Do you honestly believe we can win the Super Bowl?

[TexanBacker93]

Originally Posted by thunderkyss

I think they're the most complete team in the NFC when you also factor in stability. They're dealing with some issues, not as well as we are, but they're dealing.

I think they're about to hit their stride & will be very difficult to beat in the upcoming weeks.

True. I'd rather play Green Bay because the Giants have a strong D.

[TexansFanatic]

Originally Posted by Double Barrel

There was no reason to play to win for the Patriots, as playoff seeding was already in place prior to the start of the game.

Yep.

After my exchange with QB75, I double-checked the stats and noticed that Hoyer had played quite a bit.

Then I found a page on ESPN where 7 out the 10 analysts had predicted the Texans would win, including Tedy Bruschi, who came right out and said the Pats were going to lay down because they had no reason to risk their starters.

You were right, QB75.

[infantrycak]

Originally Posted by Double Barrel

There was no reason to play to win for the Patriots, as playoff seeding was already in place prior to the start of the game. Winning or losing had absolutely no bearing on position in the playoffs (#3 vs. #4 spots, which is meaningless). If it was important, the Patriots would have played starters the entire game.

They were playing for home field advantage . This chart shows the situation with a current example - Link. You can see Green Bay has clinched their division and a first round bye but they have not clinched home field throughout.

[infantrycak]

Originally Posted by TexansFanatic

I double-checked the stats and noticed that Hoyer had played quite a bit.

Huh? Hoyer had 12 attempts, Brady 26. The Patriots were averaging 33 attempts per game. So on this day they attempted 38 or more than average. If they weren't attempting to win and were trying to get Hoyer two-minute experience then why this?

1st half 4:41: Hoyer comes in to practice 2 minute drill.

2nd half 4:43: Nope Hoyer does not come in to practice 2 minute drill, Brady trots onto the field.

The answer for Hoyer coming back out for the last possession is because Mario absolutely rocked Brady causing the Pollard INT.

[Double Barrel]

Originally Posted by infantrycak

They were playing for home field advantage . This chart shows the situation with a current example - Link. You can see Green Bay has clinched their division and a first round bye but they have not clinched home field throughout.

Every news article about the game indicates that the outcome only effected the no. 3 and no. 4 seeds in the playoffs for the Patriots.

Indianapolis Colts were 14-2.

San Diego Chargers were 13-3.

The Patriots were 10-5 going into the Texans game. It was numerically impossible for them to clinch homefield throughout the playoffs. They had already clinched their division, so it the outcome was basically irrelevant.

2009 NFL playoff picture

I'm not sure what your 2011 playoff chart has to do with the 2009 Patriots.

[thunderkyss]

Originally Posted by Double Barrel

Every news article about the game indicates that the outcome only effected the no. 3 and no. 4 seeds in the playoffs for the Patriots.

Indianapolis Colts were 14-2.

San Diego Chargers were 13-3.

The Patriots were 10-5 going into the Texans game. It was numerically impossible for them to clinch homefield throughout the playoffs. They had already clinched their division, so it the outcome was basically irrelevant.

2009 NFL playoff picture

I'm not sure what your 2011 playoff chart has to do with the 2009 Patriots.

From your link:

Edged Cincinnati for No. 3 seed based on better strength of victory

Cincinnati played late that day (they played the Jets). Had they won, the Bengals would have been the 3 seed, not the 4.

If Cincinnati won & New England lost (which they did) New England would have played the Jets, not the Ravens. Maybe Bellichick didn't want to play the Jets.

But if Tom Brady is in that game after Welker got hurt, there is a reason for that.

[Daravenator]

Yes. Maybe.

The playoffs are win or go home. That can bring out the best, or the worst, in a team. I think the Texans are a quality team with a great D, but I'd rate their chances a lot higher if Schaub was behind center.

It is highly likely that any AFC team is going to face a SB-winning QB in this year's SB. My $$$ is on Green Bay or New Orleans making it to the Big Dance in Indy. It is asking a lot of a QB with only a few starts under his belt this year to carry a team all the way to a Lombardi trophy.

Not to say it cannot be done, but I would not sell the wife's jewelry and head to Vegas to lay down a bet on it.

[Double Barrel]

Originally Posted by thunderkyss

From your link:


Cincinnati played late that day (they played the Jets). Had they won, the Bengals would have been the 3 seed, not the 4.

If Cincinnati won & New England lost (which they did) New England would have played the Jets, not the Ravens. Maybe Bellichick didn't want to play the Jets.

But if Tom Brady is in that game after Welker got hurt, there is a reason for that.

That's what I said earlier in relation to the Patriots. They were playing for 3rd or 4th seed, but ultimately there is not much difference between these spots. You host a wildcard game and then go on the road if you win.

As far as what teams they wanted to play, who knows. We can speculate about it, but nothing in the media or from the Patriots reveals any of their intentions in that regard.

My point is that there is absolutely nothing credible that indicates that the Patriots saw the game as "must win" like the Texans did. We needed to win to keep a slim playoff chance alive. The Patriots went into it wondering when they would rest their starters.

