Official Texans @ Giants Game Thread, 9/21/2014
 

The Texans are traveling up to MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ to take on the Giants this Sunday in an early game. The 2-0 Texans have been doing a good job so far of avoiding the "big errors". Will this continue?

The 0-2 NY Giants have a streak dating back to last year of 5 straight games with 4+ turnovers. Last year the Giants started the season 0-6. Does Tom Coughlin have any hair left on his head? Will the Texans avoid looking like the doofusses (doofi?) this time and make the Giants look like a well-oiled machine?

Texans rated #14 this week in the ESPN power rankings - up from #22 last week. Giants rated #30, previously #26.

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

Announcers = Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts

The line: Texans by 1 to 2.5

If you get a chance, look at BOB's presser from earlier this week regarding this being a "Trap" game. Pretty funny stuff.

This is incorrect. I got it from the comment next to the Giants in the power rankings linked above. I checked into it and it's wrong.

If you can trust the ESPN stats, more correct statements would be:

1. The Giants have had at least 2 turnovers/gm for the last six games.

2. The Giants have averaged 3.17 turnovers/gm for the last six games.

3. The Giants had 4 turnovers last week and 2 turnovers in Week 1. The last four games of 2013, the Giants had 3, 2, 5 and 3 turnovers in those games.

This is an interesting matchup because we really don't know yet who the Texans are and we really don't know who the Giants are. I got to watch some of the Giants-Cardinals game last Sunday but was not all that impressed. IMO, the key will be pressuring Eli Manning into mistakes. He has the weapons to make it a long day for Houston if he's not being harrassed. However, the Giants' OL was terrible last year and does not seem much improved this year. It could have made for a nice "statement" game for Clowney but, alas, he won't be involved. If we see a lot of Reed and Mercilus in the backfield, that's a good sign.

Offensively, the Texans will continue to showcase Arian Foster running the ball to set up Fitzpatrick's short throws to Johnson and Hopkins. In the first two games, Houston achieved great balance between run and pass. New York's defense ought to be better than Washington's and Oakland's so that strategy will be put to the test. If Foster gets off to a fast start, the flow of the game will favor Houston. If we see a lot of Shane Lechler, that's a bad sign.

Historically, the Texans are terrible when playing in the Northeast. Were it in Houston, I'd like the Texans but, on the road, I think the Giants will prevail late on a bad call or a fluky play. Say, 17-16.

What weapons do you think Eli has? Victor Cruz is the only skill guy on the roster who could start for a decent team. The rest of their WR core is totally unproven and average, their TEs are no-names (even though Donnell has at least caught it the last 2 weeks), and they can't run the ball (the starter is Jennings, the former Jags and Raiders backup). This is not a team with weapons.

I also don't think New York's D is better than Washington's. Washington held us to 10 on offense and then held JAX to 1o points and under 150 yards while recording 10 sacks. Meanwhile NY got beat by Drew Stanton who hadn't thrown a pass since 2011.

This Giants team is terrible. We can definitely lose this game, but if we do it will be all about our issues, not because NY is better than the teams we've faced.

I see the texans winning, and winning big.
I expect AJ to finally find the end zone.
I expect the defense to look even better than they have.

28-14

The sharps are pounding the Giants. The Giants are now the favorite by 1 to 2 points.

Likely due to Foster being inactive.

I guess not to worry, but Arian Foster out with a tweaked ham string.

See how it affects the play calling.

I'm thinking Texas 24-13, perhaps.

Inactives for both teams:

HOUSTON
RB Arian Foster
QB Tom Savage
NT Louis Nix III
WR DeVier Posey
OLB Jadeveon Clowney
FS Shiloh Keo
T Jeff Adams

NEW YORK
WR Odell Beckham Jr.
LB Jon Beason
LB Devon Kennard
T Charles Brown
DE Kerry Wynn
T James Brewer
DT Jay Bromley

He wasn't inactive when I posted that at 2:21 am. :) No, I think they like the QB better and the desperation of NY..... It's interesting that the public likes the Texans but the big money is coming in on the Giants....

