Official Texans @ Vikings Game Thread, 10/9/2016
 

The Texans travel up to Minnesota Sunday for an early game on CBS. The 4-0 Vikings are coming off a 24-10 MNF win over the New York Giants. Going back to last year, the Vikings defense has held opponents to 17 pts or less in seven straight games. Their offense is led by QB Sam Bradford who is game managing well and keeping the turnovers down. The Vikings lead the NFL with a +10 turnover differential. The Texans have a -3. In short, the Vikings have an awesome defense and a below average offense.

The 3-1 Texans are coming off a 27-20 victory over the Tennessee Titans. They will need to play as mistake-free as possible to have a chance in this game...

The game will be aired in most of the state of Texas and a big chunk of the midwest.

TV = CBS (channel 11 local), noon CST, Sunday, 10-9-16

Announcers = Spero Dedes, Solomon Wilcots

The line = Vikings by 6 to 7

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Other Sunday viewing in the Houston area:

CBS (late) = Cincinnati @ Dallas, Jim Nantz, Phil Simms

FOX (late) = Atlanta @ Denver, Chris Myers, John Lynch

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Prime time:

TNF = Arizona @ San Francisco (CBS; NFLN)

SNF = NY Giants @ Green Bay (NBC)

MNF = Tampa Bay @ Carolina (ESPN)

It's a bit annoying that the prime time games feature six NFC teams. I wonder how often that happens.

Good catch, I did not notice that. Also, you can expect a heavy dose of Dallas every week as long as they keep winning (Actually, we get a heavy dose of Dallas whether they are winning or not). I do understand they have a big following but I'm not one of them. Thank goodness this year I got a free year of Sunday Ticket when I signed up with DirecTV......

As it seemed, OL went from rank 11 last year to 29th so far this year.
https://www.profootballfocus.com/pro...ring-week-5-2/

I call them the Dallas Kardashians because I think the Dallas team has a big fan base for the same reason the Kardashians do - yes the Kardashians have a very modest level of talent but they are celebs and people like them because they seem to like the whole celebrity thing, why I'm unsure ?
Anyway back to the upcoming game. I don't have a good feeling about this game but I'm often wrong so hopefully I'm off base again on Sundays matchup with the Vikings.

I think the Vikings facade can be smashed if the Texans bring their A game. Are they capable of that on the road? That's the part I can't tell you. We have the weapons now to turn a few big plays into a win even if we lose the statistical battle.

I think a phrase seen on a Cubs fan t-shirt fits here:

"Try not to suck"

Let's go Texans!

Texans won the toss and will kickoff.

Patterson brings the kickoff out to the Viking 16. Viking's ball.

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Pass to McKinney off the mark, inc.

McKinney caught for a loss but flag on Clowney for offsides. Makes it 2nd and 5 coming up.

Pass to Patterson along the sideline gets 6 and the 1st down.

McKinney for 8.

McKinney for about 8 more, 1st down. Ball at the Viking 44.

McKinney caught for a loss of 2. 2nd and 12 coming up.

Pass to Thielen along the sideline goes for 24 yards.

Asiata gets caught for loss of 2.

On 2nd and 12, pass to Thielen along the sideline goes for the TD. 36 yards.

Vikings 7, Texans 0

11:23 left in the 1st qtr.

We definitely can not afford to have JJoe have a relapse this game

B Miller brings the ensuing kickoff back to the Texan 17. Texan's ball.

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Rollout pass to Griffin gets 3.

Oz can't find a receiver and throws it away. 3rd and 7 coming up.

Pass to Strong off the mark, inc. Texans to punt.

Vikings return the punt to their 45 yard line. Viking's ball.

10:20 left in the 1st qtr.

JJo + Corey Moore = trouble

Earlier, Clowney knocked out the guard and smashed Asiata in the backfield. That was amazing.

Flat pass to Patterson gets 7.

McKinnon (wildcat) gets 5 and the 1st down.

Deep pass to Thielen down the sideline too long, inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.

McKinnon gets 4. 3rd and 6 coming up.

Flare pass to Asiata gets 24 yards.

Pass to Thielen gets a couple but flags are down. Too many men on the Texans makes it a 1st down at the 10 yard line.

McKinnon runs for 7. 1st and goal at the 2.

McKinnon for 1. 2nd and goal coming up.

