Official Texans @ Bears Game Thread, 11/11/2012

[nunusguy]

With the exception of a strong home-field performance against a basically crippled Ravens team (certainly on D), the Texans really haven't been too impressive at all in their last 4 games.
To me the keys to the game are (1) the Texans' front 7 getting enough pressure on the Bears passing game to slow down the Cutler-Marshal combo,
(2) the Texans' woeful STs going against stellar Bears' ST units led by Kevin Hester, and (3) whether the Texans' rushing-game is able to move the chains against the Bears D ?
No matter how badly I personally may want the Texans to prevail in their second Sunday-night try this season in front of national TV to redeem themselves for the real stinker vs the Packers earlier in Reliant, I just don't see it happening, therefor 21-13, Bears.

[HPF Bob]

That seems to touch on the main points. Has the Bears OL turned a corner in protecting Cutler? I'm not sure.

Can the Texans run the ball on the Bears. Yes, to the left. Maybe no to the right.

I don't think the Texans STs will be giving Hester that many chances given the way they performed last week.

Two other questions: If Daniels is limited, who is going to take attention away from AJ in the passing game? Will weather be a factor? Temps likely in the 40s with strong chance for rain and 15-25 MPH winds.

My recollection of Bears-Broncos games during the Shanahan days are that his WCO struggled against the Bears who have been what they are for quite some time.

After thinking earlier in the season this could be a Texans win, my hunch says Bears take this one, 20-14.

[barrett]

Originally Posted by nunusguy

With the exception of a strong home-field performance against a basically crippled Ravens team (certainly on D), the Texans really haven't been too impressive at all in their last 4 games.
To me the keys to the game are (1) the Texans' front 7 getting enough pressure on the Bears passing game to slow down the Cutler-Marshal combo,
(2) the Texans' woeful STs going against stellar Bears' ST units led by Kevin Hester, and (3) whether the Texans' rushing-game is able to move the chains against the Bears D ?
No matter how badly I personally may want the Texans to prevail in their second Sunday-night try this season in front of national TV to redeem themselves for the real stinker vs the Packers earlier in Reliant, I just don't see it happening, therefor 21-13, Bears.

We've got a 3-1 record and a +30 point differential in the last 3 games. If we play that "unimpressively" the rest of the season we finish at 13-3 with home field advantage throughout.

And I don't see how you dismiss the Ravens win. They may have looked crippled against the Texans, but they look pretty good against everyone else. Their offense especially has been very good this year, has few injuries, and was destroyed by our defense. That game was far more about what we did than what they were missing. Ray Lewis would had little effect on Joe Flacco posting the worst QBR in the 5 year history of the stat.

I am pretty sure the Bears game will be decided by things like the 2 points you made, and I am pretty sure the Bears game won't be decided by how "impressive" the Texans looked in the last 4 games.

[Arky]

I think they (Texans) got a punchers chance, here. They could win by 10, they could lose by 10.

Frankly, I think the Bear offense is going to struggle against the Texan defense. Cutler can be explosive in spurts.... but he is not the carve-master that a red hot Aaron Rodgers can be. Now, the Bears defense may score... the Bears special teams may score.... but I don't see the Bears offense running away with the game like the Green Bay offense was able to do.

The Texan offense needs to play clean - no sloppiness, no turnovers. Game total (over/under) is presently at 41 pts and dropping so the public thinks it will be a low scoring affair....

[Nconroe]

I think it could be a tight fairly low scoring game.

If Texans keep their composure, avoid dumb penalties and turnovers, then they can win.

Go Texans, show everyone you can win the tough games.

And I hope ST has turned the corner to atleast middle of the pack .

Wet and windy, maybe that helps Texans grind it out with their time of possession game.

[chuck]

Cutler doesn't scare me at all and the Texans' offense is diverse enough to move the ball on any defense. Ideally the Texans will somehow get a lead and force the Bears to throw the ball and reduce Forte's impact. Barring that it will be a matter of turnovers. The team that doesn't make them wins.

[barrett]

Cutler has been one of the worst QB in the NFL against the blitz this year (league-worst 14 sacks and %52.4 completion). The Texans have blitzed more than any NFL team this year. The bears struggle to score if their defense can't put it in the endzone. We are near the bottom of the NFL in turnovers.

I am definitely concerned about this game, but the matchups actually play out pretty nice for us. I would say (like everyone else who likes to state the obvious), that if we win the turnover battle it will be hard for us to lose this one.

[nunusguy]

People in Houston are starting to get goofy again with all this talk about Sundays game in ChiTown being the most important game in the Texans history. OK there's a lot of hype surrounding the game, a lot of national attention with two 7-1 teams and the big national TV audience and all, but the simple truth is next weeks game with the lowly Jags in Reliant is clearly a much more important game for the Texans 2012 season.

[chuck]

This upcoming game is not in the same universe of importance as any and every playoff game.