Official Texans vs. Bills Game Thread, 9/28/2014

[Arky]

The 2-1 Texans will be hosting the 2-1 Buffalo Bills this Sunday in an early game. Both teams are coming off their first loss of the season. Both teams currently occupy first place in their respective divisions, though the Bills are tied with New England.

The Texans fell 6 spots to #20 in the ESPN Power Rankings. The Bills fell 7 spots to #19.

TV = CBS (channel 11 local), Sunday, noon, Sept 28

Announcers = Spero Dedes, Solomon Wilcots

The line = Texans by 3

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Bye weeks begin this week with Cincinnati, Cleveland, Denver, St. Louis, Arizona and Seattle all having the week off.

[HPF Bob]

Sure looks like an even matchup from that description. For those who don't know Vegaspeak, the home team normally gets three points just for being at home so the oddsmakers are essentially saying that, on a neutral field, this game is a "pick em".

Bills did not look that good against the Chargers at home but, frankly, the Bills will rise and fall on the play of second-year QB E.J. Manuel. If he's not sharp, the defense can play up against the Bills' running attack which is probably the best group of backs we've faced so far this year.

Sammy Watkins hasn't really gotten into the offense the way the elite receivers do but he's always a threat. Hopefully J-Jo is healthy.

The Bills, like the Texans, have some good players on defense but they don't really add up to a dominating force. Houston will need to tighten up their run defense while the Bills must improve on pass defense in order to get the W.

Really tough call this Sunday, sort of like choosing between Manuel and Fitzpatrick.

[Keith]

Foster active. Buoye out.

If pregame warmup speeches are any indication, Fitzpatrick sure is fired up and ready to face one of his former teams today.

[Arky]

Bill down the opening kickoff in the end zone. Bill's ball at their 20.

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Pass to FB Sommers is good for 3.

Pass to Watkins goes inc. 3rd and 7 coming up.

Manuel hit as he passes....ball is inc.....flag on Bills for hand to the face is declined. Bills have to punt.

D Johnson brings the punt back to the Texan 33. Texan's ball.

[Arky]

Fitz hits AJ for 13.

Foster caught in the backfield for loss of 6.

Pass to Hopkins over the middle goes for 10. 3rd and 6 coming up.

Fitz scrambles but throws inc. Texans have to punt.

Lechler's punt is downed at the Bill's 2 yard line. Bill's ball.

[Arky]

Previous punt was reviewed and one of the Texans had his foot on line in coverage = touchback, Bills ball at their 20.

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Spiller for 2.

Crick with the sack! Loss of 5. 3rd and 13 coming up.

Pass is deflected, inc but they get JJ for roughing the passer. First down at the Bills 32.

Spiller for 5.

Pass to Williams down the sideline goes inc. 3rd and 5 coming up.

Spiller TFL'ed by Morris. Bills will have to punt.

Punt is downed at about the Texan 31 yard line. Texan's ball.

[Keith]

Originally Posted by Keith

If pregame warmup speeches are any indication, Fitzpatrick sure is fired up and ready to face one of his former teams today.

The mothership has the video and audio of Fitzy's pregame speech. Beating the Bills obviously meant something to him.

http://www.houstontexans.com/tv-medi...5-d0cf7b5550d2

[HPF Bob]

Reflecting on Chuck's earlier comments about our draft choices:

1. Clowney - injured. Due back soon.
2. Su'a-Filo - MIA. Have seen extremely little of him.
3. Federowicz - Blocks well, drops passes
3a. Nix - Filling up two spots on IR I believe.
4. Savage - third stringer.
Blue, Pagan, Hal - Making plays on special teams and backups.

[barrett]

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

Reflecting on Chuck's earlier comments about our draft choices:

1. Clowney - injured. Due back soon.
2. Su'a-Filo - MIA. Have seen extremely little of him.
3. Federowicz - Blocks well, drops passes
3a. Nix - Filling up two spots on IR I believe.
4. Savage - third stringer.
Blue, Pagan, Hal - Making plays on special teams and backups.

Chuck is flustered by this 3-1 start and needs something to whine about like a baby needs it's blanky.

But Chuck is still right that the first 3 rounds of this year's draft class do not look very good right now.

[Arky]

Originally Posted by Keith

The mothership has the video and audio of Fitzy's pregame speech. Beating the Bills obviously meant something to him.

http://www.houstontexans.com/tv-medi...5-d0cf7b5550d2

Fitz has his flaws but he is one scrappy dude. He's a placeholder, sure, but I think he's out there giving it his all when he plays. Can't fault him for that. Still, I would like to see some of Mallet eventually, when one of these games gets out of hand one way or the other...

[chuck]

3-1 is 3-1 and you can't argue with that. But gaining 30 yards on 30 carries or whatever it was is not a blueprint for success. My overall point is that this team is going to be stuck in NFL purgatory until it starts producing at least average drafts every year.

We're coming up on a stretch where we play some varsity teams for a change and if we bring no running game we're likely to get exposed. If you're going to spend 33 on an interior lineman and he's healthy then he should be doing a lot more ass kicking on the field than ass scratching on the sidelines, especially if your team is having trouble running the ball.

Or you should find someone else to supervise your drafts.