Official Texans vs. Bills Game Thread, 10/14/2018

[Arky]

The 2-3 Texans host the 2-3 Buffalo Bills in an early game this Sunday. Previously, the Texans are coming off a 19-16 win over the Cowboys and the Bills are coming off a 13-12 win over the Titans. The Bills have beaten the Titans and Vikings, lost to the Packers, Chargers and Ravens. The Bills have a woeful offense (31st in yards/gm) but a very respectable defense (6th yards allowed/gm).

Texans are 4-4 all time versus the Bills.

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TV = CBS (channel 11 local), noon CST Sunday, October 14, 2018

Announcers = Andrew Catalon, James Lofton

The line = Texans by 9½ to 10½

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Other Sunday viewing in the Houston area:

CBS (late) = Jacksonville @ Dallas, Jim Nantz, Tony Romo

FOX (late) = LA Rams @ Denver, Dick Stockton, Mark Schlereth

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Prime time:

TNF = Philadelphia @ NY Giants (FOX/NFLN)

SNF = Kansas City @ New England (NBC)

MNF = San Francisco @ Green Bay (ESPN)

[Arky]

Sean Pendergast - NFL Week 5: Bills-Texans — Four Things To Watch For:

3. Watt and Clowney, Episode 3
It wasn't quite the two man wrecking crew that we saw against Indy two weeks ago, but for the second straight week, Watt and Clowney both made a small handful of impactful plays. They both really seem to be finding their stride in complementing each other on the pass rush, and both are among the 15 best runs defenders in the game, as well, according to Pro Football Focus. The only offensive line that has surrendered more sacks than the Texans' is the Bills' offensive line. Against a rookie quarterback, this should be a fun game for Watt and Clowney.

2. Red zone woes
We've spent plenty of time laughing and crying over the Texans' red zone issues, and they're well documented. This is a team that moves the ball in between the twenty yard lines as well as any in football. Unfortunately, when they're on the doorstep of scoring, they turn into mush. To put it into perspective, this is some great info from Brett Kollman of Battle Red Blog:

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Brett Kollmann
@BrettKollmann
The Texans are leading the Chiefs in total yards, passing yards, rushing yards, and red zone trips per game....but they are scoring 12 fewer points per game and have literally the 31st ranked red zone offense.

One team is 5-0, the other is 2-3. The difference is the red zone.

6:16 PM - Oct 9, 2018
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As the lacrosse coach in American Pie said, YOU DON'T SCORE UNTIL YOU SCORE....
(video at link)

1. Deshaun Watson's health
So this was a strange week for injury reporting. As we outlined here on Tuesday, the gambling community started to go nuts on this game, moving the line down to Texans -1 in some places, and with most taking it off the board completely, with rumors of a Watson injury swirling. As it turns out, he is dealing with a chest injury of some sort, but he will play on Sunday. Watson is taking way too many hits to survive this season, so it will be incumbent on both Bill O'Brien (play calling) and Watson himself (decision making) to keep him out of harm's way, as best they can. Watson is on pace for over 5,000 yards passing this season, but it won't matter if he cannot make it to the bye week with two working lungs.

SPREAD: Texans -10
PREDICTION: Texans 20, Bills 12
RECORD: 2-3 SU, 1-4 ATS

More at link....

[Arky]

Battle Red Day

Texan inactives:

Vyncint Smith, WR
Aaron Colvin, CB
Brian Peters, ILB
Daeshon Hall, OLB
David Sharpe, T
Carlos Watkins, DE
Christian Covington, DE

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In other news, the Chicago Bears have gone from about a 3 pt favorite over the Dolphins to a 7 to 7½ pt favorite due to the Dolphins starting the Brockster........

Seattle vs. Oakland is being played in London.....

[Arky]

After a muffed punt by the Bills, Watson finds Hopkins for a 13 yard TD.

Texans 7, Bills 0

4:43 left in the 1st qtr.

[chuck]

Originally Posted by Arky

In other news, the Chicago Bears have gone from about a 3 pt favorite over the Dolphins to a 7 to 7½ pt favorite due to the Dolphins starting the Brockster........

Someone was saying that the Dolphins kept Tannyhill out of the lineup to protect him from Mack. Is there any truth to that?

[Arky]

Originally Posted by chuck

Someone was saying that the Dolphins kept Tannyhill out of the lineup to protect him from Mack. Is there any truth to that?

Not that I know of. I just assumed Tannehill was ailing ....

[Arky]

Look at that special teams go!

(blocked punt)

[Arky]

Fairbairn converts a 33-yard FG after the blocked punt.

Texans 10, Bills 0

8:33 left in the half.

[Arky]

Texans had an opportunity as the half was ending but Watson throws an INT in the endzone.

Halftime and the score remains:

Texans 10, Bills 0

[Arky]

Hauschka connects on a 22-yard FG after the Watson INT.

Texans 10, Bills 3

10:12 left in the 3rd qtr.

[Arky]

Hauschka connects on a 52 yard FG.

Texans 10, Bills 6

2:12 left in the 3rd qtr.

[Arky]

Peterman hits Z Jones for a 16 yard TD pass after the Watson fumble.

Bills 13, Texans 10

13 minutes left in the game.

[Arky]

Watson sacked 6 times and counting....

[Arky]

With 1:34 left in the game, Fairbairn hits a 27 yard FG.

Texans 13, Bills 13

[Arky]

JJo with a very big play! Pick 6!

Texans 20, Bills 13

1:23 left in the game.

[Arky]

Nathan Peterman wins Texans MVP as the Texans hold on.

Final score:

Texans 20, Bills 13

[barrett]

The past few weeks we had bad coaching get bailed out by even worse coaching on the other sideline. Today we had awful QB play get bailed out by even worse QB play. I know Watson got sacked 6 times, but how many of those plays did he hold the ball longer than 4 seconds. He is hanging the OL out to dry, and he's giving the ball away with his refusal to throw a ball away. Not to mention he won't physically last 5 years in the NFL if he doesn't learn to recognize and let go of a bad play. Not every play is a winner and sometimes the best you can do is live to fight another day. The INT before the half was the worst. He actually held the ball too long, escaped the pocket with his unique skills, then held the ball too long a 2nd time and threw a pick on the most obvious throw the ball away play you'll ever find. He is already good enough as is to be a top 5 QB if he'd just let 4-5 plays a game go.

[Keith]

Texans now tied for the division lead. Which seems great but is all the more infuriating when reviewing the losses to the Titans (didn't bother to cover a gunner on punt coverage) and to the Giants (who can't seem to beat anyone else).

Watson's play today makes one pessimistic that the winning streak will have much more to it. The physical abuse is clearly wearing on him just six games into a season where he is already coming off a shortened season due to injury.

[Arky]

Early line has the Jags as a 4½ pt favorite over the Texans next Sunday. Sounds about right. Jags have to be pissed off and embarrassed about their blowout loss to the Cowboys.... Texans (IMO) will truly have their hands full just to keep the game close...

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The Texan defense is starting to show signs of becoming really good.... like top 5 good. Need to see more data but if they do well against the Jags, it will bode well for the rest of the season....

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But boy oh boy, that offense and the person that calls the plays...... Seemed like the Bills had their ears pinned back and were coming on every single pass play. Several times Watson had less than a couple of seconds to make a decision. When he had more time, sometimes he took too long. Where is the Texan's dink and dunk game? Checkdowns? Little short passes to tight ends, running backs and the slot guy? Slants and crosses?