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

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 (6th) in the AFC. The Texans are currently ranked 18th in the ESPN power rankings, the Ravens are 12th.

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

Announcers = Andrew Catalon, Steve Beuerlein, Steve Tasker

The line = 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

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...

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

And here we go......

Ravens win the toss and defer.

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

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.

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

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

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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.

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

Foster back in, but Brooks headed to locker room.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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!

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.