Why the Texans will get a win against New Orleans.

[Blake]

I think this will be a very good game. We are not a team to be F*cked with. Our ground game is amazing, and Schaub to AJ is icing on the cake. But NO has one of the top 3 QB's in the league. An offense that can attack you from any position and a defensive coordinator that is as smart as they come. I give the edge to NO since we will be in their building with their fans, but I am not counting our boys out.

No matter the outcome, the Saints will know they were in a football game come Monday.

[IDEXAN]

Originally Posted by infantrycak

WTF? The Saints should be more worried about our rushing game. We have averaged over 150 yds per game rushing (with our backups) and they are under 100 yds. But I guess that means their daunting rushing attack makes this game unwinnable.

Hey, I hope I'm wrong but I don't think we are as good as the Saints and it's in their place, which is a really tough stadium for the visiting team. And i don't think the preseason game (which we won of course), means anything.
But like I said, I hope I'm wrong.

[infantrycak]

Originally Posted by IDEXAN

Hey, I hope I'm wrong but I don't think we are as good as the Saints and it's in their place, which is a really tough stadium for the visiting team. And i don't think the preseason game (which we won of course), means anything.
But like I said, I hope I'm wrong.

I would expect them to be favored. I was only disagreeing about the rushing attack. You sounded like you wanted to concede the game based on roster weight.

[House of Pain]

Based on what I've seen so far this year, the Texans (and their fans) should not view any game as unwinnable. Unless we lose certain players to season ending injuries, I believe they can win them all. Now...is it going to be easy in the Big Easy? Of course not. Saints got plenty of talent, and the core of players who played in the SB are still there. If the Texans win this game, they will make things much easier for themselves.

Note: I can't see this game as anything other than a shootout.

[Rey]

Originally Posted by IDEXAN

Hey, I hope I'm wrong but I don't think we are as good as the Saints and it's in their place, which is a really tough stadium for the visiting team. And i don't think the preseason game (which we won of course), means anything.
But like I said, I hope I'm wrong.

IMHO, we beat the Dolphins with vanilla play on both sides of the ball. Didn't see a whole lot of crazy blitzing. I think we ran 1 screen, didn't motion or use James Casey to create mismatches.

I really think that the Texans wanted to just line up and beat the Dolphins without showing too much.

[Carr Bombed]

Originally Posted by thunderkyss

The Saints OL is actually better than the Colts.

And so is Miami's offensive line with Jake Long and Connor Barwin still made him look silly. What does it matter?

There hasn't been a offensive line who has come remotely close to stopping our front 7 yet and I don't expect the Saints offensive line to start blocking them either. I think our front 7 just might be that good. We'll be hunting Brees the same way we've been hunting everybody else.


Anyways if we're looking for a reason why we're going to beat the Saints, y'all are missing the biggest one. We're going to beat the Saints, because we're a bunch of cheaters who play dirty pool with our "illegal cut blocking" shenanigans. It's the only way we can even stay on the same field with the almighty Saints and their legendary defense.

[Dread-Head]

1.Send the defense in play after play with the idea that their job is to inflict physical and psychological pain on their opponents.

2.If you are on the Defensive line, your job is to either punish any SOB carrying a football or anyone who comes BETWEEN you and the SOB with the football.

3. If you are a member of the secondary your job is either to get between that football and that reciever or to PUNISH him for either catching it or simply fantasizing about catching it.

4. Stay out of the neutral zone, listen to the play call, but ignore the snap count and watch the damned football.

5. Take a 4th down where they elect to "go for it" personally and respond accordingly.

6. If a QB runs right at you and isn't attempting to "slide" light his bit-chazz up like a Christmas tree.

[RazorOye]

Originally Posted by dinkatoid

You are right with the running, the saints really struggle to contain the run up the middle.

well, we're not even sure of that in New Orleans. Franklin was not healthy the first game of the season, and it showed.

But aside from 1 42 yd (iirc) gain by Forte, he was kept in check on the ground and was most productive releasing into openings in front of the secondary.

I like Rogers, Ellis, and Franklin in the middle of that DLine. And they looked much better week 2 than they did week 1.

