Official Texans @ Lions Game Thread, 11/22/2012

[Nconroe]

Nice drive by Texans for first down on 11.

Texans to barely make FG for win 34-31.

Wow.

Two 4Q comebacks and OT wins in 5 days.

Now a 10 day rest , well deserved.

[barrett]

A healthy Jonathon Joseph is the most important thing to our defense. He has not been as good as Watt this year, but we can duplicate/replace what we get from Watt easier than what we get from Joseph. We really need him and AJ healthy in the playoffs.

With that said, I didn't think Alan Ball played bad (especially by Alan Ball standards). I just thought it was a dumb idea to have Ball follow CJ around the filed with little safety help. The 2nd half we abandoned that plan and gave up 10 points in 40+ minutes.

Our pass rush has been downright anemic at points this season. I was happy to see mercilous on the field even if he didn't do much more. He just seems to have the most ceiling of the edge guys. Plus it gives us a chance to see Braman at some point (a curiosity for me).

With that said I am sad to see Reed go down (and Dobbins and James). Our defense is wounded right now and needs all of these 10 days to rest up and get healthy. With that said, great job in OT by a banged up, wore down, tired group. When guys like Ruud and Ball make plays it makes you feel great about the level of coaching our guys receive. Even Brandon Harris got on the field and though I didn't notice him after that, that's good for a CB. I truly feel like any player we draft will succeed simply because of the way they'll be coached and supported.

[nunusguy]

10 -1. Better lucky than good !
What else is there to say but "Go Texans" !

[Keith]

Jim Schwartz deserves to be fired for this one. Too much talent on the Lions to be 4-7. Kinda reminds me of the Texans a couple years ago but on the other side of the coin when the team chose to retain a cooler-headed Gary Kubiak.

[barrett]

Schwartz is a fake tough guy, just like his team.

The funniest thing is that his fight with Harbaugh started last year when he yelled across the field that harbaugh didn't know the rules because he had thrown a challenge flag when it wasn't allowed.

[HPF Bob]

My DVR ran out so I missed everything past the first OT FG attempt. Watched the highlights.

I agree that JJo may be our defense's most important player. Anyone would have struggles against Calvin Johnson and Ball didn't do that badly given what we would have expected from him.

I think it is worth noting that the Jaguars and Lions are two of the most physical teams in the NFL and to play 10 quarters against them in five days is a tough grind. What you take away is that these are the sort of games that the Oilers and even some of the recent Texans ballclubs would have lost. The Texans are still good enough to win games they ought to lose. That's the mark of a champion.

I just hope they have enough healthy bodies left, particularly on defense, going into the final weeks of the season.

[today]

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

My DVR ran out so I missed everything past the first OT FG attempt.

I hate that... I had that happen to me awhile back and vowed never again. Now I always add 1 to 1.5 hours beyond the expected end of the game.

Sorry you had to miss out on it... Probably was easier on your heart though =)

[today]

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

Ball didn't do that badly given what we would have expected from him.

Seemed to me like he really just had one bad series where Megatron ate him up for 3 big plays. Aside from that one drive, I only found myself cursing him when he dropped that INT in the end zone... HOW DO YOU DROP THAT?!?!

[WMH]

Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) tweeted:
Texans D takes a hit -- Brooks Reed expected to miss 3-4 weeks with a groin injury. No surgery, but tough loss as home-field race heats up.