Official Texans vs. Titans Game Thread, 11/28/2010
 

The 5-5 Titans come to town this weekend and look to reverse a 3-game losing streak. The Texans are also on a 4-game losing streak in what shapes up to be a battle of the losing streaks. The Titans are without the services of both Kerry Collins and Vince Young so it looks like it will be rookie Rusty Smith (Florida Atlantic) starting at QB. The Titans strength is the run game on both offense and defense ranking 9th and 11th, respectively. Their weaknesses are the passing game on both offense and defense ranking 31st and 26th, respectively.

TV = 12 noon Sunday on CBS (Channel 11 local)

Announcers = Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts

Opening line = Texans by 6
Current line = Texans by 6.5

Set your DVR's.

Update:

ESPN has Texans favored by 6.5

Update#2:

Point spread now posted.

WOW....looks like a sucker bet to me. :eek:

Both VY & Collings are out with some rookie named Rusty something under center, hence the points you gotta lay if you take the Texans.

It does look like a good matchup. Their quarterback will be Rusty and ours will still be Schaub with Foster and AJ for support. The question is how well the Texans can contain Chris Johnson. If he's bottled up, a Texan win is almost guaranteed. But, then, these are the Texans and they've found ways to lose matchups that looked easier than this.

Now that all the playoff pressure is off, it wouldn't shock me to see them go on another late-season run to respectability yet fall short of the playoffs and kill a great draft position. It would be just like them.

Rusty Smith is no slouch. Start him on your fantasy team if you have Schaub as your starter. Randy Moss has been held without a catch for 2 games in a row but the drought ends here. At the end of the day, Titans torch our defense and our offense wont be able to keep up.

Titans 31
Texans 28

It's hard to argue with that prediction with the way the team, and the defense in particular has been playing. I hate this inconsistancy!!

Note to McNair:
There's a time to hold 'em, and then there's a time to fold 'em. You need to run away from this and try again. If it is a consultant you want, make sure it is someone like Tuna who really knows the game.

I swear....if we let this dude look like ****************in' John Elway out there.....

I hope Dl plays good or better than last week and secondary comes up with a reasonable coverage scheme these guys can play and even give Molden a shot at it.

Is there just no snaps available for Slaton ? I understand that Foster is playing very well and they like Ward to come in now and then and spell Arian,
and they don't want Slaton handling punts or KOs but can't they see 3rd down type situations where Slaton might be valuable ? He's not injured, so I gotta think there's something else here we don't know about
that's made him invisable on gamedays ?

Last I saw of Slaton, he was running timidly after reinjuring his surgically repaired neck. I think Kubes would have put him on IR were it not for how easy it is to lose RBs to injury. We've really been fortunate with Foster this year. A lot of teams haven't had their starting tailback all year.

I heard Boomer Esiason say today that 311 NFL players are already on IR this year compared to 277 for all of last year. :eek:

Spread is down to Texans by 4.5 on some boards. :eek:

Time to give the Titans the thrashing they so richly deserve.....

Gametime!

Texans win the toss and will receive.

Slaton brings the ball back to the 25.

Pass to AJ gets 6. 2nd and 4 coming up.

Pass to AJ gets 4, 1st down.

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

Schaub pressured throws inc to AJ. 3rd and 6 coming up.

Dump to Foster gets good yardage, 19 yards. 1st down.

Ward gets 1. Ball at the Titan 41. 2nd and 9 coming up.

Foster sweeps left for about 4. 3rd and 5 coming up.

Schaub throws inc. to JJ. Texans to go for it on 4th and 5.

I'd like to see him involved in the passing game.

Have to draw up the play to go past the marker.

On 4th and 5, dump to AJ only gets 2 or 3. Titans ball at their own 35.

How do you dial up a two-yard pass on 4th-and-5? It can't be a check down because that's your go-to receiver?

Mario sacks Smith for -1/2 yard. 2nd and 10 coming up.

