Official Texans @ Chargers Game Thread, 9/22/2019

[barrett]

Originally Posted by chuck

And let me just say, I don't really understand all of the AB hate. I understand it insofar as it pertains to sexual assault, you know. I'm fairly consistently anti -sexual assault. I don't care if you ARE watching a televangelist. They can be quite titillating, I'll grant you. But a basic amount of decorum is indicated.

Anyhoo, Brown hates Robert Kraft. I hate Robert Kraft. He trolls Robert Kraft on the tweeter talking about his Jupiter rub and tug joint. I am totally here for that.

I hope he does whatever he can to expose the idiocy and extraordinary hypocrisy of NFL owners.

I almost always take the side of millionaire players over billionaire owners when they haggle over dollars. I hope the pats have to pay him. But I think some of my hate comes from the fact that he’s a millionaire who has repeatedly stiffed a bunch of average joes on the bill after promising to pay for their services. Chefs and painters and personal trainers can’t afford to not get paid and it’s awful that he cheats them because he thinks he can do whatever he wants.

[HPF Bob]

My three least-favorite NFL teams are: 1) Patriots 2) Steelers 3) Raiders. Therefore, hating AB comes naturally. Brown hit the trifecta. But, now, AB will be setting records in the CFL, palling around with Johnny Manziel, another guy with first-round talent and a 7th-round brain. Or maybe he'll play in the XFL.

Remember when we had Jaelen Strong whom I assured everyone would be a great NFL receiver? He made a few outstanding plays but he basically bonged himself out of the NFL. One thing these NFL draft profiles never tell you is which players are as stupid as wearing a hot pink hoodie to commit an armed robbery.

[chuck]

That's true, if you stiff your workers you are an unmitigated piece of shit.

Another thing that I forgot to mention that everybody knows - the Jags are a terrible team. The Chargers are most definitely not a terrible team.

[Arky]

Early numbers have the Texans as a 4 pt home favorite over Carolina next week. Panthers may have something going with Kyle Allen replacing Cam Newton at QB. Allen was 19/26, 261 yards, 4 TDs, 0 INTs vs. Arizona today....

[Arky]

Texans will make it out of September with at least a .500 record - something that wasn't assured a few months ago. Last year, they lost 3 straight to start the season then got the OT victory over the Colts.

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I watched a lot of the Colts game today because I had an "interest". They are pretty danged good. Though they only won by 3 pts, I thought they were the much better team despite Matt Ryan being on fire in the 2nd half. They (the Colts) made smart decisions and had good calls from the head coach (Reich) at critical moments. Brissett did well (he looks "chunkier". Maybe it's the rib padding...). They are going to be a formidable opponent this year.

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This weeks version of the OL seemed to do better as the game progressed. In the 1st quarter, they were under assault but seemed to come around later in the game. At some point, OB has to stop tweaking and let these guys get comfortable.....

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Great to see the TE's being used. The radio guys were calling Akins + Fells the "two-headed Gronk". Eheh. They were a combined 8 catches, 122 yards, 3 TD's, very Gronk-like numbers.

[Keith]

Firstly, this was at least the second game in a row where a key strip sack by Whitney Mercilus was a difference maker. The early returns on his 2019 season are being overshadowed somewhat by the play of Deshaun Watson, but Mercilus has started an All-Pro campaign. Which is both somewhat amazing and somewhat obvious in the aftermath of the departure of Jadeveon Clowney: the first thought is that losing Clowney would put even more attention onto the Mercilus making it more difficult for him to perform. But the second is that Clowney's loss allows the Texans to deploy Mercilus more appropriately in the scheme.

Secondly, when I heard of the OL changes (Tytus to RT and Scharping to LG), I immediately thought it was to emphasize the run game. The Chargers maybe thought this too and were able to prioritize their run defense. Fortunately Watson adapted as the game progressed. Three (3!) touchdowns to tight ends. And Kenny Stills has been a find. Of course, it seems Coutee has become a forgotten man, and Fuller seems to be needed less... or maybe Stills is simply keeping Coutee and Fuller fresh and injury free for the long season ahead.

A road win in conference against a playoff quality opponent... and now a home game against their second backup QB in three games. Perhaps good teams make their luck. And perhaps a healthy Watson make the lucky Texans good.

[HPF Bob]

Cam Newton is ruled out for this Sunday vs. Texans but not sure if that is good news or bad news given the way the backup played.

I wonder if the TE use in the Chargers win was because the Chargers decided to concentrate on the wideouts and ignore the TEs. That or their safeties just aren't as good as they used to be. Nobody covered Fells on his TD and Akins was w i d e open on his long TD catch-and-run. That would indicate the TEs were allowed to roam free without anyone covering them on the assumption the Texans would not send them far from the LOS.