Official Texans vs. Patriots Game Thread, 12/1/2013
 

The biggest question I have surrounding this game, will Belicheat pull his starters entering the 4th Qtr?

This is going to be bad. Real bad. Case will get abused, and its not going to be pretty.

NE is "only" 'bout a 8-9 fav at this point, due no doubt to this being a classic "trap game" for the Pats as they are bound to be flat, both physically and emotionally, after their big 5 quarter, OT win over Denver this past weekend, and of course it's a road game in a dome-stadium over the big ThanksGiving weekend. If the Texans happen to jump off to an early lead, they might make it an entertaining, even a competitive game.
BTW, former Texans 6th round pick Chris Jones and now starting NE DT has 5 sacks this year. Between Jones, Griffin, & Quessenberry, how is it that the Texans' 6th round picks have turned out so much better than their third round picks this year ?

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

Announcers = Greg Gumbel, Dan Dierdorf

The line = Pats by 7.5 to 9

Say goodbye to Dierdorf. He's retiring after the season.

(Easy way to get on TV if you have first level seats. Make a "Happy Retirement, Dan Dierdorf" sign with a CBS eye on it and get the attention of one of their sideline cameramen)

Not sure why but getting excited about tomorrows game, probably because Brady and the Pats are coming to town. I can't help but think the Texans
would salvage some personal pride for a lost season if they could upset Brady, so I expect a max effort from them. Also reports are Kubiak is back on the sidelines so you know he's pumped - better keep the Doc nearby.

Roof is open. Hoping for a better Case Keenum and a good pass rush today.

Almost time to start the game.

Maybe OD is back and if running game gets going would help.

Protect the ball and and see what happens.

Kubiak is on the sideline.

Texans win the toss and will receive.

Nice run back by Martin! Brings it back to the Texan 44. Texans ball.

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Tate for 6.

Tate gets 4 and a first down. Ball at the Patriots 46.

DJ trips and loses 1. 2nd and 11 coming up.

Bootleg pass to Graham goes for 8. 3rd and 3 coming up.

Dang, short pass to DJ over his head, inc. Texans to punt.

Edelman fair catches the punt at the Patriot 7 yard line. Pats ball.

Sure would have been nice to complete short pass to wide open DJ. Had time.

Nice series by the defense.

Pass to Edelman gets 3.

Bolden gets 2. 3rd and 5 coming up.

Brady's deep pass sails, inc. Pats must punt.

Martin brings the punt back to the Texan 48. Texan's ball.

Yeah, with good opening KR by Matin and good defense has led to good fiield position.

Two good passes to Andre.

10:48 left in the 1st quarter.

Tate for 2. 2nd and 8 coming up.

Pass to AJ over the middle goes for about 29. Ball at the Pats 21.

Short pass to AJ goes for nice gainer to the 8 yard line. 1st and goal.

Short pass to Graham off his hands, inc. 2nd and goal coming up.

Tate punches it in! 8 yard rushing TD!

Texans 7, Patriots 0

8:44 left in the 1st quarter.

Nice TD run by Tate. Maybe his ribs are better.

Kareem Jackson back at CB after out two games.

Pats brings the ensuing kickoff back to their 24. Pats ball.

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Pass to Edelman off his hands, inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Bolden for no gain. 3rd and 10 coming up.

Pass to Edelman over the middle goes for about 20 and the 1st down.

Blount runs for 7.

Bolden for no gain or loss of 1. Brings up 3rd and 3.

Brady's pass INT'ed by JJo! Returns it all the way to the Patriot 32! Texans ball!

Great int by JJo.

Pass to AJ over the middle, almost INT'ed, almost caught by AJ but flags down.... ball was inc.... Offensive PI on Graham makes it 1st and 20 coming up.

Tate for 5. 2nd and 15 coming up.

Keenum's pass over the middle off Graham's hands inc. 3rd and 15 coming up.

Pass to Graham gets about 12. Texans to go for the FG on 4th and 3.

Bullock's 43-yarder is good.

Texans 10, Patriots 0

4:10 left in the 1st quarter.

Sure nice to see Bullock starting to nail his FG.

I know I should be happy with the Texans being up 10-0, but with the field position they've had they should be up 21-0. I think this will come back to haunt them.

Pats bring the ensuing kickoff all the way back to their 45 yard line. Pats ball.

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

Vereen gets about 8 and a 1st down.

Pass to Thompkins goes to the Texan 25.

Brady's short pass thrown inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Vereen for 2 or 3. Brings up 3rd and 8.

Brady has all day and hits Gronk over the middle for the TD.

Texans 10, Patriots 7

1:25 left in the 1st quarter.

Our 4 man rush sure didn't get close on Bradys TD throw.

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

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Tate for 3.

Pass to AJ gets 9 and the 1st down.

Tate for 4. 2nd and 6 coming up.

End of the 1st quarter.

On 2nd and 6, pass is tipped and sails inc. 3rd and 6 coming up.

Pass to Hopkins goes to the Texan 46 and a 1st down.

