Official Texans @ Rams Game Thread, 12/20/2009
 

The 6-7 Texans have an excellent opportunity this weekend to even up their record in St. Louis going into the final two games (@ Miami and home for New England).

The Texans are coming off one of their best performances of the year and should have little trouble with the Rams if they focus and take care of business. Should the Texans get out to an early lead, look for some of the youngsters (McCain, Foster, Barber, etc.) to see heavy reps.

The St. Louis Rams are a young team that just hasn't had a whole lot of breaks this year. 3rd string QB Keith Null was pressed into service and threw 5 INT's and had a fumble in blowout loss (47-7) against Tennessee. At present, 2nd string QB Kyle Boller is the expected start against the Texans. Starting QB Marc Bulger has been out 3 weeks with a shin injury and may miss the rest of the season. Because of the uncertainty at QB, Vegas has yet to post a point spread but suffice it to say, the Texans will be the favorite.

Current odds = no line

CBS announcers = Kevin Harlan and Solomon Wilcots

CBS @ noon. Set your DVR's.

Worth noting: NFLN has two very watchable games before Sunday's action. Colts vs. Jags on Thursday night and Cowboys vs. Saints on Saturday night.

Odds have been posted. The Texans are currently 11 pt. favorites over the Rams.

Also, the Chron's take on the Rams swine flu problem....

Well, we oughta win comfortably, perhaps 28 to 10?

Texans defense this year is averaging giving up 21 points a game, while St. Louis defense has been giviing up 27.8 points a game.

Texans offense has been averaging scoring 23.9 points per game while St. Louis has only been scoring about 11.2 points per game.

I'd like to see some of young guys as well once we jump out to a nice lead.

Is a consistent grind em out running game still biggest question on the team? Is this due to the OL, RB, coaching, injuries, defenses we're facing, youth vs experience, size, bad luck, bad ref calls, penalties, or play calling, or a little of each?

The Texans are now 14 point favorites against the Rams. Gotta be a record spread for the Texans (on the road, no less)...

They better not lose.

I was thinking about this the other day. The way I see it, the running game is not all that different from last year except for one thing: just about no big gainers this year. Last year, Slaton would putter along getting 1, 2, 3, 4 yards a carry and then get loose for a big gainer. This year when he was in there, he just never got any big gainers. Part of that, I believe, was due to the injuries in the middle of the line and part of it was Slaton himself - his approach seemed different this year - he seemed to dance too much and/or try to do too much....

That's the way I see it.... :)

Texans won the flip and will receive.

AD brings the kick back to the 20.

Pass over the middle to KW good for 21.

Another to KW good for 16. Ball at the Rams 42.

C Brown for 2.

Foster for 6. Brings up 3rd and 2.

Foster for 1. Brings up 4th and 1. Texans to go for it.

Moats gets 2 and the 1st down. Butler (Rams) is down. Injury timeout.

Dump to Leach is dropped. Brings up 2nd and 10.

Oh no, Foster catches the dump picks up about 12 but fumbles on the tackle. Rams recover at their own 8.

Jackson TFL -1 by Mario. Brings up 2nd and 11.

Pass to Smith good for 7 but flag on the play. Texans offsides. Do-over. 2nd and 6 coming up.

Jackson for about 1. 3rd and 5 coming up.

Pass to Martin good for 23. Ball at the Rams 36.

Pass to Amendola good for 5.

Jackson for 4. Brings up 3rd and 1.

Jackson gets a half yard. Brings up 4th and inches. Rams to go for it....

Pass to Jackson good for 16 and the 1st down. Ball at the Texans 39.

Fumble in the backfield! Recovered by Mario! Texans ball.

Ball at the Texans 43.

Moats for 2.

Pass to AJ good for 38. Ball at the Rams 17.

Schaub can't find anyone open and throws it away. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Moats for about 3. 3rd and 7 coming up.

Pass to AJ only for 4. Texans to go for the FG.

K Brown is good from 27.

Texans 3, Rams 0

3:30 left in the 1st quarter.

Amendola brings the kickoff back to the 27.

Pass good for 5.

Snap is fumbled -1. 3rd and 6 coming up.

Pass to Avery good for 9 and the 1st down. Ball at the Rams 40.

Jackson for no gain.

Null is sacked by Cushing/Pollard!

3rd down pass goes inc. so Rams have to punt.

Punt rolls out of bounds at the Texan 20. Texans ball. 26 seconds left in the 1st quarter.

Foster, meet doghouse. :rolleyes:

Dump to C Brown goes for no gain.

Pass to Dreesen is dropped but flag on the play. Illegal contact Rams = 5 yards, auto 1st down.

End around to JJ goes for no gain.

Pass to DA good for 9. Brings up 3rd and 1.

Schaub sneaks for 1 and the 1st down.

Deep pass over the middle to KW just out of reach, inc.

C Brown for no gain. Brings up 3rd and 10.

Schaub can't find anyone open and throws it away but flag on the play. Holding Texans = declined. 4th down and Texans have to punt.

Amendola brings the punt back to the Ram 26.

Jackson for 1. Brings up 2nd and 9.

Deep pass to Avery overthrown inc.

Pass (to Gado?) gets 9 and the 1st down.

Texans to challenge the spot....

Bad review. Play on the field is upheld.

Jackson TFL -2 but offsides Texans so 1st and 5.

Dump to Jackson -2. Brings up 2nd and 7.

Pass is inc. but offsides Cushing brings up 2nd and 2.

Jackson big gainer around end. 35 yards. Ball at the Texans 20.

