Official Texans vs. Vikings Game Thread, 12/23/2012
 

The 12-2 Texans will host the 8-6 Minnesota Vikings this Sunday at Reliant. The Texans hope to get a W which would wrap up the #1 seed in the AFC. Minnesota is currently sitting in the 6th seed of the NFC playoffs but has plenty of people breathing down their neck.

The Texans are coming off a 29-17 win over the Indianapolis Colts. The Texan defense will have the monumental task of trying to contain Adrian Peterson who has a shot at setting a new NFL record for rushing yards. Peterson currently has 1812 yards and needs to average 147 yds/game over the last two regular season games to break the record.

The Vikings won last week over the St. Louis Rams 36-22. QB Christian Ponder has thrown for 2,527 yards with 14 TD's and 12 INT's on the season with a QB rating of 78.6. Favorite targets are WR Percy Harvin and TE Kyle Rudolph. On the defensive side of the ball, keep an eye out for #52 LB Chad Greenway who lead the NFL in tackles with 140.

TV = FOX (channel 26 local), noon Sunday CST

Announcers = Chris Myers, Tim Ryan

The line = Texans by 7.5 to 9

A lot of Texas will miss this game because the Cowboys are also slated for Fox in the same time slot.

Correction:

So how do we deal with AP? Let him get his yards but deny him the "big play"? Concentrate on stopping Ponder and the passing game? Put nine in the box and dare them to throw?

Of more concern to me is keeping Schaub upright around Jared Allen. There's a history there.

Looks like Brooks Reed will start at OLB. Might help our run defense some.

And Eddie Pleasant promoted off practice squad to help special team coverages.

I'm thinking we let Petersen get lots of runs under 5-10 yards, but hopefully no long runs.

Two really good RB in the game, hoping Arian has a big day, and all Texans RB.

Our OL has been starting to stabalize and get better recently.

With everyone but Ball healthy wondering who inactives might be.

AJ will likely go over 800 catches this week, second fastest ever to reach 800, doing it in 137 games.

Last time we played Vikings was 2008 and they won 31-28, I predict this time we win 31-13.

And it would be nice to see Posey continue to shine at WR.

Inactives:

Alan Ball CB Foot
Antoine Caldwell G N/A
Andrew Gardner T N/A
Cody White G N/A
Terrell McClain NT N/A
Quintin Demps S N/A
Stanford Routt CB

More likely in this game: Peterson rushes for 294 yards or JJ gets 3 sacks? Cause all I've been hearing (from NFLN and ESPN) the last two days is Peterson mania....

Oh well, hope Foster out gains him.......

Kickoff in a few.....

Texans win the toss and will receive. Martin brings the kickoff back to the Texan 21.

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Dumpoff to Foster gets 12.

Short pass to AJ gets 5. 2nd and 5 coming up.

Pass over the middle to AJ gets nice gainer. Ball spotted at the Viking 44, 19 yard pickup.

Pass to Posey off his hands inc.

Foster for not much. 3rd and 10 coming up.

Pass to OD off the mark but flag on the play.... PI on Vikings, auto 1st down for the Texans at the 33 yard line.

Foster for 2.

Foster bottled up for loss of 2. 3rd and 10 coming up.

Pass to AJ misses.... Texans to go for the 51-yard FG.....

FG is good.

Texans 3, Vikings 0

10:50 left in the 1st quarter.

Vikings bring the ensuing kickoff back to their 22. Vikings ball.

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Flags presnap..... false start Vikes backs it up 5. 1st and 15 coming up.

Peterson for 20.

Peterson caught for loss of 2.

Dumpoff pass to Rudolph goes for big gainer... 27 yards...

Reed tackles Ponder for no gain. Ball at the Texan 37.

Peterson for 3. 3rd and 6 coming up.

Pass to Jenkins goes all the way to the Texan 2. 32 yards.

Peterson for no gain. 2nd and goal at the 3.

Ponder's pass to Rudolph goes for the TD.

Vikings 7, Texan 3

6:19 left in the 1st quarter.

Jags 10, Pats 0

Colts 7, Chiefs 3

Saints 7, Cowboys 0

Eagles 7, Redskins 0

Ponder starts 3 for 3, 67 yds and a TD. Hmm.

It's amazing how few people want to talk about the Texans when they win. This year is the fewest ever by far. I guess complaining is just more fun than cheering.

Martin brings the ensuing kickoff back to the Texan 22.

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Tate for no gain.

Schaub can't find a receiver and throws it away, inc. 3rd and 10 coming up.

Pass to AJ only gets 4. Texans to punt.

Vikes bring the punt back to their 26 but flags are down.... Posey went out of bounds - gives the Vikings 5 more yards. Ball at the Viking 31.

Peterson for 2..

Wright on the end around gets 8 and the 1st down.

Ponder keeps for 2.

Ponder pressured, throws it away, inc. 3rd and 8 coming up.

Screen to Gerhart goes for short gain but flags down... Personal foul -15 after the play on the Vikes..... Brings up 4th and 19 and a punting situation.

Martin brings the punt back to near the Texan 28. Texans ball.

Foster for 8.

Pass to AJ goes into Viking territory. Ball at the Vikes 47.

Foster caught for loss of 4. 2nd and 14 coming up.

Short pass to OD goes for 6. Brings up 3rd and 8.

End of the 1st quarter.

So how fun is it to complain about people not complaining?

Pass to OD goes for the 1st down at the Viking 31.

Dumpoff pass to Foster goes for 3.

Oy, Foster gets 4 or 5 and then fumbles. Vikings recover at their 21. Vikings ball.

Not nearly as fun as complaining about the game.

And on that note our pass rush looks terrible.

We sure do have a lot of problems for a team that's 12-2. Barwin in particular has been a big disappointment.

It would be nice if Texans got a turnover now.

This isn't start I was expecting.