Look how laid back Belichick is about the game before they played it:

A Football Life - Bill Belichick Part 2 (5 of 5)

[TexansFanatic]

Originally Posted by thunderkyss

From your link:


But if Tom Brady is in that game after Welker got hurt, there is a reason for that.

That was certainly my initial thought. And I distinctly remember watching the looks on the Patriots players faces late in the game when the Texans were really kicking their asses. They certainly didn't look like the faces of players who were playing a meaningless game.

[TexansFanatic]

Originally Posted by Double Barrel

Look how laid back Belichick is about the game before they played it:

A Football Life - Bill Belichick Part 2 (5 of 5)

Thanks for that link.

It was sickening watching Welker go down the exact same way Hartmann did---without being touched.

Can't believe Uncle Bob allows his team to go out on a field like that.

[texanhead08]

I am just enjoying the ride, but for us to have a chance to go to the Super Bowl T.J. is going to have eliminate the turnovers. If he can do that there is not reason why we can't make a run, but matchups are going to be a key.

[thunderkyss]

Originally Posted by Daravenator

It is asking a lot of a QB with only a few starts under his belt this year to carry a team all the way to a Lombardi trophy.

To be clear, we are not asking Tj to carry us to the Super Bowl. We're asking him to Dilfer us in.

[thunderkyss]

Originally Posted by Double Barrel

That's what I said earlier in relation to the Patriots. They were playing for 3rd or 4th seed, but ultimately there is not much difference between these spots. You host a wildcard game and then go on the road if you win.

As far as what teams they wanted to play, who knows. We can speculate about it, but nothing in the media or from the Patriots reveals any of their intentions in that regard.

My point is that there is absolutely nothing credible that indicates that the Patriots saw the game as "must win" like the Texans did. We needed to win to keep a slim playoff chance alive. The Patriots went into it wondering when they would rest their starters.

Look how laid back Belichick is about the game before they played it:

A Football Life - Bill Belichick Part 2 (5 of 5)

We might not have got their best game, but they didn't come to Houston to lose. If they had their rathers I'm sure they wanted the W. They didn't manhandle us like they thought they would (my opinion) so they left Brady & their other starters in the game longer than they planned to.

They didn't lay down the way the Colts or Bengals did for the Jets. We should have been in the play-offs that year & I wouldn't be making a big deal about it if one of those teams had laid down for the Jets, but 2?? Nah, that deserves some bitching.

[Texecutioner]

Originally Posted by Double Barrel

That's what I said earlier in relation to the Patriots. They were playing for 3rd or 4th seed, but ultimately there is not much difference between these spots. You host a wildcard game and then go on the road if you win.

As far as what teams they wanted to play, who knows. We can speculate about it, but nothing in the media or from the Patriots reveals any of their intentions in that regard.

My point is that there is absolutely nothing credible that indicates that the Patriots saw the game as "must win" like the Texans did. We needed to win to keep a slim playoff chance alive. The Patriots went into it wondering when they would rest their starters.

Look how laid back Belichick is about the game before they played it:

A Football Life - Bill Belichick Part 2 (5 of 5)

I don't know why you even bother arguing this with these guys at this point. They're going to say whatever it is that makes the Texans sound better.

The facts are that the game didn't change anything for the Pats. Another thing you're forgetting to add is that the Pats took most of their starters out in the 3rd quarter. Icak knows that, and he's also aware that Tom Brady was taken out on their last drive to try and win that game. Welker didn't even get to play in that game since he got hurt as well, so throughout the game the Pats didn't have all of their starters in there. That's "not" what a team does that still has a lot to play for in their season.

This is the first real winning season in Texans history.

[Daravenator]

Originally Posted by thunderkyss

To be clear, we are not asking Tj to carry us to the Super Bowl. We're asking him to Dilfer us in.

I understand that, but remember: Dilfer had been a starter for years with the Bucs and was the Ravens starting QB after Week 4. T.J.'s first NFL experience as a QB was way back on.......November 27th.

Trying to win a franchise's first-ever playoff game and take them to the SB is quite a load to lay on a rookie QB's shoulders. Trust me- I wish him well. It's just that good playoff-caliber defenses tend to feast on things like that.

[nut]

Who knows? Yates has done a heckuva lot better than I thought he would up to this point. I would like to continue to eat crow. It makes a pretty good meal sometimes.

[Texan_Bill]

Originally Posted by thunderkyss

To be clear, we are not asking Tj to carry us to the Super Bowl. We're asking him to Dilfer us in.

Definitely something Ravens fan should understand!

[Rey]

msbbc833, VTexan.....

You guys are out....Everyone else you are still alive...

[JCTexan]

Originally Posted by JCTexan

I think they can, but I'm just going to enjoy the ride...

I sure as hell enjoyed the ride today. Go Texans!

[kcdoubleeagle]

It basically comes down to this...defense doesn't win championships...elite qb
s do in today's nfl...if yates turns out to be an elite qb then we can win a championship...unfortunately, that is reality.