Official Texans @ Patriots Playoff Game Thread, 1/14/2017
 

The 10-7 Texans are off to Foxboro this Saturday night for a divisional round playoff game with the 14-2 New England Patriots. The Texans won their Wild Card round game last week defeating the Oakland Raiders 27-14 while the Patriots, the #1 seed, were on a bye. The Texans will have their work cut out for them as the Patriots are the odds on favorite (33:20) to win the Super Bowl and the Texans are the least favored to win the Super Bowl (80:1).

Pats QB Tom Brady is in MVP talk and has had an excellent year - 3554 yards, 67.4% completion, 28 TDs and 2 INT's in just 12 games. His favorite targets are Julian Edelman (98/1106, 11.3 avg), TE Martellus Bennett (55/701, 12.7 avg) and Chris Hogan (38/680, 17.9 avg). Legarrette Blount (299/1161, 3.9 avg) heads the rushing attack although Dion Lewis (64/283, 4.4 avg) and James White (39/166, 4.3 avg) might see some carries. On the other side of the ball, the Pats defense finished #1 in pts. allowed/game with just 15.6. There were 8th in yds/game with 326.4. That breaks down to 3rd stopping the run (88.6 yds/game) and 12th limiting teams to 237.9 passing yds/game.

The Texan defense has been building momentum as of late and may represent the only chance of the Texans winning. If they don't dominate, it could be a long night....

These two teams met in Week 3 in Foxboro with the Pats winning 27-0 on TNF.

Texans have been given a 15% chance of advancing to the AFC Championship game.

Texans are 2-6 (2-6 ATS) on the road; Patriots are 6-2 (6-2 ATS) at home.

Gametime temps expected to be just below freezing with a 0% chance of precipitation.

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TV = CBS (channel 11 local), 7:15 pm CST, Saturday, 1/14/2017

Announcers = Jim Nantz, Phil Simms

The line = Patriots by 15 to 16½

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Other playoff action:

FOX (Saturday) - Seattle @ Atlanta, 3:35pm CST

NBC (Sunday) - Pittsburgh @ Kansas City, 12:05pm CST

FOX (Sunday) - Green Bay @ Dallas, 3:40pm CST

I figured this game would be the "not ready for prime time" afternoon game instead of the "hey, what else is on tonight?" primetime stinker. Brady, alone, won't hold an audience.

Texans will need to channel all their "us against the world" energy into the game of their lives if they are to have any chance. But if the Patriots are lulled by the regular season game into thinking they can mail this in, the Texans have a slight chance.

The Texans don't seem to suffer much in the cold and if the wind is calm, should be able to move the ball. The other alternate might be a wind so ferocious that the offenses can only realistically score in two of the four halves. Holding down the scoring would be the only way to see Houston overcoming.

Yeah, I think I'm going to take it by quarters.... If it's close after the 1st qtr, well OK - however, if the Pats are already up by 10 or so, then it won't be looking too good. If the Texans are able to keep it close by the half, then I might just let a little hope creep in. If they keep it close by the end of the 3rd qtr., then it is game on and Go Texans.....

Win or lose, the one thing that will come of this game is the playoff experience for the younger guys. They are getting a taste of what it is like to advance in the playoffs and it will give them an intangible that they will have for the rest of their careers....

The upcoming weekend, the divisional P-O weekend is the best weekend in all of football IMO and I always enjoy it. I'm still relieved the Texans won the W-C game with Brock performing OK against an average but not bad Raiders defense.
So let's face it we've had some really weird things happen recently like the election victory by the crazy man with the orange hair. Nobody saw that coming least of all any of the socalled experts. Would a Texans upset of the Pats in Foxborough this weekend be as shocking as that political event back in November ? I think it would be right up there with it.
Personally I'm just hoping the Texans keep it interesting for awhile.

2016 was definitely the Year Nobody Saw Coming, not just Trump but BREXIT, WikiLeaks, the Chicago Cubs, and the Cavaliers coming back from 1-3 to knock off the team with the best NBA record ever. Clemson's upset of Alabama continues the trend and any NFL underdogs like the Texans (never advanced past divisional round) or the Chiefs (no Super Bowls since the AFL days) have to take a little bit of heart that the cosmic oddsmakers are making up for lost time.

