little earlier in the year.....

[barrett]

Two straight out of control games by the defense. It's scary to think that there are any number of places where, in the event of a responsible draft, the defense could get a lot better.

Did it hurt to say that Chuck? It was almost positive.

I ask because you just spent a whole game bashing the Texans while they led wire-to-wire with a 4th string QB over a playoff team that desperately needed the game.

[nunusguy]

No kidding, hey Texans just wanted it more than the Ravens. There's some pretty good mid to late round picks on that defense like DE Crik and CB Buoye.
And If we have any luck getting back the two 2 IRed rookies Clowney and the Notre Dame NT we should be really strong next year on defense, but I guess Jonahtan Joesph and/or Cushing will be cap casualaties next year.

[WMH]

Hell of a job by the coaches today. Pretty impressive stuff. To likely finish with a winning record as a 1st year HC, with this QB mess is a damn good start. Playoffs or not.

[Keith]

You think Foster may be the emergency QB? O'Brien has never disclosed who that is.
I thought it was disclosed that Shane Lechler was the emergency QB.

Nice win. Great defense, great gameplanning from the coaches. The Texans sure seemed pretty familiar with that Kubiak offense. There was a moment somewhere in the middle of that game where it seemed like Swearinger was listening to the offense and knew exactly what to expect. If you're an offense that is gonna make Swearinger actually look like the smart one, then you're gonna be in for a long afternoon.

There was a nice pass to Damaris Johnson in this game that gives you a glimmer of what this offense might be like with an upgrade to the slot receiver. Really hope that is addressed in the offseason.

Ben Jones tries hard, and he is a fun guy to root for, but the sooner he is replaced by XSF or whomever, the better.

Sure seems like we are watching A.J. Bouye mature out there. Kareem Jackson turned in a good performance. JJo can still play, but comes at a pricetag...and Kendrick Lewis is going to need a new deal. Gonna be an interesting offseason to see how this secondary returns in 2015.

Hate to look back, but those handful of losses to teams like the Steelers, Cowboys, Colts, and others... just wish the Texans could get one of them back. Now the team needs a lot of help, namely from the Chiefs and (gulp!) Browns.

[chuck]

Since I apparently hate the Texans so much you guys must think it's a morgue around here when the Texans are winning. Not so. As evidence I submit a picture of my wife and son today, jubilant over another Randy Bullock field goal:

http://i.imgur.com/OnNtGc8.jpg

It was either the fourth or fifth, it's hard to tell at this point. But if you think that was a celebration you should have been here for the team record shattering sixth field goal from point-blank range. It was pandemonium.

Amid the merriment I could have sworn that I heard my son scream 'OUTSTANDING!'

I have no idea where he learns that sort of language.

[Keith]

Enough with this wildcat bullshit, enough of this junior high trickery. Throw the ball downfield, goddamn it, or spread the field and run the ball. Use your normal offense, not some junior high bullshit.

I'm right there with you. Well, I would be if we didn't have a Cougar High quarterback. This is where O'Brien differs from Kubiak. O'Brien took the Keenum out of Keenum today... quick drops, gimmick plays. Notice how many sacks the Ravens had on Sunday? Zero. How many times did O'Brien allow Keenum to scramble around, extend the play, and ultimately take a 14-yard sack? Zero.

Hey, if you're given a junior high QB, you go with a junior high offense in order to win a game. When Fitz and Mallett were under center, we saw virtually none of this.


Hey, hey, looks like Foster was sweeping right and he throws to Fido in the end zone for the TD!

This is why the halfback option pass in 2014 is genius with O'Brien and why it was an unmitigated failure against the Jags in 2009 when Kubiak opted to take the ball out of Schaub's hands and into Chris Brown's.

[chuck]

Ahh, the memories:

http://ww1.hdnux.com/photos/25/15/66/5561756/63/628x471.jpg

[Arky]

Interesting take: the Junior High strategy..... If it means a W against the Ravens perhaps we can break out the Pee Wee football strategy against the Broncos/Patriots of the league? ;)

[Warren]

I thought it was disclosed that Shane Lechler was the emergency QB.The TV guys for the Colts game seemed to think so, but when O'Brien was asked about it last week on his radio show he wouldn't answer, implying it was for strategic reasons. While watching yesterday's junior high trickery it occurred to me that would be a better option in a situation where there's no real QBs available than having Lechler back there to hand off and throw the occasional desperation pass.

[HPF Bob]

Foster's pass had a lot of wobble but at least it got to a wide open receiver. The difference between the Foster play and the Chris Brown play was that the receiver was uncovered. Baltimore had nobody on the TE and I can't say that I blame them.

Honestly, the Wildcat, as a surprise option, works quite well. As the announcers described it, one defender had to follow Keenum out of the play, meaning Foster had one less guy to run through. It becomes 10-on-10 football instead of 10-on-11 since the QB is not a blocker.

And, while Keenum wasn't running for his life (thanks to having a legit running threat and better blocking), he did have a long run that had a personal foul tacked onto the end of the run.

I'm sure all week the coaching staff was thinking "how do we run an offense with no quarterback" and what you saw was, in part, what they came up with. I'm glad they didn't turn to the slow white guy reverse that was a Kubiak staple. :)

[Keith]

The TV guys for the Colts game seemed to think so, but when O'Brien was asked about it last week on his radio show he wouldn't answer, implying it was for strategic reasons. While watching yesterday's junior high trickery it occurred to me that would be a better option in a situation where there's no real QBs available than having Lechler back there to hand off and throw the occasional desperation pass.
FWIW, in one of the local TV Sunday night sports specials, O'Brien told a reporter that Arian Foster can throw a tight spiral 60 yards. That wounded duck he tossed to CJF doesn't really support this claim, but yeah, I could see Foster running the wildcat as quickly as I could see Lechler under center in an emergency QB situation.

[Arky]

Texans are a whopping 10.5 pt favorite (http://www.madduxsports.com/nfl-odds.php) over the Jags next Sunday....