Asiata for no gain. Flag comes in late.....face mask on Clowney, 1/2 the distance, auto 1st down.

Asiata punches it in.

Vikings 14, Texans 0

6:28 left in the 1st qtr.

Beat down coming

The ensuing kickoff is downed in the end zone, touchback. Texan's ball at their 25.

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L Miller for 1.

L Miller for about 5. 3rd and 4 coming up.

Texans use a timeout.

Pass to L Miller broken up, inc. Texans to punt.

Vikes bring the punt back to their 30 yard line, flag for holding backs it up 10. Ball placed at the Viking 8, Viking's ball.

5:01 left in the 1st qtr.

McKinnon for 1.

Pass to Wright gets 4. 3rd and 5 coming up.

Flags presnap, false start Vikings, -5. 3rd and 10 coming up.

Bradford sacked! Vikings have to punt from the 1 yard line.

Ervin brings the punt back to the Viking 38. Flag on the play... refs says, "no foul"..... Texan's ball.

Pass to L Miller gets 4.

L Miller for about 2. 3rd and 5 coming up.

Oz throws a duck to Griffin, inc. Texans to try the long FG.

Novak's 51-yarder is no good.

Score remains:

Vikings 14, Texans 0

Viking's ball at the 40.

1:17 left in the 1st qtr.

So terrible Sam Bradford can complete a crossing route while getting drilled but we can't complete a wide open bench route because the pocket was "shrinking"

This team is totally incompetent in every facet of the game. I can handle losing, but having a team that is simply embarrassing - from the disgusting owner to the bullshit stadium, surely the worst new stadium in the league built not for football but for goat roping, to the finger painting, paste eating lapdog of a GM, it's just fking tiresome.

This franchise will never be worth a shit as long as McNeck is in charge, and, as I always say, it will only get worse in a couple of years when Fredo takes over.

It's one thing to get outwitted by Belichick. It's quite another to get totally undressed by Norville freaking Turner.

So no now JJoe is playing the I'm Hirt because I just got smoked TWICE game...

On another note why is Charles James in at corner

Patterson carries for about 6.

McKinnon (wildcat) loses 3. 3rd and 7 coming up.

Pass to Wright gets the 1st down at the Texan 45. Bradford hit hard by Merci.

End of the 1st qtr.

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Asiata carries for 3.

Pass to Thielen gets 6. 3rd and 1 coming up.

Asiata gets 2 and the 1st down.

Bradford can't find a receiver and throws it away, inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Vikings use a timeout. 13:17 left in the half. Ball at the Texan 34.

Pass to McKinnon get 10 and the 1st down.

Bradford's throw off the mark, inc.

McKinnon for maybe 4. 3rd and 6 coming up.

Pass to Wright gets the 1st down at the Texan 10. 1st and goal.

McKinnon caught for loss of 5.

Pass to Patterson goes to the 1 yard line. 3rd and goal coming up.

Pass into the end zone goes inc. Vikings to go for the FG.

Walsh's 19-yarder is good.

Vikings 17, Texans 0

12:43 left in the half.

So the Texans spend a hundred million dollars over the offseason in offensive skill positions, they had an offensive heavy draft, they have an offensive minded head coach, yet the Vikings have 17 points and the Texans have 13... total yards.

KJ's out. There's literally no one else to put out there in the nickel. In other news, Demps is hurt, too.

1st downs: Vikings 13, Texan 0

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Ervin brings the ensuing kickoff back to the Texan 21. Texan's ball.

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Oy, pick 6 is dropped.

L Miller for 1. 3rd and 9 coming up.

Pass to Strong is broken up, inc. Texans to punt.

Punt is brought back all the way for the TD. 79 yards.

Vikings 24, Texan 0

8:46 left in the half.

Total, complete incompetence in every possible facet of the game.

Oz looks terrible today. He does have the arm waving thing down, though....

The ensuing kickoff is downed in the end zone, touchback. Texan's ball at their 25.

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Pass to Strong gets about 6.

Oy, deep pass to Hop too long, inc, but flag is down.... PI on the Vikes.....ball at the Viking 35.

Oz slips and gets sacked. 2nd and 16 coming up.

Pass to Griffin off his hands, inc.

Screen to B Miller goes for about 12. On 4th and 4 at the Viking 30, Texans going for it.

Texans use a timeout.

Oz gets sacked but a flag is down....holding on the Vikings, 5 yards and an auto 1st down. Places the ball at the Viking 24.

