Not quite as worried about the Vikings..

[76Texan]

Originally Posted by Tailgate

I think everyone should be worried about this game. The Vikings are very physical and are a winning football team fighting for their playoff lives. They beat the 49ers, Lions, Chicago, and gave Green Bay fits.

Quite honestly, we have only beaten 3 winning teams since October... Colts, Bears, Ravens. We have MAJOR concerns at LB right now.

This is a HUGE game, and they are going to need a lively crowd to help the cause.

Can't wait to get the part started, but I know this will hardly be a cakewalk.

It ain't no fun if you walk all over the cake!

[Oz Texan]

Originally Posted by Tailgate

I think everyone should be worried about this game. The Vikings are very physical and are a winning football team fighting for their playoff lives. They beat the 49ers, Lions, Chicago, and gave Green Bay fits.

Quite honestly, we have only beaten 3 winning teams since October... Colts, Bears, Ravens. We have MAJOR concerns at LB right now.

This is a HUGE game, and they are going to need a lively crowd to help the cause.

Can't wait to get the part started, but I know this will hardly be a cakewalk.

Concidering we have only played 4 winning teams since October that means we have won 3. Yes we have ILB concerns but its not the end of the world.
We can only play our schedule and 3-1 vs playoff teams since October is not so bad.

[76Texan]

What happened to Barrett Rudd?

[ChampionTexan]

Originally Posted by Tailgate

I think everyone should be worried about this game. The Vikings are very physical and are a winning football team fighting for their playoff lives. They beat the 49ers, Lions, Chicago, and gave Green Bay fits.

Quite honestly, we have only beaten 3 winning teams since October... Colts, Bears, Ravens. We have MAJOR concerns at LB right now.

This is a HUGE game, and they are going to need a lively crowd to help the cause.

Can't wait to get the part started, but I know this will hardly be a cakewalk.

Well, Minnesota's only beaten one winning team since October, and they also only beat one winning team prior to that. They've only got two victories over winning teams all season, and one of those was against Chicago, who they've also lost to (28-10 in early November).

Yeah, every NFL game is a concern, and Minnesota may be a slightly above average team (although not on the road), but this isn't about them. This is about the Texans, and if they play the way they should and they can, then it will be a comfortable victory. It's not about the opponent, it's all about the Texans.

[GP]

Yeah, my problem is that the vast majority of animated gifs are in one game: Vs. the Titans.

Let's take a look at some animated gifs of Schaub vs. the Packers and the Patriots. I bet he looks equally unimpressive.

And the graph shown? Through week 5 or 6, which was right around the time of the Titans game...right?

So it's possible that even though Ponder isn't Superman in football cleats...he just might have settled down a bit. It's possible, btw, that they ALL figured out they just hand it off to Adrian Peterson and let him get 200+ yards and multiple TDs every game.

This game is not a gimmee game. We can lose this game. It's definitely possible. Likely? No. Possible? Yes.

As 76 has said: Our guys have shown the ability to look lost and out of sync, which is what happened vs. the Jags. And to the Lions, too, I might add. Both those games were OT victories that if we're being honest here...our two opponents had their chances to seal off a win and we were veteran enough to withstand the onslaught from them.

[Tailgate]

Originally Posted by Oz Texan

Concidering we have only played 4 winning teams since October that means we have won 3. Yes we have ILB concerns but its not the end of the world.
We can only play our schedule and 3-1 vs playoff teams since October is not so bad.

Is Mercilus not a concern?

* Teams know that they can run the ball effectively towards Antonio Smith and Whitney Mercilus’ side as long as the LBs are playing the way they are.* Smith is a true 1-gapper who is always fighting to get up the field but it is sometimes at the expense of his own awareness of where the ball carrier is.* Mercilus is just not aggressive in setting the edge against the run and teams are definitely noticing.* Adrian Peterson will definitely test their chins this week.

http://blog.chron.com/fantasyfootbal...major-concern/

[GP]

Let us also not forget that the Vikings have a legitimate, bonafide Schaub Injury Creator named Jared Allen who is as dirty as Suh is.

That guy will be looking to hurt Schaub, 100%.

Which only amplifies the pucker factor, IMO.

Get this last win, stay injury free, and we've nabbed HFA and can let Yates and Grimes and the 3rd string gang get some reps in Indy.

[76Texan]

Originally Posted by GP

Yeah, my problem is that the vast majority of animated gifs are in one game: Vs. the Titans.

Let's take a look at some animated gifs of Schaub vs. the Packers and the Patriots. I bet he looks equally unimpressive.

And the graph shown? Through week 5 or 6, which was right around the time of the Titans game...right?

So it's possible that even though Ponder isn't Superman in football cleats...he just might have settled down a bit. It's possible, btw, that they ALL figured out they just hand it off to Adrian Peterson and let him get 200+ yards and multiple TDs every game.

