Official Texans vs. Ravens Game Thread, 10/21/2012
 

The 5-1 Texans will host the 5-1 Baltimore Ravens in a showdown for top dog in the AFC and it should be *the* AFC game of the week. The Texans suffered their first loss of the year last Sunday night getting schooled by the Green Bay Packers 42-24. The Texan defense seems to be still dealing with the loss of LB Brian Cushing and a hampering injury to CB Jonathan Joseph. Last chance for the Texans to "prove" themselves before they go on their much needed Week 8 bye.

The Ravens have been in many close games this year but usually figure out a way to get the W. They will be without LB Ray Lewis, CB Ladarius Webb and most likely Terrell Suggs (doubtful). DT Haloti Ngata has a minor MCL tweak and was last listed as "questionable". Big arm QB Joe Flacco is not afraid to go deep several times per game. He likes to target WR's Anquan Boldin, Torrey Smith, TE Dennis Pitta and RB Ray Rice coming out of the backfield. In the running game, Rice is averaging 5.0 ypc (97/482). Backup RB Bernard Pierce averages 5.3 ypc (23/122).

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

Announcers = Greg Gumbel, Dan Dierdorf

The line = Texans by 6.5 - 7.5

Texans vs. Ravens on CBS will be seen in 40-something states although the game will be up against a slew of early FOX games. In Houston, the Cowboys vs. Panthers game will be shown on FOX at the same time due to the home rules being lifted because of the NLCS.

Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) tweeted:
Kubiak at podium: CB Johnathan Joseph did not practice.

Nick Scurfield (@NickScurfield) tweeted:
Joseph was labeled "day-to-day" on Monday by Kubiak, who said #Texans might have to be smart w/ him to get him to Sunday

Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) tweeted:
Kubiak: RB Foster, DE A. Smith, LB James were limited in practice also. J-Jo will be an end-of-the-week decision.

Kinda wish the bye was maybe this week instead of next.

But hey, we all knew in April the Jets-Pack-Ravens stretch would be tough. Better in October than in November or December.

Yeah, and Ravens offense seems to be doing well.

Rest of A0fC is 3-3 or worse.

If this does happen, can't imagine he's all that effective, but it would be very impressive....

From Schefter:
October 18, 2012: Despite returning to practice only Wednesday from a torn Achilles in April, Ravens LB Terrell Suggs is targeting and expecting to play Sunday versus Houston, according to league sources. Sources said that even Suggs’ family and friends have plans to travel to Houston in anticipation of watching him stage one of the quickest returns from this type of significant injury that any athlete ever has. “Yes, that’s still the plan,” one source texted today. Baltimore still wants to make sure there are no setbacks this week, especially today, when Suggs returns to the training facility after his first day of practice since last season. Plus, Suggs appears to have added weight during his layoff that he may try to shed in coming weeks. Ravens coach John Harbaugh continually has declined to put a timetable on Suggs’ return and many have believed it would be mid November. But more and more it’s looking like there’s a real chance, maybe a better than real chance, that Suggs will make his season debut Sunday

I think the Ravens are desperate after losing two players last week but I can't see putting Thuggs in for more than a few snaps at best. There's no way he's in "playing shape" and putting him out there would probably do more to risk injury than to contribute defensively. However, I could see putting him in for a few snaps just to boost his confidence that he is "back". Anything beyond that would be stupid.

Have to imagine the Ravens just want a new emotional leader out there following the loss of Ray Lewis.

It is strange how similar these two teams are coming into this game. Both loss an important leader at inside linebacker (Lewis and Cushing), both have an ailing top cornerback (Webb and Joseph), both have an ailing defensive tackle (Ngata and Mitchell), and both rely on a dynamic running back to make their offense work in both the running and passing game (Rice and Foster).

That the Ravens have a few former Texans (Vonta Leach, Jacoby Jones, Bernard Pollard) and the Texans just picked up a Raven to backfill Mitchell, not to mention these two teams last met in the playoffs 9 months ago, it makes for a lot of familiarity for Sunday's game.

I sometimes think teams pick up ex-players of other teams just to pick their brains about the opposition or make the opponents change signals if nothing else.

Just like us the Ravens are going into their bye week and since this game is already so important for both teams in terms of potential tie-breakers when home-field and all rolls around for the playoffs, why not throw everything and everyone you can at the competition in this game because it's gonna be a long 2 weeks before the next game ?

It was interesting to see Jacoby Jones make a 108 yd kick return last week, sure hope our return coverage doesn't let that happen.

I guess Texans will be fired up after the embarrasing result against Green Bay.

And hope JJo is back to normal self in secondary now.

Beat their asses, especially for what happened in January.

Thuggs is activated and, to make room on the roster, the Ravens have released OLB Sergio Kindle. If the name sounds familiar, Kindle is the former University of Texas star who fractured his skull in a fall down stairs two years ago and has hardly played since. He has no hearing in one ear and the Ravens were unsure how he would play with crowd noise. Didn't there used to be a player that was legally deaf a few years ago? I seem to recall a player from Nebraska like that who was an outstanding talent and they used hand signals for him.

Edit: That was Kenny Walker, Denver Broncos (1991-92).

My current interest in Longhorns football is roughly equivalent to my current interest in Astros baseball and for not dissimilar reasons but I can't help feeling a huge sense of sorrow for what happened with Sergio. That guy was a freaking terror at UT and I was really excited to watch him in the NFL. It's a real shame that he effectively never got to play.

