|
|
#1
12-23-2012, 03:25 PM
|
|||
|
|||
How will the Colts Approach Week 17?
Quote:
|
|
#2
12-23-2012, 03:28 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Quote:
|
|
#3
12-23-2012, 03:56 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
What bothers me is how lifeless the Texans have looked in their three losses - as if they were just going through the motions. They haven't truly lost anything yet but they could become the third seed if they don't take care of business next week in Indy. I would have preferred that it had not come down to that but I guess the Texans didn't want it that badly today.
|
|
#6
12-24-2012, 11:47 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Quote:
|
|
#7
12-24-2012, 04:16 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Split this from the Vikings game thread...[/mod note]
At first I thought it might be good that the Colts had nothing to play for, but with their young players, they may actually play better without the pressure and come out like gangbusters with nothing to lose. I think it is evident the Texans are a team that needs to take the lead early. Jumping on the Colts in the first half and having them think twice about bringing the starters back out after halftime ought to make Kubiak install an aggressive gameplan this week.
|
|
#8
12-24-2012, 05:43 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Someone said today on national radio that Andrew Luck ranks only 44th in the NFL in quarterback rating. And the Colts showed they had no answer for J.J. Watt. If the Texans can get their focus back, I think they win but it will be better to get a 10-pt lead or better and force Indy to come back.
|
|
#9
12-26-2012, 05:55 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
First offensive play of the game better be a play-action bomb to Andre Johnson. Set the tone early, use the pass to set up the run.
|
|
#10
12-26-2012, 07:38 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
How 'bout the Texans' offense do something wild and crazy this Sunday like run a couple screens ? They seem to be so predictable, hey just mix it up a bit, show
the opposing defense something a little difference than what their history has been.
|
|
#11
12-26-2012, 02:49 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
The Colts are at least talking like they plan to play their starters the full game.
Quote:
I'm sure the rah-rah opinion around the league is that this is good for the Colts, but the reality is they are certainly taking some unnecessary risks. Still wouldn't surprise me if the Colts really treat this like a Preseason Week 3 instead. One shot from the Ninja to Luck's knee and this will approach will look galactically stupid.
|
|
#12
12-26-2012, 04:57 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
I don't think it matters if they play everyone because we beat them either way.
But consider the stakes for Indy. Obviously it is meaningless for their playoff postition, but if the Colts win this Game they are still playing Baltimore and then a road game in Denver if they win. If they lose this week 17 game they are playing Baltimore and then a road game in Houston who would be trying to beat them for the 3rd time in 5 weeks. If I am Indy, not only do I not try to win this one, I might actively throw it.
|
|
#13
12-26-2012, 09:24 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
After spending a couple of days in limbo at 4.5, the spread has officially come out as Texans by 7. Sounds about right.
There was a time a few years back when you could make money the last two weeks of the NFL season betting dogs against teams that had clinched playoff spots. Due to human nature or what, teams that clinch almost always have a letdown (which may partly explain the miserable Vikings game). The books have gotten wise in this day and age and it's gotten tougher to hit these...... Texans, however, legitimately have a very good reason to win this upcoming game.... Texans won the first meeting by 12 at home - move it to Indy, Texans with something to play for, Indy not much to play for, keep the spread out of 8-9 range for the road team to discourage heavy home team betting and yeah, 7 is about right... I'm thinking the Texans cover the spread here..... but I also thought they would do well in New England.... 
|
|
#14
12-28-2012, 04:16 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Putting this in here as it is pretty much the upcoming Colts game thread....
Texans vs. Colts TV = CBS (channel 11 local), noon Sunday CST Announcers = Greg Gumbel, Dan Dierdorf The line = Texans by 7 Texans getting a huge TV audience this week..... pretty much a big chunk of New England, the deep south and everything west of the Mississippi River. Afternoon games in Houston are: CBS = KC @ Denver FOX = Green Bay @ Minnesota I believe the single double-header rule for the road team is waived this week as it shows FOX broadcasting Philly @ NYG the same time as the Texan game..... And of course, SNF will feature RGIII making the Cowboys cry.....  And then......(pregnant pause) ... the playoffs....
|
|
#15
12-28-2012, 09:45 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Houston at Indy is the featured game for the Noon part of the doubleheader while the second half of the CBS schedule is KC/DEN for most of the are west of the Mississippi (except Oakland-SD in California) and MIA/NE east of the Mississippi. Both games seem foregone conclusions but take on more significance if the Texans lose.
