Official Texans @ Broncos Game Thread, 9/23/2012

[HPF Bob]

Originally Posted by chuck

I absolutely do not understand the modern aversion to punting the ball out of bounds at the 10 or so. Why do you have to try for the improbable downing on the one when you could reliably put the ball out of bounds within the 20? Special teams coaches must be very bad at math.

That's a good observation, Chuck. The "coffin corner" seems to have gone the way of the drop kick. I know I always found it frustrating to watch the side official walk up the sideline with that stupid arm outraised an extra 10 yards than where I felt the ball went out of bounds so maybe enough coaches felt like me and switched to the current strategy.

[HPF Bob]

Heyward-Bey is taken off on a cart after he was sandwiched by two Steelers.

[Arky]

L Ball for 4 yards. 2nd and 6 coming up.

Short pass to Stokely good for 3. 3rd and 3 coming up.

Pass to Stokely gets 4 yards and the 1st down.

Pass deep sideline is inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Pass to Stokely gets 11 and the 1st down.

Pass too high for Thomas, inc. 6:09 left in the game.

Pass to Tamme good for 11 and the 1st down.

Pass is broken up by McCain, inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Manning sacked by Watt! Loss of 6.

Pass down the field to Tamme is inc. Makes it 4th and 16 coming up. Tamme hurt on the play - helped off the field. Broncos going for it.....

Pass too long to Thomas inc, but flag down. Manning was past the LOS! PI on Texans gives an auto 1st down.

Pass to Stokely gets 9 at the Texan 30. Stokely shaken up. Stokely helped off the field. 2nd and 1 coming up. 4:41 left in the game.

[Arky]

On 2nd and 1, pass in the endzone is complete to Thomas for the TD. Play is under review..... Looks like Thomas only had one foot in.....

Bring it back, TD is overturned.... Makes it 3rd and 1 from the 31 for the Broncos. 4:33 left in the game.

Hillman rushes for 4 and the 1st down.

[chuck]

How in the F can a ref standing right there miss that?

[Arky]

Manning tosses into the endzone, inc but they are going to get KJ for PI. Auto 1st down at the 1.

Ball caught in the backfield by B James. Loss of 3. 2nd and goal from the 4.

Ball caught again by Watt for loss of two.

Oy, tipped pass is caught by Dreessen for the TD.

Texans 31, Broncos 25.

3 minutes left in the game.

[chuck]

I hate to complain about the refs but that PI call was more of the home team bullshit we've seen all year. I have no great love for KJ but that was disgusting.

[Arky]

The ensuing kickoff goes out of the endzone. Texans ball at their 20.

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Foster goes right side for 3. Timeout Broncos. 2:54 left in the game.

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Foster for 2. 3rd and 5 coming up. Timeout Broncos.

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Pass to AJ good for 12 and a 1st down! Nice pass Matt Schaub...

Foster for 4. 2nd and 6 coming up.

2 minute warning. Denver out of timeouts.

[Keith]

Just caught up on DVR....

I am shocked there wasn't a full-out brawl in this one. (a) I am a little disappointed the Texans didn't retaliate after the two rough hits on Schaub, and (b) the referees should have possibly considered an ejection somewhere between the stretch where Holliday was creamed on that punt and Schaub's ear was sliced off.

You know, smacking another team's defenseless punt returner should cost a team a lot more than a 15-yard penalty. Consider him a specialist, like a kicker or punter... I almost think it might not be a bad strategy to just wallop a great returner in the 1st quarter to knock him out of the game if it only costs 15 yards.

And that PI at the end of it was of course total hometown, Peyton slobbering BS. That's why you need a 2-TD lead on this fool in the fourth quarter. Just disgusting.

Watt was amazing, again. Kept asking myself several times where the heck Connor Barwin was though. He seems to run himself out of plays too often.

I thought the receivers all did a great job today. Schaub's fantasy owners will like his totals, and he was valiant to stay in the pocket on some of those throws (...and underthrows, ahem), but the TEs/WRs were wonderful.

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by chuck

I hate to complain about the refs but that PI call was more of the home team bullshit we've seen all year. I have no great love for KJ but that was disgusting.

I agree with this post

[WMH]

Harris in at RT for crucial drive.

[Nconroe]

Ok, we need a couple of first downs, one for sure.

[chuck]

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

That's a good observation, Chuck. The "coffin corner" seems to have gone the way of the drop kick. I know I always found it frustrating to watch the side official walk up the sideline with that stupid arm outraised an extra 10 yards than where I felt the ball went out of bounds so maybe enough coaches felt like me and switched to the current strategy.

You've got 20 yards of sideline to work with. If you can't get it out between the goal line and the 20 I find another punter. First and ten from the 17 is better than first and ten from the 20, plainly.

Today the fashion is to go for the home run every possible punt. It's crazy.

[HPF Bob]

Originally Posted by chuck

You've got 20 yards of sideline to work with. If you can't get it out between the goal line and the 20 I find another punter. First and ten from the 17 is better than first and ten from the 20, plainly.

Today the fashion is to go for the home run every possible punt. It's crazy.

I'm not disagreeing. It's just that I was sick of watching our punts sail out near the five and watch the marionette march upfield and stop at the 15.

If this were baseball, some dweeb with a slide rule would tell us that one strategy was stupid and should never ever be attempted.

[chuck]

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

I'm not disagreeing. It's just that I was sick of watching our punts sail out near the five and watch the marionette march upfield and stop at the 15.

No, no, I totally understand. That *was* frustrating.

[WMH]

McCain is having a rough day.

Harris sighting next week?

[Nconroe]

He should bbe out of bouinds, but this is getting to close for comfort.