Unfortunately, I can no longer nod my head at Steve Goodman's great line from "The Dying Cubs Fan's Last Request" (1982) which went:

"You know the Law of Averages states that anything will happen that can.
But the last time the Cubs won the pennant was the last time we dropped a bomb on Japan."

Video - Texans vs. Patriots breakdown, Teddy Covers - TRT 5:45

I thought he was kind to the Texans here, especially with his assessment of their first meeting this year. He's also smart enough not to use the words "no chance".....

Like BOB talking about left-handed quarterbacks I say it every year - this is by far my favorite week of the season. The fact that the Texans are playing is a nice bonus.

Nate Silver's guys give us a 15% chance to win. I think that may be generous. But as I have said before, the Patriots are not unbeatable.

Dammit, I meant to say Bob. I'm so used to complaining about BOB that I'm now out of practice making fun of Bob. I've got to keep my thoughts better compartmentalized.

The Sklar brothers point out that Osweiler is 2-0 lifetime versus Tom Brady and 2-1 in his career versus Belichick (well, okay, he was the holder in the AFC Championship Game last year but he did beat Brady head-to-head as a Bronco during the 2015 regular season).

Pendergast - NFL Playoffs, Divisional Round: Texans-Patriots

The conspiracy theorist in me says there's no way CBS wanted to have such a dog matchup for primetime (and, let's face it, we're not talking about the Patriots here) although they love having a CBS-owned sports bar in the stadium which magically nets them an extra home game or two every year.

So the league has instructed the refs to keep it close for the first half, using phantom holding calls if necessary to keep the Texans within a touchdown. In the second half, with the crowd still engaged, the refs will make sure the Patriots win but don't cover. That way, both franchises leave with what they wanted. The Pats get a win and a tuneup for the AFCCG. The Texans leave with some respect, enough to continue rebuilding for another year.

So did Goodell orchestrate Denver's Super Bowl win last year or did the Broncos accomplish that on their own?

Chuckles, you don't have to go too far to find Patriot fans and Panther fans who thought that the league wanted to write a final chapter for Peyton Manning and can find key moments in the game where an official's ruling might have changed the course of the game.

For example, on Denver's first Super Bowl TD when Von Miller strip-sacked Cam Newton which became a Denver TD. Panther fans will complain that the officials overlooked a helmet to helmet hit by Miller on Newton (a refrain they revised in this year's season opener). Panther fans also thought the ruling of a non-catch via replay just before the sack also set up the Broncos score.

Do I think it's rigged? Not every game, not every play but when the league wants to determine an outcome they can do it. Go find the YouTube video series on the Niners-Seahawks rivalry of a few years ago if you think it's not possible.

Did you just quote other fan conspiracies to support that sometimes fan conspiracies are true?

Sorta like the media reporting repeatedly that Russia stole the election without providing any proof of *how* their involvement changed the result or showing any tangible link that they even tried. Not to mention the whole bull crap about Trump being a Russian asset who hired prostitutes while in Moscow without providing any dates, any reasons nor any motivation.

So, compared to that, the idea the NFL might tilt the scales in a playoff game seem far less crazy than what's been on CNN lately.

Did I just come to the wrong site?

I've been telling you people for years that Bob is fking crazy. Maybe you thought I was kidding.

Back to the game...

How many punts will we have in the first quarter? Single digits?

Here we go, men.

Haha!

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Pats win the toss and defer. Texans to receive.

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Opening kickoff is a touchback. Texan's ball at their 25.

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Pass to Hop gets 4.

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

Oz can't find a receiver and gets sacked. Texans have to punt.

Punt is brought back to about the Pats 39. Pat's ball.

13:01 left in the 1st qtr.

Pass to Edelman gets 5.

Lewis for 4. 3rd and 1 coming up.

Lewis gets caught for a loss of 1. Pats will punt on 4th and 2.

Ervin fair catches the punt at the Texan 19. Texan's ball.

11:05 left in the 1st qtr.

Already two things that I dreaded seeing - Chris Clark sucking and Tyler Ervin on the punt return.