Heading over to Sam's Boat to watch the game. Have we ever beaten the Ravens? Let this one be the first, just like it was with the Jets two weeks ago.

Nope, 0-6 against the Ravens. It's time to start cleaning up some of that stuff - Minnesota (never beat them, either, IIRC) is also on the "hit list"....

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Forgot it is Battle Red day today....

Music shuffle just started playing Thunderstruck out of all the songs it can play.

Foreshadowing? I hope so.

Battle Red Day. Let's ****************ing go!

Gametime!

Texans win the toss and will receive.

Kickoff goes out of the endzone. Texans ball at their 20.

Foster for 3.

Foster for 4. 3rd and 3 coming up.

Pass to Foster - can't hang on, inc. Texans to punt.

Punt goes out of bounds at the Raven 22.

Rice for about 8.

Rice for 2 and the 1st down.

Pass to Smith good for about 12. Ball at the Raven 45.

Rice gets 17 on the right side.

Pass to Dickson good for 5.

Flacco, pressured, throws inc. 3rd and 5 coming up.

3rd down pass is tipped, inc. Ravens to go for the 51-yard FG.

Timeout Ravens.

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FG is good.

Ravens 3, Texans 0

10:57 left in the 1st quarter.

Martin downs the ensuing kickoff in the endzone. Texans ball at their 20.

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

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

Pass to Foster sails inc. Texans have to punt.

Jacoby fair catches the punt at the Ravens 25.

Hey Gary, enough with the Marty Ball BULLSHIT.

9:25 left in the 1st quarter.

Quick pass to Smith goes for 7.

2nd down pass to Pitta off the mark, inc. 3rd and 3 coming up.

3rd down pass to Dickson broken up by Dobbins. Ravens have to punt.

Punt goes out of bounds at the Texan 22. Texans ball.

Pass to KW good for 8.

Pass to AJ goes for about 5 and the 1st down.

Schaub sacked by Suggs. Loss of 8. 2nd and 18 coming up.

Pass to OD off the mark, inc. 3rd and 18 coming up.

Foster gets about 8. Texans have to punt.

Texans down the punt at the Ravens 3. Ravens ball.

Leach for 6.

Flacco hit in the backfield and fumbles but Ravens fall on it. Loss of 2.

Connor Barwin sacks in the endzone for a safety!

Ravens 3, Texans 2

4:49 left in the 1st quarter.

Texans to receive the ensuing kick....

I wanted six out of that field position but I'll take two and hope for six on the drive.

The season-long plan to make opponents forget about Barwin finally pays off.

Martin brings the kick back to the Texan 33.

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Foster for 7.

Foster for 5 but holding on the Texans brings it back. 2nd and 13 coming up.

Pass to AJ gets 12. 3rd and 1 coming up.

Casey powers for 5 and the 1st down.

Schaub overthrows a wide open KW. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Pass complete to OD for a couple but facemask penalty on Pollard. Texans ball at the Raven 36, 1st down.

Foster for 5.

Schaub, pressured, dumps off to AJ for 6 and the 1st down.

Pass over the middle to KW goes for the TD!

Texans 9, Ravens 3

30 seconds left in the 1st quarter.

Jacoby brings the ensuing kickoff all the way back to the Raven 42.

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Rice gets about 4 or 5.

End of the 1st quarter.

Flacco's pass is INT'ed on the sideline by JJo! Pick 6!

Texans 16, Ravens 3

14:51 left in the half.

Wowzers...... keep it going, boys....

I really hope that gives Joseph some confidence going forward.

He's got all the confidence he needs, dude, he's just hurt.

The ensuing kickoff goes out of the endzone. Ravens ball at their 20.

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Rice for almost 5.

Rice for no gain. A Raven injured on the play. Injury timeout. 3rd and 5 coming up.

On 3rd and 5, pass to Boldin is off the mark, inc. Ravens have to punt.

Martin goes nowhere on the return.... Texans ball at their 24.

Tate upended after a gain of 4.

Pass to AJ goes for about 8 and a 1st down.

Pass to KW good for about 7.

Foster for 6 but flag on the play. Holding on Casey brings it back. 2nd and 13 coming up.

Dumpoff to Foster goes for 5. 3rd and 8 coming up.

Pass to AJ gets 7...... Texans to punt.

Punt is fielded by Reed at the Raven 18 and downed there. Ravens ball.

I know, I mean make him forget a bit about being hobbled.

Sit Garrett Graham down. Now.

Flacco's deep ball can't find a home, inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Timeout Texans cause they had 12 men on the field. 10:06 left in the half.

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Flacco's pass too tall for Smith, inc. 3rd and 10 coming up.

Dumpoff to Rice gets 6. Ravens have to punt.

Martin brings the punt back to the Texan 27 but flag on the play. Facemask on the Ravens. Places the ball at the Texan 42.

He just redeemed himself.

Pass to AJ good for 12.

Foster for 1.

Nice catch! Pass to Graham good for nice gain. Ball at the Raven 24.

Foster for 9.

Foster to the 1 yard line.

Pass to OD good for the TD! Play is under review....

Play stands...

Texans 23, Ravens 3

5:58 left in the half.

Graham with a bit of redemption on that circus catch.

Looks like a good catch by Daniels!

I'd somehow forgotten what a dumbass Dierdorf is.