Both networks get doubleheaders in Week 17. I believe most of Texas is getting PHI/NYG then GB/MIN. I expect the networks to switch us from meaningless games to meaningful ones as soon as outcomes are no longer in doubt.
|
|
#16
12-28-2012, 12:02 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
I'm surprised our game is getting most of the country re TV coverage given how little following we have outside of Houston metro, so I would attribute that
to Luck and the return of the cancer-stricken coach to the Indy sidelines. And I'm thankful the Cowboys game is at night since otherwise we'd miss what I think will be the game-of-the-day in GB @ Minn. But on the Dallas-Redskins game, looking forward to again seeing RGIII, the most exciting player in the league since Michael Vick in his early days and athletic prime a decade ago in ATL.
|
|
#17
12-28-2012, 04:22 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
We have shown poorly against the NFC opponents this year. Does anyone remember how the Broncos did against NFC opponents in the Superbowl of their hay days? Also, we have historically not done well with those big beefy nose tackles (Wolfolk) with our zone blocking schemes. Who would be the worst match-up for us if we make it to the Superbowl which is certainly not guaranteed since we will probably have to make past the Patriots.
|
|
#18
12-28-2012, 06:49 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Quote:
1996: Broncos at 12-1 finished 1-2. (lost divisonal round at home to JAX) 1997: Broncos at 11-2 finished 1-3. (won Super Bowl over GB) 1998: Broncos at 13-1 finished 1-2. (won Super Bowl over ATL) 2012: Texans at 11-1 are 1-2 in last 3 games. Like the 2012 Texans, these Bronco teams jumped out to big winning records by early December, then let up on the gas. What Kubiak has brought to Houston in other ways has been very comparable to those Bronco teams; this seems no different.
|
|
#19
12-28-2012, 07:21 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Keith that explains a lot. I posted earlier about how it is clear that Kubiak has taken his foot way off the gas and stopped doing all of the things that made our offense dangerous. We scored at will through that 5 day stretch of November when the defense temporarily collapsed, and then just shut it down. I thought Kubs was probably keeping most of the playbook in reserve (including all of the bootlegs), but this confirms it. He is once again falling back on the tried and true shanahan/denver days. When looking at your stats I can even see some of that last year, when we stumbled through Yates down the stretch and then played two of our best games all season (regardless of QB) in the destruction of Cincy and the defensive marvel in Baltimore.
With that said, I think Kubs could be an idiot here. It is one thing to take a deep breath down the stretch and gear up for the playoff unveiling when you have a veteran team led by John Elway (and the unshakable confidence that comes with being led by John Elway). I don't think Schaub/Kubs inspire the same unshakable confidence that Elway did. I think we run the real risk of our team's psyche being dented by the losses, especially if we give away home field and have to go into NE or Denver. With that said, a win Sunday and we are perfectly positioned with a dream playoff path, mostly healthy, completely under the radar (with the best record in the conference and wins over 2 of the 3 division champs), and are uniquely setup to take NYG style "nobody believes in us" motivation while also being the home team. I hope that I am wrong and Kubs is right and this team can flip a switch in the playoffs. I want to believe we have that kind of mental toughness and confidence, and next month I'll know.
|
|
#20
12-28-2012, 08:00 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Yep yep yep.
Here's something else... how about the theory that a team has to be "hot" going into the playoffs? Mostly bunk since 2006. 2011: Giants had to play the wildcard round after a 9-7 season, needing a 2-1 finish to get there. Not really applicable here since this was a largely experienced team returning, not much like the 2012 Texans. 2010: Packers were 10-6 and also had to play the wild card round. Went 2-2 down the stretch, not exactly lighting the world on fire. 2009: Saints, now this is a good one. They were 13-0 then lost their last three in a row. 2008: Steelers finished 12-4, finished 1-1. 2007: Giants 10-6, finishing 1-2, including that loss to the undefeated Patriots in the regular season finale. 2006: Colts were 12-4, but finished 2-3. Now, from 2000-2005, those Super Bowl teams really did finish strong, at least following those two Bronco Super Bowl teams before them that didn't. Bottom line, if the Texans win Sunday and close the season with a 2-2 stretch, it won't mean squat regarding their Super Bowl chances. In fact, if recent history is an indicator, it might not be such a bad thing at all to understand how to react to a little adversity. Since 2006, Super Bowl winners were a combined 8-12 down the stretch.
|
 |
| Bookmarks |
|
|
Linear Mode