Delay of game Rams -5. Makes it 1st and 15.

Gado for 1.

Pass to Avery good for 10. Brings up 3rd and 4.

Pass to Avery caught out of bounds so Rams to go for the FG.

33 yard FG is good.

Texans 3, Rams 3

7:34 left in the half.

Texans really playing down to the competition at present....

AD brings the kickoff back to the 22.

Bombs away to AJ. 48 yards! Ball at the Rams 29.

Moats around end for 12.

Moats for 11. Ball at the Rams 5. 1st and goal.

Moats TFL -2.

Pass to AJ inc. Brings up 3rd and goal from the 7.

Timeout Texans.

This is just a disgrace.

Pass to Dreesen is dropped. :( Texans to go for the FG.

25 yard FG is good.

Texans 6, Rams 3

4:24 left in the half.

Amendola brings the kickoff back all the way to the Texan 40 and it looks like facemask on Reeves on the tackle....

Ruling is facemask. 15 yarder at the end of the play. Ball is at the Texan 25.

Jackson for 12.

Jackson for 3. Ball at the 9. 2nd and 7 coming up.

Pass to Avery gets 6. Brings up 3rd and 1.

Jackson gets 2 and the 1st down. 1st and goal from the 2. 2:19 left in the half.

1st down pass goes inc.

Jackson for no gain. Brings up 3rd and goal from the 2.

Dump to Amendola good for the TD.

Rams 10, Texans 6.

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

1:47 left in the half.

AD brings the kickoff back to the 27.

1st down pass goes inc.

Pass to DA good for 5. Brings up 3rd and 5.

Pass to JJ good for 9. 1st down.

Pass to AJ good for 19 at the Rams 40.

Schaub spikes it. 30 seconds left in the half.

Pass to JJ good for 6.

Pass goes inc. 5 secs left in the half. Texans to go for the FG. About a 51 yard attempt.

K Brown hits the upright = no good.

Score remains:

Rams 10, Texans 6

Halftime.

Goodness.

Losing against the 1-12 Rams at halftime? Are you kidding me?.... The Texans are a joke

Halftime stats:

Passing: Schaub 12/21, 189 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT

Rushing: Moats 6/28, Foster 2/7, C Brown 2/2

Receiving: AJ 4/110, KW 2/37, JJ 2/15, DA 2/14

Tackles: Cushing 6, Pollard 5, Ryans/Barber 4 each, Mario/Diles 2 each

3rd down conversions: Texans 2/7, Rams 5/8

Turnovers: Texans 1, Rams 1

Time of possession: Texans 14:41, Rams 15:19

So much for all of that talk about the Texans thinking enough of their coach to play hard to win and save their beloved coachs job.
Up to now the only win this team has had is over Detroit, which would put us in very "select company" if we were to lose to the Rams. And a loss would really put the pressure on McNair to make a change.

Sure hope that was bad-half-Texans with good-half-Texans to follow.... :rolleyes:

Yepper. That was Jekyl. Hyde is coming out of the locker room riight now. It is not real surprising when you think about it. We will end up winning by 17.....

Rams bring the kickoff back to the 24.

Jackson for no gain.

Screen to Jackson goes for 2. Brings up 3rd and 8.

Timeout Texans because they only had 10 men on the field.

3rd down pass is batted down by Barwin so the Rams have to punt.

Punt rolls out of bounds at the Texan 30. Texans ball.

Dump to C Brown for 4.

Pass to AJ good for 5. 3rd and 1 coming up.

Schaub is stripped on the sneak. Rams ball.

Jesus.

That still looks like Jekyl to me

Stick a fork in us...we're done. Tennessee is up 23-6 on Miami.

I hope that's a promise ?

I meant starting.......now ;)

Play calling issues yet again. That was a LOOOOONG one for a QB sneak.

SEE, INT.

NOW we are Hyde.

Rams ball at the Texan 40.

Jackson for 9. 2nd and 1 coming up.

Jackson for 6 and a 1st down at the Texan 25.

Null under heavy pressure, ball is INT'ed by Barber. Whew!

Let's make it exciting, Texans ...... ;)

Texans ball at their own 17. 10:55 left in the 3rd quarter.

Moats for 2.

Pass to Dreesen good for 5. Brings up 3rd and 3.

Dump to AJ gets the 1st down at the Texan 30.

Pass to AD good for 21. Ball in Rams territory at their 49.

Dump to Dreesen good for 14.

Moats for 1.

Interesting side note......D Brown benched for R Butler.

Pass to DA good for 10 and the 1st down.

Pass to AJ in the endzone almost caught/almost INT'ed but inc.

Dump to Dreesen gets good YAC. All the way to the 3. 1st and goal.

Pass to KW in the endzone complete for the TD!

Texans 13, Rams 10

5:15 left in the 3rd.

The radio guys are saying that Brown has a 'tweaked' knee but also that he's sitting on the bench receiving no treatment.

Amendola brings the kickoff back to the 27.

Jackson TFL -1.

Dump pass goes for 1. Brings up 3rd and 10.

Pass to Gibson picks up 18 and a 1st down.

Pass to McMichael good for 20. Ball at the Texan 35.

Jackson for 1.

2nd down pass goes inc. Brings up 3rd and 9.

3rd down pass goes inc. Rams to go for the long FG.

52 yard attempt is good.

Texans 13, Rams 13

Rams kickoff - touchback. Texans ball at the 20.

Dump to KW for 2.

Moats for 4. Brings up 3rd and 4.

Dump to DA who reaches out for the 1st down at the 31.

End of 3rd quarter.