Official Texans vs. Jaguars Game Thread, 12/28/2014
 

The 8-7 Texans host the 3-12 Jaguars this Sunday in an early game at NRG stadium. The Texans are coming off a 25-13 home win over the Ravens and the Jaguars are coming off a 21-13 home win over the Titans (TNF). The Texans hope to keep their slim playoff hopes alive with a victory. The game has been switched from CBS to FOX. All NFL action this week takes place on Sunday, no TNF or MNF.

TV = FOX (channel 26 local), noon CST, Sunday, Dec 28

Announcers = Chris Myers, Ronde Barber

The line = Texans by 9.5 to 10.5

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Other Sunday viewing in the Houston area:

CBS (early) = San Diego @ Kansas City -- Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts

CBS (late) = Carolina @ Atlanta -- Jim Nantz, Phil Simms

FOX (late) = Detroit @ Green Bay -- Joe Buck, Troy Aikman

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Prime time:

SNF = Cincinnati @ Pittsburgh

By moving the Texans to Fox, the game is only going to be shown in the Houston and Jacksonville markets. The game is head-to-head against Dallas vs. Washington so the rest of Texas is getting the Cowboys game, not the Texans.

Not very fan-friendly, NFL.

CBS is getting Atlanta-Carolina in the late afternoon slot opposite a somewhat meaningless Denver-Oakland so it looks like a day in the sports bar for me.

Do we try to win first, but take a look at more backup QB?

Doesn't look promising but we'll know by 3pm (Sunday) if we are going dancing.....

Though they both count, think I'd rather be able to flip to the CLE @ BAL game rather than the SD @ KC game.....

Regardless the playoff possibilities, I just think it will be a positive for the Texans to climb out of 2-14 to be an above-.500 club despite quarterbacking that was inconsistent-at-best and little contribution from our top 5 draft picks.

It's really amazing, when you think about it, what O'Brien and Crennel have done - albeit largely aided by a weak schedule that only gets weaker next season.

For today, let's just win to say we were winners in 2014 and let the rest take care of itself. I think it will be big to J.J. Watt's MVP chances if the Texans are 9-7. The logic given by some, like ESPN's Bill Simmons (whose expertise is the Red Sox and Celtics) is that none of the top NFL quarterbacks have had an exceptionally good year, even for them. This isn't Aaron Rodgers' best year, nor Tom Brady's, nor Peyton Manning's, nor Russell Wilson's. No running back has had an exceptional year although Demarco Murray might come close. There's been no offensive player who has been week-in and week-out as exceptional as Watt.

I'd like to see Keenum have another good game and watch Arian run a few more plays off the wildcat.

On defense sack Bortles and pick off a few more passes.

On special teams, hmm, maybe a nice long punt return and penalty free would be nice.

And here we go.....

Bullock kicks off and the Jags have a nice runback on the opening kickoff. Ball at the Jag 28.

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Pass to Hurns gets 10. Texans challenge that it was not a completed catch.....

Texans challenging catch if out of bounds, hmm, looked like a catch to me.

Play is confirmed. Completed catch, 1st down.

TFL by Reed.... loss of 5 on the play. 2nd and 15 coming up.

Bortles keeps for about 6. Brings up 3rd and 9.

3rd down pass is dropped, inc. Jags will have to punt.

K Martin fair catches the punt at the Texan 17. Texan's ball.

12:53 left in the 1st qtr.

Bortles has 11 TD and 17 int. That is worse than David Carr ever was isn't it?

Pass to AJ goes for 29.

Pass to AJ goes for about 11. Ball in Jag territory (43 yard line).

Foster for loss of 1.

Quick snap to D Johnson goes for nice gainer. 34 yards.

Pass to Foster goes for the TD! 10 yards.

Texans 7, Jags 0

10:23 left in the 1st qtr.

That's who the quick screen goes to...no more Andre Johnson quick screens.
I'm liking what I see so far...considering how well we as a team do at adjusting.

BTW did you catch the blocking by DHop on that screen...see Kubiak you can be a good receiver and blocker (subtle shot at Kevin Walter)

The ensuing kickoff goes out of the end zone, touchback. Jags ball at their 20.

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Pass to Shorts gets 5.

Todman rushes for 12.

Flare pass to Todman goes for 4.

Bortles scrambles for big gain but flag is down..... 5 yards tacked on at the end of the run for illegal hands to the face (Texans). 21 yards on the run, 5 on the penalty. Ball at the Texan 33.

Ball gets knocked loose but Jags recover..... Makes it 2nd and 18.

Screen to Todman gets 8. Brings up 3rd and 10.

Bortles is sacked by Watt! Jags will go for the FG....

Scobee's 53-yarder is good.

Texans 7, Jags 3

6:02 left in the 1st qtr.

JJ is gonna be triple teamed for the rest of this one...Merciless will have every opportunity to get to the quarterback now...

The ensuing kickoff is brought back to the Texan 22. Texan's ball.

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Foster for 13.

Foster caught for a loss of 4.

Foster for 13 and flag on Jags for offsides is declined. Brings up 3rd and 1.

Keenum scrambles for about 3 or 4 and the 1st down. Ball at the Texan 46.

Keenum rolls out and throws it away... flag down....holding on the Texans, -10. Replay 1st down. 1st and 20 coming up.

Keenum's pass is off the mark, inc. 2nd and 20 coming up.

Screen to AJ goes for 13. 3rd and 7 coming up.

Oy, pass to Hop is off the mark, behind him a little, Hop tips it to a DB who takes it in for a pick 6. Gratz with the INT and the score, 55 yards.

Jags 10, Texans 7

2:55 left in the 1st qtr.

I'm watching the Cleveland - Baltimore game, too. Thanks to a PI call Baltimore had the ball first and goal at the three or so. Two TEs, I-formation, run up the middle for no gain. Second down, exactly the same thing. Third down, same formation, fake the give, try to pass to the FB who'd snuck out into the flat. Unfortunately for palm licker everyone in Cleveland knew they were going to do this. Incomplete. The go for it on fourth down. I'll let you guess what formation they use to try to run the ball up the middle, a run that resulted in a two yard loss.

It's hilarious that anyone in the NFL gives palm licker a job of any sort. That reminds me, noted genius Woody Johnson has employed Charley Casserly to help him identify a new GM and head coach.

The ensuing kickoff is a touchback. Texans ball at their 20

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Jags use a timeout (#1).

Foster for about 3. 2nd and 7 coming up.

Screen to Blue gets 1. 3rd and 6 coming up.

Keenum's pass goes inc. Flag down.... offsides defense makes it 3rd and 2 coming up.

Grimes for about 5 and the 1st down.

Blue for no gain.

Dumpoff to Blue gets 6. 3rd and 4 coming up.

End of the 1st qtr.

Chiefs 10, Chargers 0

Browns 0, Ravens 0

Cowboys 17, Redskins 7

Colts 7, Titans 0

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On 3rd and 4, pass to AJ off the mark, inc. Texans will have to punt.

Jags fair catch the punt at their 12. Jag's ball.

Pass to Shorts gets 9.

Gerhart for loss of 1. 3rd and 2 coming up.

Pass to Lewis off the mark, inc. Jags will have to punt.

Eheh, Martin runs into his own man on the punt return and is down at the Texan 26. Texan's ball.