L Miller for 4.

Oz is pass to Griffin off the mark, inc. 3rd and 6 coming up.

Pass into the end zone goes out of bounds, inc. Texans to go for the FG.

Novak's 38-yarder is good.

Vikings 24, Texans 3.

5:41 left in the half.

The ensuing kickoff is brought back to the Viking 24. Viking's ball.

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McKinnon for 2 or 3.

Pass to Rudolph gets 4.

On 3rd and 3, Merci gets the sack! Vikings will have to punt with about 4 minutes left in the half.

Punt rolls to the Texan 46 yard line or so.... Texan's ball.

Kareem is inactive.

What's with Peters kicking off?

The radio guys speculate that they want to kick the ball just in front of the goal line, which Peters does, and they want another football player (non-kicker) in coverage.

Short pass to Griffin gets 4.

L Miller for 4. 3rd and 2 coming up.

Pass to Hop broken up, inc. Texans going for it on 4th and 2.

Oz is sacked but flag is downed.... Offsides Vikings, +5 and a 1st down.

Pass to Fido gets 9. Hurry......

L Miller gets about 3 and the 1st down at the Viking 27.

2 minute warning....

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Oz hits Fido along the sideline for 15 yards.

Oz pressured, throws too quick for Fido to turn around, inc.

Oz hit as he throws, ball falls short, inc.

Texans use their last timeout. 3rd and 10 at the Viking 12 coming up.

Oz throws into the end zone, inc. Texans to go for the FG.

Novak's 30-yarder is good.

Vikings 24, Texans 6

1:37 left in the half.

Huh. Can he do field goals too?

I don't understand anything that I'm seeing from this offense.

Vikings bring the ensuing kickoff back to their 22.

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Pass to Johnson gets 2.

Asiata up the gut for 6. 3rd and 2 coming up.

Time runs out.

Halftime.

Vikings 24, Texans 6

Ervin brings the 2nd half kickoff back to the 31. Texan's ball.

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Deep pass to Fuller too long, inc.

Oz pressured, throws but ruled a fumble. Flag down.... loss of 2 yards.

Short pass to Strong gets 6. Texans have to punt.

Punt is fielded by the Vikings and brought back to the Viking 21. Viking's ball.

13:45 left in the 3rd qtr.

Pass to Thielen goes for 31.

Clowney catches McKinnon for loss of 1.

Flags presnap. False start Vikes, -5. Makes it 2nd and 16 coming up.

McKinnon for 2. 3rd and 14 coming up.

Pass to Wright gets about 12 but facemask penalty on the Vikings will make it 3rd and 30.

Asiata gets about 6. Vikings to punt.

Ervin brings the punt back to the Texan 25. Texan's ball.

If you go 3 and out after the half and being down big, you have nothing. You've been outcoached and outplayed.

Texans 0-9 on 3rd down.

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L Miller for 1 or 2.

Goodness, deep pass to Fuller off his hands, inc.

On 3rd and 9, Brock throws to the Vikings at midfield (INT). Viking's ball.

Ryan Griffin injured on the previous play. Looks like a flag was thrown, too.....Unsportsmanlike on the Vikings, -15. Places the ball at the Viking 36.

McKinnon carries for a couple but flag on the Texans for offsides (Covington). Makes it 1st and 5.

McKinnon for maybe 1. 2nd and 4 or 5 coming up. A Viking injured on the play. Injury timeout.

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On 2nd and 4, pass to Thielen gets 10 and the 1st down.

McKinnon for 2.

Simon nearly with the pick but the ball falls inc.

Pass to Rudolph broken up, inc. Vikings to punt.

Ervin fair catches at the Texan 9. Texan's ball with 7:21 left in the 3rd qtr.

Clowney and Merciless are the only bright spots in this game...

Pass to Hop good for 6.

Pass to Strong good for 16.

Pass to Fuller over the middle is dropped, inc.

Pass to Hop gets 12 and the 1st down.

Pass to Hop gets nice gainer but a flag is down.....holding on Rhodes is declined. Ball is at the Viking 33.

Pass to Strong gets 3.

Oz pressured, throws too quick, inc. 3rd and 7 coming up.

Oz gets sacked. Texans going for it on 4th down.

Screen to Fuller only gets about 6. Ball turns over on downs. Viking's ball at their 35.