Official Texans @ Patriots Game Thread, 9/9/2018

[Arky]

The Texans hit the road to Foxboro, MA for a noon Sunday game in the season opener against the Patriots. The Texans will be looking to improve on 1-7 all time vs. the Patriots and have never won in Foxboro.

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TV = CBS (channel 11 local), noon CST, September 9, 2018

Announcers = Jim Nantz, Tony Romo

The line = Patriots by 6 to 7

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Other Sunday viewing in the Houston area:

FOX (early) = Tampa Bay @ New Orleans, Chris Myers, Daryl Johnston

FOX (late) = Dallas @ Carolina, Joe Buck, Troy Aikman

[barrett]

Are we wearing letter jackets on the trip?

[chuck]

Originally Posted by barrett

Are we wearing letter jackets on the trip?

Unseasonal. Letter sweaters are the indicated outerwear. And saddle bucks. Veterans will have their saddle bucks, surely, but the newer players may have to overnight theirs directly from GH Bass and Co. I do hope their sizings run as expected.

[Arky]

Hah. Beards, shaved heads and/or man-buns are in. These can be accessorized with faux glasses that scream, "I'm an intelligent athlete!".....

[barrett]

I'm as excited for tomorrow's game as any since the first Bengals playoff game in JJ's rookie year. For years we've had no QB so even when we won it felt like fool's gold. You always knew that in the end it wouldn't work.

But tomorrow we go into New England with the chance that our QB outplays Tom Brady. Even if we lose tomorrow I don't think I'll be discouraged. Only a Deshaun Watson injury can dent my excitement for this season.

Unfortunately I'm coaching a little league practice tomorrow from 3-5 pm (not my choice, dictated by league scheduling). So I will check in with you guys tomorrow around 7 and we can celebrate the Texans win together.

And at that point the bandwagon will start filling up and won't stop until Atlanta.

[Keith]

Will Fuller's hamstring is the gametime question. Injured in practice before the Rams week 3 preseason game. Reportedly practiced this week and made the flight, so hopefully he's a go.

The offense was truly different with and without the Watson-Fuller combo last season. Fuller's health, even as a WR2, could be a key factor in the Texans' chances for victory.

Another key of course will be getting to Brady on dropbacks. A healthy front 7 will help, so it will be interesting to see how Watt-Clowney-Mercilus do in extended game action for the first time in a long time those three were last together.