Seriously, there is no mfer on any practice squad anywhere that is better than Chris Clark? Seriously? He is to line play what BO is to quarterbacking.

Also, while I'm complaining, why in tf is Simon on the active roster if he can't play today?

L Miller for 2.

Oy, pass to Fuller off the mark, inc. Brings up 3rd and 8.

Pass to Mumph broken up, inc. Texans will have to punt.

Pats fair catch the punt at their 35 yard line. Pat's ball.

10:10 left in the 1st qtr.

Brock being Brock, and yep, here come the crap calls by the refs.

Ah, deep pass draws the PI on Bouye. Places the ball at the Texan 35.

Pass to Hogan on the sideline goes to the Texan 13.

Flare pass to Lewis is good for the TD.

Pats 7, Texans 0

9:27 left in the 1st qtr.

Exactly the start that everyone expected. Terrible offense and defense exposed by top notch play calling...

Gotta answer, boys....

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Hunt brings the ensuing kickoff back to the Texan 24. Texan's ball.

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Flare pass to Hunt gets 4 but a flag is down..... PI on Hop, -10. Makes it 1st and 20.

Pass to Fuller gets 7. 2nd and 13 coming up.

Oz gets sacked. Loss of 5. Brings up 3rd and 18.

Short pass over the middle to Hop gets about 9 or 10. Flags down......personal foul on the Pats (wow!)....15 yards and a 1st down.

L Miller goes right side for 5. 2nd and 4 coming up.

Dump off to L Miller gets 6 and the 1st down.

L Miller up the gut for 7. Ball at the Pat 42.

L Miller for 1. 3rd and 2 coming up.

Pass to Grimes gets 5 and the 1st down.

Pass to Fido gets 9. 2nd and 1 coming up. Ball at the Pat 26.

Grimes goes to the Pat 21 yard line, 1st down.

Eeesh, pass to Fido in the end zone is off his hands, inc.

L Miller goes left side for 4. 3rd and 6 coming up.

Pass to Hunt only gets 2. Texans will go for the FG.

Novak's 33-yarder is good.

Pats 7, Texans 3

1:15 left in the 1st qtr.

More disgusting red zone play calling.

I don't know for sure but it looks like BOB is calling the plays today.

Need a stop, defense.......

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The ensuing kickoff is brought back by Lewis all the way for the TD, 98 yards.

Pats 14, Texans 3

1 minute left in the 1st qtr.

Attack of the FG kings...

What a way to start this game...

It's a Texans playoff tradition.

Fire these mother****************ers, I mean, ****************.

Hunt brings the ensuing kickoff back to the Texan 28. Texan's ball.

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Screen to Fuller gets 2.

Pass to Mumph gets 7. 3rd and 1 coming up.

End of the 1st qtr.

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On 3rd and 1, Oz throws short to L Miller for a loss of 1. Texans have to punt.

Lechler's punt goes into the end zone, touchback. Pat's ball at their 20.

14:32 left in the half.

Who the hell is #20? I watched this dude make two terrible special teams plays...One that led to a run back for a TD

That's my Bouye! Tipped pass is INT'ed! Texan's ball at the Pat 27!

Would somebody on offense make a fricken play? Bad throws, dropped passes in the end zone, penalties, wimpy runs. This is nuts!

Why do I feel like Grimes and Hunt run the ball better than every other back on the team...

Pass to Fuller gets 7.

L Miller for 4. Gotta punch it in, fellas....

On 1st down, pass in the end zone to Fido is nearly INT'ed. Flag on the Texans for holding backs it up 10. 1st and 20 coming up.

L Miller sweeps right for 4. 2nd and 16 coming up.

Pass to Fuller along the sideline is too tall, inc. 3rd and 16 coming up.

Screen to Hunt goes to the 8 yard line. Brings up 4th and 2, Texans going for the FG.

Novak's 27-yarder is good.

Pats 14, Texans 6

11:36 left in the half.

FG kings strike again

Don Jones. Got faked out on the fair catch, didn't he?

Real cute stat, CBS.

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Pats fumble the ensuing kickoff! Texans ball at the Pat 14!