Tate for almost 4. 2nd and 6 coming up.

Tate for 1. 3rd and 5 coming up.

Pass to Martin goes all the way to the Pats 22! 1st down.

Keenum sacked for loss of 8. 2nd and 18 coming up.

Tate for 3. Brings up 3rd and 15.

Keenum hit as he throws, the ball floats and is INT'ed by the Pats. Pats ball at their 20.

That int by Keenum was a horrible throw. Each week I realize more and more how sad the qb position is on the Texans.

The problem. Was Keenum held on to the ball to long and got hit while throwing.

Come on Texans and defense. Trying to think positive.

I thought overall Keenum doing good today.

Seems inadvertent head butt by Reed on Brady, bad luck because had em stopped.

Pass to Edelman gets 7.

Blount rushes for about 8 and a first down.

Blount for 8 more. Ball at the Pats 43. 2nd and 2 coming up.

Blount for 1. 3rd and 1 coming up.

Develin gets 3 and the 1st down.

Brady's deep pass to Edelman is slightly off the mark and inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Screen to Vereen gets 2. 3rd and 8 coming up.

Pass to Gronk over the middle broken up inc but flag on B Reed for roughing the passer. Places the ball at the Texan 36., 1st down.

Blount for 4.

Vereen for 1. 3rd and 5 coming up.

Brady is sacked! Pats to go for the FG with 5:17 left in the half.

Gostkowski's 55-yarder is off to the right, no good. Texans takeover on downs at their 45.

I love the way D. Johnson is running the ball today.

Tate seems ankle injured but DJ running hard. Nice drive so far.

Tate for no gain.

Screen to DJ gets 12. 1st down at the Pats 43.

DJ for 5. 2nd and 5 coming up.

DJ squirts to the Pats 29 yard line and the 1st down.

Pass to AJ gets 9. 2nd and 1 coming up at the Pats 20.

2 minute warning.

On 2nd and 1, Keenum is pressured and throws inc to Graham. 3rd and 1 coming up.

Tate runs it in! 20 yards!

Texans 17, Patriots 7

1:47 left in the half.

Man, Tate just ran that in for a td untouched.

Boy nice OL blocking and strong run for TD by Tate. Very nice. Ok, team, don't slack up now.

Ben Jones is my new fave Texan. Doing good and just having a blast out there.

Pats bring the ensuing kickoff back to their 15 yard line. Pats ball. 1:40 left in the half.

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Screen to Amendola gets 7.

Pass to Boyce gets about 4 or 5 and the 1st down.

Pass to Gronk goes 15 yards to the Pats 43 for a first down. Mercilus injured on the play. Injury timeout.

Pass to Vereen gets small gain of 6, Pats use a timeout. 2nd and 4 coming up.

Brady pressured by Watt throws inc. 3rd and 4 coming up with 42 seconds left in the half.

Pass to Gronk broken up by Pleasant, inc. Pat to punt.

Punt goes into the endzone, touchback. Texans ball at their 20 with 28 seconds left in the half.

Texans kneeling it.

Halftime.

Texans 17, Patriots 7

Kubiak only knows one play for third-and-1 and that's a halfback run behind the left tackle. The rest of the NFL has clearly figured this out and stuffs it. Everyone but the genius, Belichick, apparently who lets Tate walk in.

Now the NFL's worst second-half team tries to protect a lead against the NFL's best second-half team. We're doomed.

Will the Texans be able to keep up the good play in the second half or will they continue to suck like the passed 9 games?

We always complain about the lack of adjustments that the Texans make at halftime. Well, I'm not sure I want any offensive adjustments. Run the mfing ball until those assholes demonstrate that they're interested in stopping it.

But the second half is going to be fascinating.

Halftime stats:

Passing: Keenum 9/15, 127 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT

Rushing: Tate 12/61, DJ 3/13

Receiving: AJ 4/59, Graham 2/19, K Martin, 1/27, DJ 1/11, Hopkins 1/11

Tackles: Swearinger 4, Mays/Mercilus 3 each, JJo/KJ/Sharpton/Watt/Pleasant 2 each

Time of possession: Texans 14:54, Pats 14:38 (?)

Total yards: Texans 192, Pats 146

1st downs: Texans 10, Pats 9

3rd down efficiency: Texans 3/6, Pats 3/7

Red zone: Texans 1/1, Pats 0/0

Penalties: Texans 2/25, Pats 0/0

Turnovers: Texans 1, Pats 1

Patriots bring the 2nd half kickoff back to their 22. Patriots ball.

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Pass to Amendola gets 16.

Vereen caught and loses 1. 2nd and 11 coming up.

Deep pass to Gronk goes all the way to the Texan 13, 1st down.

Short pass to Vereen goes all the way to the 1. 1st and goal.

Develin bounces around and punches it in for the TD.

Texans 17, Patriots 14

12:41 left in the 3rd quarter.

I think New England made some adjustments on offense during half time. Will this be the start of the Texans second half collapse or will they find a way to win?