CJ gets about 5. 3rd and 5 coming up.

Flag pre-snap, false start Titans. Makes it 3rd and 10.

3rd down pass to Gage is knocked loose. Titans have to punt.

JJ brings the punt back to the Texans 23.

I saw a bad snap and a missed corner blitz pickup. Bad coaching, bad execution by the players.

Schaub pressured throws inc. to Leach. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Schaub hits AJ for 21. Ball at the Texan 44.

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

Foster hits the right side for 7. 3rd and 2 coming up.

Foster gets 3. 1st down. Ball at the Titan 44.

Foster sweeps left for just 1. 2nd and 9 coming up.

Pass to AJ broken up. Makes it 3rd and 9.

Flag pre-snap. False start Winston. Makes it 3rd and 14.

Dump to JJ only gets 4. Texans to punt.

Punt goes in the endzone. Titans ball at their own 20.

I really think what's playing a big role our woes on offense is really bad field position. JJ and Slaton have been hot garbage all year. Blockers aren't doing a good job on special teams at all.

If they're going to pass, I'd like to see them go to Foster and the TE's more. It's like all (90%?) AJ at the moment....

Cushings TFL on CJ -1. 2nd and 11 coming up.

2nd down pass sails inc. Makes it 3rd and 11.

Pass to Scaife comes up just short of the 1st down. Hard hit by Cushing. Titans to punt.

JJ gets not much on the return. Ball at the Texans 22.

Lay down the lumber, Cush!

If they're going to pass, I'd like to see them try to make a first down when it is third or fourth down. So far, Dennison isn't calling that, :rolleyes:

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

Pass to AJ gets 9. 1st down.

Dump to Foster only gets 1. 2nd and 9 coming up.

Foster gets 3. 3rd and 6 coming up.

Screen to Foster only gets 4. Texans to punt.

Timeout Texans with 21 seconds left in the 1st quarter.

Another pass short of the first down and now we burn a time out trying to punt. Somewhere Chuck is setting fire to a seating section.

Turk's punt is down at the Titans 4.

CJ TFL by Cushing -3. Nice play. Ball at the Titan 1.

End of 1st quarter.

Ha ha... :p They really don't look interested, yet, do they?

Smith's deep pass is INT'ed by GQ! Texans ball at the 25!

Hey Quin, you actually caught the ball.

Dump to Leach gets 7. 2nd and 3 coming up.

Foster for about 1. 3rd and 2 coming up.

Dump to Foster gets 16! Ball at the Titans 1.

Pass to Dreesen gets the TD!

Texans 7, Titans 0

Let's see if Rusty Rusty has an answer or if Fisher switches to Collins.

So far, so good. a little patience on offense and good pressure on defense.

I want to be so excited, however, something in the back of my mind wont let me...

I think Collins is hurt.

12:47 left in the half.

Mariani brings the kickoff back to the Titans 27.

Pass to Washington goes through his hands. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Pass to Moss broken up by GQ. Makes it 3rd and 10.

Pass to Moss good for 14. 1st down Titans.

Gadget play gets sniffed out for -8 yards. Makes it 2nd and 18.

Dump to CJ gets 3. 3rd and 15 coming up.

Dump to Ringer only gets 5 so Titans have to punt.

JJ hits the sideline for modest 9 yard return. Flag on the play. Correction, no foul. Texans ball at their 29.

Yeah, no relaxing or overconfidence here.

No call on penalty Jeff Fischer.

He is but he's also Rusty's back-up today. The newly re-signed Chrissie Simms is the emergency QB. And, trust me, it better be an emergency before Fisher puts him in.

9:48 left in the half.

Foster cuts back for 13. 1st down.

Foster gets about 9 more. Brings up 2nd and 1.

Ward gets 2 for the 1st down. Ball at the Titans 48.

Ward gets about 13 up the gut.

Ward gets 17 - nice run. Witherspoon of the Titans is down on the play. Injury timeout. Ball at the Titans 16.