Official Texans vs. Saints Game Thread, 11/29/2015

[Arky]

The 5-5 Texans take on the 4-6 New Orleans Saints Sunday in an early game at NRG stadium. The Saints are coming off their bye week and the recent dismissal of defensive coordinator Rob Ryan. Sometimes this results in an uptick in play even though the Saints defense is presently rated last in the league in some categories and metrics.

QB Brian Hoyer returns to the Texans lineup after going through the concussion protocol. TJ Yates filled in well with fine relief in the Cincy game and by leading the Texans to a victory over the NY Jets last week, 24-17.

Texans are 3-0 ATS and the Saints are 0-3 ATS in their last three games but I'm expecting a close game, however.

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TV = FOX (channel 26 local), Sunday, noon CST, Nov 29

Announcers = Joe Davis, David Diehl

The line = Texans by 3

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Thursday/Thanksgiving games:

Philadephia @ Detroit, 11:30 am, FOX

Carolina @ Dallas, 3:30 pm, CBS

Chicago @ Green Bay, 7:30 pm, NBC

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Other Sunday viewing in the Houston area:

CBS (late) = Pittsburgh @ Seattle -- Jim Nantz, Phil Simms, 3:25 pm

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Other prime time:

SNF = New England @ Denver, NBC, 7:30 pm

MNF = Baltimore @ Cleveland, ESPN, 7:30 pm

[WMH]

Hopefully, Brees likes it here so much on Sunday he'll decide to come here after he's cut this offseason and be our QB for the next couple of years while they're grooming a youngster.

The Saints O isn't what it used to be. That happens when you trade your best weapon. I can't imagine what Graham would've done to this LB group.

Hopefully, Hoyer can remember the plays, and we can stretch our streak to 4.

[HPF Bob]

A low-scoring game favors the Texans. A high-scoring game favors the Saints.

Please, let's have another Kareem Jacksonless week. Our defense looks so much better without him drawing flags on third down.

[WMH]

@AaronWilson_NFL
Texans listed all of their injured players as probable
This marks the first time the Texans haven't had any players listed as questionable or worse all season, healthiest they've been all year

Good time of the year to be fully healthy.

[Arky]

Reading the tea leaves, the spread has taken a last minute jump to 3.5 and 4 which is a good sign for the Texans....

Gametime in about 3 minutes....

[Arky]

Saints win the toss and elect to receive.

Kickoff is a touchback.

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Saint's ball at their 20.

Pass to Snead gets 5.

Pass to Cooks gets 8 and the 1st down.

Ingram for 1.

Low pass to Watson goes inc. Brings up 3rd and 9.

Pass to Cooks too tall, inc. Saints will have to punt.

Mumph brings the punt back to the Texan 30.

[Arky]

Texan's ball at their 30.

Blue goes right side for 11.

Rollout pass to Fido goes to the Saint 45.

Blue for 4.

Flags presnap. False start, Brooks, -5. Make it 2nd and 11 coming up.

Pass to Hop over the middle gets 8. 3rd and 3 coming up.

Pass to Hop in the flat gets 6 or 7 and the 1st down. Ball at the Saint 31.

Pass to Griffin gets 4.

Blue for 2. 3rd and 4 coming up.

Hoyer hits Shorts in the flat for the 1st down at the Saint 17.

Blue for 3.

Pass to Blue over the middle gets 4. 3rd and 3 coming up.

Hoyer pressured, finds Griffin in the flat for the TD!

Texans 7, Saints 0

6:57 left in the 1st qtr.

[Big Texas]

An instant game plan that I notice is the hard counts. This is definitely causing the D Line to hesitate...

[Arky]

The ensuing kickoff is a touchback.

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Saint's ball at their 20.

Screen to Ingram gets sniffed out for a loss of 2.

Quick pass to Cooks in the flat loses 2. 3rd and 14 coming up.

Dumpoff to Spiller only gets 1 or 2. Saints will have to punt.