This game is not a gimmee game. We can lose this game. It's definitely possible. Likely? No. Possible? Yes.

As 76 has said: Our guys have shown the ability to look lost and out of sync, which is what happened vs. the Jags. And to the Lions, too, I might add. Both those games were OT victories that if we're being honest here...our two opponents had their chances to seal off a win and we were veteran enough to withstand the onslaught from them.

I wouldn't call "looking lost" an ability (J/k).

Other than that, this game should be all about the Texans.
They say they are hungry, let them show us that they really are.

I want to see them fight.
Nothing is given in this league; you ought to go take it.

[Trail.Blazr]

Originally Posted by GP

Let us also not forget that the Vikings have a legitimate, bonafide Schaub Injury Creator named Jared Allen who is as dirty as Suh is.

That guy will be looking to hurt Schaub, 100%.

Which only amplifies the pucker factor, IMO.

Get this last win, stay injury free, and we've nabbed HFA and can let Yates and Grimes and the 3rd string gang get some reps in Indy.

I agree with the Jared Allen concern. I will be BESIDE myself if something happens to Schaub! Someone please chop block that basterd right out of the game on play#1!

[76Texan]

Originally Posted by Tailgate

Is Mercilus not a concern?




http://blog.chron.com/fantasyfootbal...major-concern/

I'm not sure about Mercilus; I didn't concentrate on him, I don't think he is (at least not a major concern.)

I think Kubiak was OK with his performance.

But I think I will go back and look at him.

[76Texan]

I'm not sure I agree with Lance Z.

It is quite possible that the game plan called for him to do certain things.
The same way Kubiak has been saying about Barwin doing his job.

IMO, it's all been about some guys holding the fort for another guy to make play.
If you keep looking for a certain guy to make play other than Watt, you would be dissapointed.

That's not how a defense works.

[HOU-TEX]

Brooks Reed returned to practice and has a "good chance" to play Sunday. Per Kubiak presser.

[DX-TEX]

Originally Posted by HOU-TEX

Brooks Reed returned to practice and has a "good chance" to play Sunday. Per Kubiak presser.

I hope he studies the ILB position during his down time and get some snaps there. probably not but hoping.

[76Texan]

All hands on deck, those who can.

Let's go boys; you have waited long enough!

[thunderkyss]

Originally Posted by DX-TEX

For those of you dismissing Ponder. Never forget:

For one game Chad Henne was Dan Marino.

But Brandon Harris wasn't playing then.

[thunderkyss]

Originally Posted by ChampionTexan

(His 210 yard game against the Packers was in a 23-14 Viking loss).

With all the rushing I expect in this game, it could be a very short game with a relatively small number of possesions for each team. Because of that, I think the Texans red zone efficiency is going to play a critical part in this game. An offensive ratio of one TD to five field goals like we had in the Indy game likely won't be good enough.

One TD (7) + Five Field Goals (15) = 22 points

Adrian Peterson 210 yards, 14 point game.... = 13 point

22 > 13


Unless my math is wrong, I think we still win.

[thunderkyss]

Originally Posted by 76Texan

I'm not sure I agree with Lance Z.

It is quite possible that the game plan called for him to do certain things.
The same way Kubiak has been saying about Barwin doing his job.

IMO, it's all been about some guys holding the fort for another guy to make play.
If you keep looking for a certain guy to make play other than Watt, you would be dissapointed.

That's not how a defense works.

That's the Koolaid talking. Nobody else designs a defense where one guy has the sole responsibility of making a play.

Indy has Mathis & Freeney, Minnesota has Allen, Williams, & Robison, Denver has Dumerville & Miller, Baltimore has Ngata & Suggs.

The fact that Jj Watt is the only Texan making plays is a problem.

[DX-TEX]

Originally Posted by Fiddler

But Brandon Harris wasn't playing then.

Not sure if serious....

[Speedy]

Originally Posted by DX-TEX

For those of you dismissing Ponder. Never forget:



For one game Chad Henne was Dan Marino.

Dan Marino? I think not. Yeah, Henne had 354 yards in that game but 211 of it was on 3 completions. He was 13-30 (43%) for 143 yards the rest of the day. He was 1-9 for 15 yards in the OT period. Henne didn't even complete 50% of his passes for the game 16-33, 48%. Giving up the big play is what killed the Texans, not so much Henne.

[76Texan]

Originally Posted by Fiddler

That's the Koolaid talking. Nobody else designs a defense where one guy has the sole responsibility of making a play.

Indy has Mathis & Freeney, Minnesota has Allen, Williams, & Robison, Denver has Dumerville & Miller, Baltimore has Ngata & Suggs.

The fact that Jj Watt is the only Texan making plays is a problem.

I hate politicians!