Running-wise, if you're talking success in the middle, it can certainly still be had. Tie up the interior of that line and get to our LBers.

I love Vilma but he can get washed out of plays and doesn't shed blocks the best. Herring is thoroughly unimpressive. Shanle is serviceable at best. If you can make it to the second level, you can run in the middle - our LBs are not stout in that regard.

At the line of attack, I actually think there's more success to be had on the outside than the middle. Our DEs don't keep containment all that well. Rookie Cam Jordan has seen a lot of play with the suspension of Will Smith - who returns. But Smith isn't strong against the run, either.

We've got a rookie, an above average DE, and journeymen/speed specialists on the end.

I think it's going to be frustrating for me watching the front 7 vs. the Texans' running game on Sunday.

They looked good on Sunday vs. the Bears.

but cmon... I'm not delusional. It's the Bears OLine.

Hot garbage.

[ObsiWan]

Originally Posted by Hervoyel

Do not take the Steelers for granted. That opening week beat down from the Ravens shouldn't be taken out of context. The Ravens literally unloaded everything they had against Pittsburgh much the same way we did to the Colts last season in week one and blew them off the field. The next week Pittsburgh returned to normal (slaughtering the Seahawks) and the Ravens came out flat and lifeless against the Titans. You can't read too much into either the Ravens/Steelers, Steelers/Seahawks, or Ravens/Titans games. They're all three related based on emotion.

The Steelers aren't as bad as they looked against Baltimore.
Baltimore isn't as bad as they looked against Tennessee.

Tennessee just happened to catch the Ravens at the right time. They aren't as good as they looked in that game either.

There's not a team in the next four weeks that can't beat us. We could just as easily be 2-4 as 6-0 if we think we have any of these teams number. Hopefully our defense keeps improving as they get more experience in the system under their belts and we get a few breaks along the way. I'd like to be 4-2 (but 5-1 would be better) when we play our next division game (Tennessee).

Absolute truth.
Repped.

I don't remember which player was quoting which coach, but I love the mindset the quote represents; it went something like... "We're trying to be 1-0 every week; that's our goal."

Don't look past anyone. Don't be in awe of anyone. Try to be 1-0 every week.

[EllisUnit]

Here are my keys to the game.

Do i think the Texans will win. YES, Why because i'm a freakin homer.

Now realistically T _ _ S A _ _ T_ S_ _ U_ D W _ _ . Couldnt bring myself to actually say it.

But heres to a good game, and may the football god smile upon us and grant us a victory. After having nothing to cheer about for 9 seasons. it sure as hell would be nice.

[Norg]

Cause remember when a wade phillips dallas team beat the undeafted that would go on to win the SB saints


yeah maybe he can do it again

and remember when CLE went into the superdome and beat the saints hell if they can do it so can we

[hradhak]

I agree with all those who say that controlling the ground game is critical for us. New Orleans defense is good, but it's real success was creating turnovers in their Super Bowl season. They definitely have holes that we can exploit. We need a turnover free game to really help us out.

Our defense is going to really show us what it is worth in this game. I expect Wade to dial up the blitzes and throw something interesting at them that we haven't seen before If we can create turnovers we have a shot.

[thunderkyss]

Originally Posted by hradhak

I agree with all those who say that controlling the ground game is critical for us. New Orleans defense is good, but it's real success was creating turnovers in their Super Bowl season. They definitely have holes that we can exploit. We need a turnover free game to really help us out.

It just shocks me that someone would say this, or think that their run defense is suspect.

This is Greg Williams' defense we're talking about. The guy that Gary & McNair should have gone all-in for.

[SaintRusty]

Originally Posted by thunderkyss

It just shocks me that someone would say this, or think that their run defense is suspect.

This is Greg Williams' defense we're talking about. The guy that Gary & McNair should have gone all-in for.

The Saints Defense is still a bit of a mystery. They got shredded by Green Bay (quite possibly the best offense in the league) in week 1, then played lights out against Chicago (quite possibly one of the worst) in week 2. If not for a horrendous personal foul call, they wouldn't have scored a single TD.

Hard to say where the middle ground lies, although I am sure Houston will be more towards the Green Bay side and less on the Chicago side. Just a matter of how much.