Mumph brings the punt back to midfield.

[Big Texas]

It feels like it's been forever since I've seen a back come out our backfield as FAST as Hunt just did...wow

[Arky]

Texan's ball at midfield.

4:58 left in the 1st qtr.

Pass to Hop over the middle gets 13.

Polk runs for 6.

Polk for almost 3. 3rd and 1 coming up.

Flags presnap. Offsides defense, 5 yards and a 1st down.

Shorts takes an end around for 6 yards.

Polk for 2. 3rd and 2 coming up.

Akeem Hunt takes the pitch right all the way to the 3 yard line. 1st and goal.

Timeout Texans.

Sweep play to Shorts goes for the TD!

Texans 14, Saints 0

1:29 left in the 1st qtr.

[Arky]

Spiller brings the ensuing kickoff back to about the Saint 22.

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Saint's ball at their 22.

Ingram loses 2.

Brees pressured throws inc in the flat. 3rd and 12 coming up.

Pass to Cooks gets 11..... Saints will have to punt.

Mumph gets smothered catching the punt at the Texan 16.

End of the 1st qtr.

[Big Texas]

Hoyer just said "alright ummmm 50s the Mike"

[Arky]

Texan's ball at their 16.

Polk for 4.

Nice touch pass to Griffin goes for 21.

Screen to Hop just gets 1.

Hoyer's pass is INT'ed by Byrd... flag on the run back...illegal block in the back on the Saints after the INT places the ball at the Saint 49.

[Arky]

Saint's ball at their 49.

Ingram for a loss of 1.

Pass to Cooks gets 11 and the 1st down.

Sweep to Spiller goes for a loss of 2.

Brees's pass nearly INT'ed but flag on the Saints for (holding?) backs it up 10 yards. 2nd and 22 coming up.

Screen to Ingram loses 1. 3rd and 23 coming up.

Deep pass is overthrown out of bounds, inc. Saints will have to punt.

Punt goes out of bounds at the Texan 11.

[Arky]

Texan's ball at their 11.

10:21 left in the half.

Blue for 6.

Screen to Hunt gets sniffed out for loss of 3. 3rd and 7 coming up.

Pass to Washington over the middle goes inc. Texans have to punt.

Saints bring the punt back to the the Texan 48.... flag is down.... (must've been against the Texans and declined.)

[Arky]

No flag on the punt.

Saint's ball at the Texan 48.

Brees can't find a receiver and throws it away, inc.

Ingram sweeps right and gets loose for 29 yards. Ball at the Texan 19.

Flag presnap.....delay of game on the Saints, -5. 1st and 15 coming up.

Pass to Watson gets 4.

Brees throws over the middle inc. 3rd and 11 coming up.

Brees hits Watson for about 9. Saints going for the 30 yard FG.

Forbath's FG is good.

Texans 14, Saints 3

6:31 left in the half.

[Warren]

Has Fox said why they're not showing the first down line on the broadcast? Or are they just cutting costs on a lower-profile game?

[Arky]

The ensuing kickoff is brought back to about the Texan 23.

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Texan's ball at their 23.

Grimes for 3.

Grimes takes the snap for a 1st down.

Dumpoff to Grimes gets about 8.

Grimes for 3 and the 1st down. About 4 minutes left in the half.

Hoyer pressured, throws it away, inc but a flag is down.... holding on the Texans (Brown) makes it 1st and 20.

Grimes for a couple. Saints use a timeout.

On 2nd and 18, Hoyer's pass is tipped in the air and Polk comes down with it for 6 yards. 3rd and 12 coming up.

Pass to Shorts goes for 7. Ball at midfield and the Texans will have to punt.

Lechler's punt goes into the endzone, touchback.

2:31 left in the half.

[Arky]

Originally Posted by Warren

Has Fox said why they're not showing the first down line on the broadcast? Or are they just cutting costs on a lower-profile game?

No idea. They're not very quick with the down and distance info either...