Atlanta Falcons @ Houston Texans. 12/4. 12 CT. FOX. **Official GameDay Thread**

[ThaShark316]

After losing its top two QBs to season-ending injuries, Houston turns to T.J. Yates in hopes of extending the longest single-season winning streak in team history Sunday against the visiting Atlanta Falcons.

Two weeks after starter Matt Schaub suffered a severe foot injury, No. 2 quarterback Matt Leinart fractured his left collarbone shortly before halftime during a 20-13 victory at Jacksonville last Sunday.

That thrust Yates, a fifth-round pick out of North Carolina, into action and he went 8 of 15 for 70 yards in his NFL debut. While Yates led a drive that resulted in a field goal and gave the Texans a 10-point lead at the break, Houston compiled just 47 yards and two first downs in the second half.

Still, the Texans held on for their fifth straight victory.

Houston (8-3), two games ahead of Tennessee in the division, has persevered despite injuries to All-Pro wideout Andre Johnson and star running back Arian Foster. Johnson returned from a six-game absence to catch two passes for 22 yards versus the Jaguars.

While Houston’s offense has been in a state of uncertainty, the defense has continued to thrive. The Texans rank second in the NFL with 16.3 points allowed per game and are surrendering a league-low average of 268.4 yards.

They’ll surely be in for a test against a Falcons team that has won five of six, its only loss in that stretch coming by a 26-23 score in overtime against NFC South-leading New Orleans on Nov. 13.

Atlanta (7-4) is one game behind the Saints and in a three-way tie with Chicago and Detroit for the two wild-card spots.

While the Falcons have been surging, they’ve hardly dominated opponents. One week after building a 20-point lead and escaping with a 23-17 win over Tennessee, Atlanta held on for a 24-14 victory over Minnesota on Sunday.

The Falcons took a 17-0 lead into halftime last week but needed to hold off a Vikings rally, making a goal-line stand in the fourth quarter.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/preview;...id=20111204034

What I want to see:

I'll say it again! Come. Out. Throwing.

I know, I know...I say that all the time. However, T.J. Yates has to feel comfortable today. East throws like screens and such. Texans are going to run the bootlegs and get the defense moving around. One thing the Texans need to do is loosen up the coverage a bit with some deep attempts. Keeping the Falcons honest, rookie QB or not, is key.

#2 run D or not, pound the rock.

Atlanta's run D is good, but regardless of that 83 yds/gm number, run the football. Need the offensive line to ball out of control today. No reason why we can't run the football when we want to run it. After last week's poor showing, the OL will be out to prove something with a lot of people not giving the Texans a shot.

Do not get beat deep.

Manning, Nolan, Quin, whoever....Stay alert. Julio Jones, Roddy White and Harry Douglas can all be deep threats, so safety play will be a key factor when it comes to the deep ball (obviously). Not really worried about J-Jo, but more so with Kareem and Allen. The pass rush will also be a factor in how many times Matt Ryan can throw the deep ball.

Prove 'em wrong.

One thing special about this squad is they don't care about what other people say. They just come out, kick ass, and go 1-0. So y'all know the rules. One team. One goal. 1-0. No one thinks they can do it this week, so go out, slap ATL around, and go 1-0.

One last thing....

LETS GET TO 9-3!!!!!

[kiwitexansfan]

When all the experts are picking against us I smell upset!!

[TheDream34]

I'm kind of suprised everyone is picking Atlanta to win. Should they be favored to win, sure, but honestly, the falcons are a very underwhelming 7-4. We actually do have a legit chance for the upset.

[Rey]

Come out throwing. Short and long and pound the rock. Why not just say "be balanced"?

[SAMURAITEXAN]

Goooooooooooooooo Texansssssssssssssssss!!!!!

Show them what you got TJ.


Go Texans!!!

[srrono]

it would be very nice to see all these experts wrong

[ThaJokaa]

Cant sleep

[IDEXAN]

FYI - maybe for the first time ever, todays game in Reliant isn't the game of the day for the Houston Texans - it's the game in Buffalo as the Titans visit the Bills.
Realistically speaking, the Texans almost surely will lose today and if the Titans win in Buffalo the Texans division lead would be cut to a very narrow one-game margin with 4 games to play and the Titans would have a legit chance to grab the division title and be the lone AFC South playoff entry. So besides our game,
keep a close watch on the Titans-Bills contest.

[EVOLVIST]

Originally Posted by ThaJokaa

Cant sleep

No ****, right? I went to bed at 3am and now it's 8:30am and I'm wide awake.

I mean, the only thing that'll make me fall asleep is to think about sex. But with my wife, I'd rather stay awake!

Dadum chish!

My wife said I'd love her more if she were shaped like a football. I said, don't be ridiculous, I'd love you more if you were shaped like a woman!

Geez, I need to go back to bed.

[ChrisG]

Originally Posted by redwhiteANDblue

Fox's broadcast is a lot better than cbs imo

I hate that first on the field crap on cbs. It adds nothing

[ChrisG]

Originally Posted by burro

Same. I think they should be the defaults.

Solid blues home, white with blue pants away, Red with white pants for alts

[ChrisG]

Originally Posted by TexCanada

Sweet cart Matt1. Was anybody else hoping he would pull a Costanza and pick the cart up and run with it on his back?

Toro should give matt his atv, that looks more bad ass lol

[Big Lou]

Schaub runs the "Naked Hoveround Boot Leg, hits Andre deep!!!"

[Big Lou]

Schaub Scooter Wildcat????

[Big Lou]

T-Storms, shoulda left the roof open dammit!!!

[Wolf]

Schaub should just suit up, looks like he was moving faster than what I saw out of Desean Jackson Thursday night

[burro]

That's twice we've got lucky. Let's hope we aren't on a strike system.

[TexanFan881]

That's TJ Yates ladies and gentlemen...should've been a first...looked like a lazy throw.

[Pantherstang84]

Originally Posted by TexanFan881

That's TJ Yates ladies and gentlemen...should've been a first...looked like a lazy throw.

News flash...He's our best option right now.

[Pantherstang84]

Kj!