Will this week's game be postponed or moved due to Ike? [Yes]

[TheMatrix31]

Just wondering if you guys down in the Houston area have heard anything.

Stay safe, guys!

[Keith]

The Texans have not really said much yet officially, and it wouldn't surprise me if they didn't discuss plans more openly until late this afternoon or tomorrow.

Given the evacuations ordered, I am having a harder time seeing this game played as scheduled on Sunday afternoon, even though the storm itself will have moved on by then. If I had to guess right now, I'd say this game will be moved back to Monday night and played at Reliant Stadium, assuming no significant damage to the stadium.

All speculation still at this point.

eta - here is the latest email from the team:

HURRICANE IKE UPDATE

The Houston Texans are currently evaluating the severe weather conditions projected for the Gulf Coast region. The team is in contact with the National Weather Service and the National Football League to determine the status of the Texans vs. Ravens game scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 14.
We will communicate updated game information throughout the day via HoustonTexans.com and regular email alerts.

[papabear]

One thing I heard and this could have changed by now, but that if the Ravens palne could land then they thought they would be able to play the game Sunday. If not they will move to Monday. I think they are planning on the storm having passed by Sunday to play the game.

[cadams]

my guess is they will move it to monday. many of the people will be returning from evacuating on Sunday, which could cut attendance.

[nunusguy]

Their problem is as I understand it is their only shot at the game is this
weekend & Monday ? And if they make up their minds to play it here and the storm turns out to be too intense, too destructive (lets hope not!), for a game in this window they are out of luck and won't play it.
Therefor I'm gonna be surprised if the Texans don't elect to go with an alternative location while they've still got the time for that option.

[HPF Bob]

Attendance won't matter. The Texans already have their money.

A move to Monday night might be judicious (and mayyyyybe ESPN will show it as a doubleheader) but that's as far as any changes.

[TheMatrix31]

Saw on the ESPNews bottom line that it was moved to Monday Night at 7:30CDT?

I wonder if I'll still get this game on Sunday Ticket....

[HPF Bob]

I saw the same crawl.

[Keith]

http://www.houstontexans.com/news/St...?story_id=4630

The NFL announced Thursday evening that the Texans' Week 2 game versus the Baltimore Ravens will be played Monday.

Due to the importance of allowing the Houston area to focus on its recovery from the expected arrival of Hurricane Ike on Friday, the Texans' home game Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens has been re-scheduled for Monday night at Reliant Stadium at 7:30 p.m. Houston time (8:30 p.m. ET). The game originally was scheduled to be played on Sunday, Sept. 14 at 3:15 p.m. Houston time (4:15 p.m. ET).

The Texans-Ravens Monday night game will be televised on local CBS stations in the primary and secondary markets of the Texans (Houston, Beaumont-Port Arthur, and Bryan, Texas) and the Ravens (Baltimore; Washington, DC; Salisbury, MD; and Harrisburg, PA).

[TheMatrix31]

Any good news for us folks not in the Houston or Baltimore areas?

[Keith]

Yes, we'll have a gameday thread here on ItB.com so local fans watching the game can offer their insight into what they're seeing on TV.



Actually, I think the game should still be available on DirecTV's Sunday NFL ticket, and ESPN2 is supposedly airing the game too.

eta - This was in the email just sent by the Texans:

HOUSTON TEXANS GAME UPDATE

Due to the importance of allowing the Houston area to focus on its recovery from the expected arrival of Hurricane Ike on Friday, the Houston Texans' home game Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens has been re-scheduled for Monday night September 15 at 7:30 p.m at Reliant Stadium. The game originally was scheduled to be played on Sunday, September 14 at 3:15 p.m The Texans-Ravens Monday night game will be televised on the local CBS station and on ESPN2.


All tickets to the Ravens game will be honored on Monday night. Please note the following timeline for the game:

• Parking lots will open at 3:30 pm (Platinum at 2:30 pm)
• Budweiser Plaza will open at 5:30 pm
• Stadium gates will open at 6:00 pm

[coloradodude]

Good Lord.

Now we have an extra day of preparation to take away any excuses. Hopefully, we make a statement to the rest of the league that you shouldn't give the Texans an extra day of prep as opposed to it just doesn't matter how much time you give that bunch cause they're just gonna blow it.