It would be a feather in the Texans cap if they can pull off the win anyway... ;)

Texans win the toss and defer, Giants receiving the kickoff.....

Ball is downed in the end zone, touchback. Giants ball at their 20.

One reason the sharps are sharps is because they have ways of finding this stuff out before it hits the public.

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

Jennings for 5. Brings up 3rd and 1.

Jennings for about 4 more and the 1st down.

Jennings for 2. 2nd and 8 coming up.

Sack by Watt! Loss of 8. Brings up 3rd and 16.

Jennings gets about 7 yards back but the Giants have to punt.

Punt goes out of bounds inside the Texan 20. Texan's ball.

Yep. And they're not always right, either. They are sharp because they always do better than Joe Public.

nice sack by MegaWatt , and then nice run by Bleu.

Blue for about 11.

Blue for 2.

Fitz's pass is batted down at the LOS. 3rd and 8 coming up.

Pass to AJ gets 7. Texans will punt on 4th and 1.

Fake! Lechler passes to Blue for the 1st down at midfield.

Blue for 9.

Flags presnap. Offsides on Fido -5. Brings up 2nd and 6.

Fitz scrambles for a couple but holding on Brooks brings it back. 2nd and 16 coming up.

Grimes for 5. 3rd and 11 coming up.

Fitz's pass is a wounded duck and is INT'ed by the Giants. Giant's ball at their 36. 7:31 left in the 1st qtr.

Jennings for 9.

Pass to Randle goes for about 8.

Jennings for 3 and the 1st down.

Pass to Donnell gets 5.

Pass to Randle gets 5 and the 1st down.

Pass to Randle goes for 9. 2nd and 1 coming up.

Jennings up the gut for 8.

Jennings for 3. Ball at the Texan 10. 2nd and 7 coming up.

Pass to Donnell was caught and then fumbled! JJo picks it up and brings it back to about the Texan 27. Texan's ball. JJo injured on the play.

Amazing, Kendrick Lewis causes fumble on 4 yd line and Joseph runs it out to 25 or so. Before that Giants drive looked pretty good.

Fitz needs to be careful, Giants getting their hands on a lot of passes right now.

Fitz's pass to AJ is tipped, inc., nearly INT'ed.

Blue works for 4 yards. 3rd and 6 coming up.

Fitz pressured, scrambles for 5, short of the 1st down. Texans to punt on 4th and 1.

Punt goes into the end zone, touchback. Giant's ball at their 20.

Williams for 4. 2nd and 6 coming up.

Pass to Cruz goes for big gainer. 81 yards. Morris tracks him down at the Texan 15. (Wow, good speed by Morris - I didn't know he was that fast)

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

End of the 1st qtr.

I guess that is why we picked up Morris, to have some speed in the secondary. Nice run down of Cruz, but Giants threatening again.

The Giants are really snake bit. man, a bouncer on fg for Texans ball.

Manning's pass to Randle in the end zone floats inc. 3rd and 10 coming up.

Pass to Donnell gets short gain. Giants to go for the FG.

Brown's 30-yarder is a blown snap! Texans tackle the kicker at their 41 yard line!

Pass to Hopkins goes to the Giant 42, good for 17 yards.

Blue for 2 or 3.

Oy, pass to Prosch is dropped, inc. 3rd and 8 coming up.

Pass to Hopkins a little off the mark, inc. Texans to punt.

Punt goes out of bounds around the Giant 10 yard line. Giant's ball.

Hmm, JJ out, JJo out, Kareem Jackson out, hope this is short term bruises but we are getting beat up right now.

JJ back on the field.

Jennings for about 7. 2nd and 3 coming up.

Jennings for 5 and the 1st down.

Jennings gets a big gainer, 18 yards.

Deep ball to Randle is broken up, inc. 2nd and 10 coming up. KJ limps off.

Flags presnap. Offsides Giants. 2nd and 15 coming up.

Screen to Cruz goes for 7. 3rd and 8 coming up.

Pass to Parker over the middle is inc. Giants have to punt.

D Johnson has a short and sweet return. Texan's ball at their 19.

9:37 left in the half.

Time for a Texans score. Maybe we are missing Foster.

R Brown for 1. 2nd and 9 coming up.

Brown for no gain. 3rd and 9 coming up.

Screen to AJ goes nowhere. Texans will have to punt.

Parker brings the punt back to Giant 37. -10 yards on the Giants for holding, added at the end of the run. Should place the ball at their 27.

8:01 left in the half.

Need some defensive adjustments , against run and hmm? Maybe we can get a defensive score, just hoping

Manning's pass to Randle off target, inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Jennings for 11 up the gut.

Jennings for 3.

Pass to Donnell goes to the Giant 49 yard line, 1st down.

KJ gets a TFL -2. 2nd and 12 coming up.

Short pass to Cruz gets 1. 3rd and 11 coming up.

Pass to Parker gets 13 and the 1st down in Texan territory.

Pass to Parker goes to the Texan 26, another 1st down.

Short pass to Cruz who takes it in for the score.

Giants 7, Texans 0

3:21 left in the half.

Giants are flat out beating Texans offense and defense this first half, for an obvious statement. Only thing very close so far is on scoreboard.

Man, was that an incredible left handed catch by Hopkins, too bad called back on illegal formation. and now Fitz is sacked. yikes.

oh crap, second interception of the day, this one wasn't tipped, good play by Rolle.

D Johnson runs into Griffin at the Texan 17 on the ensuing kickoff. Texan's ball.

What a catch by Hopkins on the deep throw from Fitz! But it's coming back because of illegal formation on the Texans. Makes it 1st and 15.

Fitz is sacked. Makes it 2nd and 21.

Blue gets maybe 2. 3rd and 19 coming up.

2 minute warning.

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On 3rd and 19, Fitz's pass is INT'ed by Rolle. Brings it all the way back to the Texan 2 yard line. Giant's ball, 1st and goal.

Fitzpatrick's football IQ is about zero.

Jennings for 1. 2nd and goal from the 1.

Jennings for no gain. 3rd and goal from the 1. 1:10 left in the half.

Jennings punches it in for the TD.

Giants 14, Texans 0

1:07 left in the half.

The ensuing kickoff goes out of the end zone, touchback. Texan's ball at the 20.

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Pass to AJ along the sideline too high, inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Pass to Martin goes for 16.

Fitz can't find a receiver and scrambles out of bounds for -1 yard. 2nd and 11 coming up.

Bad snap goes over Fitz's head, Fitz picks it up and throws it away, inc. 3rd and 11 coming up.

Pass to Martin off the mark, inc. Texans have to punt. 22 seconds left in the half.

Parker brings Lechler's punt back to the Giants 21. Giant's ball.

Manning kneels it out.

Halftime.

Halftime stats:

Passing: Fitz 4/13, 39 yards, 0 TD, 2 INT

Rushing: Blue 6/30

Receiving: Hopkins 1/17, AJ 2/6, K Martin 1/16, Blue 1/10

Tackles: Cushing 10, Lewis 5, JJo/Morris/Watt/Manning/Crick 4 each, Jamison/Mercilus/Mohammed 3 each

Total yards: Texans 83, Giants 262

1st downs: Texans 4, Giants 14

3rd down efficiency: Texans 0/7, Giants 3/6

Red zone: Texans 0/0, Giants 1/3

Penalties: Texans 3/20, Giants 2/15

Turnovers: Texans 2, Giants 1

Time of possession: Texans 11:55, Giants 18:05

Anybody think we will or should see Mallett sometime during second half?

D Johnson brings the 2nd half kickoff back to the Texan 26. Texan's ball.

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A TE sighting! Pass to Graham good for 11.

Blue gets caught for -2. 2nd and 12 coming up.

Pass to Graham gets 11. 3rd and 1 coming up.

Blue gets stopped short of the 1st down. Texans to go for it on 4th down.

Blue gets stopped again. Giants takeover on downs at about the Texan 40 yard line. Man....