[TheMatrix31]

Alright, good news on the telecast. I figure DTV would still have it anyway since it pulls Sunday Ticket feeds off the local stations. If not, hopefully ESPN2 broadcasts the game in hi-def.

[Keith]

Well, according to a quote from Aiello on PFT.com, the game will not be on DirecTV. And frankly, I'm questioning the accuracy of the Texans' email saying it will also be on ESPN2. Hmmm...

From PFT:

“Sunday Ticket is only available on Sunday,” NFL spokesman Greg Aiello told us via e-mail. “The Ravens-Texans game will be televised on the CBS stations in the primary and secondary markets of the Ravens and Texans.”

Here’s the problem. The NFL and DirecTV market Sunday Ticket as a way for fans of teams who don’t live where their favorite teams play to watch their favorite teams’ games. Many folks buy the entire DirecTV package not for the ability to watch every Sunday game, but to watch the one each week that involves the team whose games rarely if ever shows up on the broadcast networks in their area.

So as to all Ravens and Texans fans who don’t live in Baltimore or Houston, they’ll getting screwed out of the main reason they bought the Sunday Ticket package.

And they should get partial refunds.

We recommend not holding your breath. ...

http://www.profootballtalk.com/2008/...sunday-ticket/

[popanot]

Man, this is sad... I'm debating whether to start Flacco this week in my FFL because of the crappy showing the Texans D' put on us last week.

[TheMatrix31]

Originally Posted by Keith

Well, according to a quote from Aiello on PFT.com, the game will not be on DirecTV. And frankly, I'm questioning the accuracy of the Texans' email saying it will also be on ESPN2. Hmmm...

From PFT:


http://www.profootballtalk.com/2008/...sunday-ticket/

That is ****************ed up.

[popanot]

FYI, for the Sunday Ticket folks.

RAVENS-TEXANS GAME WILL AIR ON DIRECTV
Posted by Mike Florio on September 12, 2008, 4:32 p.m.
Well, we’re not quite sure why or how it happened, but the good folks at the NFL and ESPN have decided that the Monday night game between the Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans will be available to DirecTV customers.

“After taking a closer look at it, we have decided that our Sunday Ticket subscribers will receive Monday night’s telecast of the Baltimore Ravens at Houston Texans game,” NFL spokesman Greg Aiello told us by e-mail a few moments ago.

The game won’t be available via DirecTV in Baltimore or Houston, but it wouldn’t be available via DirecTV in those cities if they played the game on Sunday. In those cities, it can be seen on the local CBS affiliate.

Kudos to the league and ESPN for doing the right thing.

[HPF Bob]

It doesn't indicate that Austin is getting the game on KEYE. I still don't understand where ESPN is factoring into this unless they are picking up the telecast but if they are, why should DTV and other satellite options be necessary?

[Keith]

Chron.com article on game being televised on DirecTV for Sunday Ticket subscribers.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/5998295.html

DirecTV spokesman Robert Mercer said NFL Sunday Ticket customers around the nation will be able to see the Ravens-Texans game live Monday night.

ESPN has exclusive rights to the Monday night window but agreed with the decision to make the Texans available on Sunday Ticket.

"We had conversations with the NFL today and determined this was the appropriate decision in order to best serve football fans," said ESPN spokesman Bill Hoffheimer. "Also, we will update our national viewers during the regularly-scheduled MNF game between the Eagles and Cowboys with in-game highlights of the Ravens-Texans."

From McClain's blog:

The Ravens are scheduled to come to Houston on Sunday. They could wait as late as Monday. NFL rules say visiting teams are supposed to be in a city 24 hours before the game, but in emergency situations like this, that rule is relaxed.
Depending on what happens with Ike, of course, there's always a chance the game could be postponed again. The NFL always has a plan, but right now, it hasn't been disclosed to us. ...

The last thing the Texans and Ravens want to do is to move the game. Remember last season when there was so much speculation about where the Texans and Chargers were going to play because of the fires that burned out of control in the San Diego area? They ended up playing it when and where they were supposed to. The Texans might as well have forfeited because they played such a horrible game against the Chargers.

[HPF Bob]

So that's where ESPN comes in. They had to consent for another game to butt into their protected time slot (obviously any competition, no matter how minor, pulls a percentage of viewers from the game they're showing thus diminishing the value of the ads they are selling).

So I guess that means you'll get the Texans if you have Sunday Ticket or if you are in the local markets for Houston and Baltimore.