St. Louis Rams @ Houston Texans. Noon. 10/13. FOX. **Official Game Thread**

[ThaShark316]

I'm going down down baby, your street in a Range Rover

The Houston Texans are mired in their roughest stretch in almost two seasons, greatly because of some poor play from quarterback Matt Schaub.

Though coach Gary Kubiak called it a ''tough decision,'' he plans to stick with Schaub as the Texans try to avoid a fourth straight loss Sunday against the visiting St. Louis Rams.

After scoring 61 points to beat San Diego and Tennessee, Houston (2-3) has been outscored 87-32 during its first three-game slide since the final three weeks of the 2011 season. The two-time defending AFC South champions would match the longest losing streak of Kubiak's eight-year tenure with another loss Sunday.

"I think it's a huge game," said Kubiak, whose team has lost four straight home games versus NFC opponents. "It would be big either way, but, yeah, it's big because of what we've gone through these past three weeks.

"I see a group of guys that are very close, very committed to each other, very hurt ... the only way you fix things is you go back and play and do things better. I can't wait for that opportunity to get here."

Whether Schaub is as eager remains to be seen.

The 10-year veteran has thrown for eight touchdowns and two 300-yard games, but he ranks 26th in the NFL with a 76.9 passer rating mainly because he's totaled nine interceptions after having 12 all of last season. Three plays into last Sunday's 34-3 loss at San Francisco, Tramaine Brock returned Schaub's interception 18 yards for a TD, marking an NFL-record fourth consecutive game a quarterback has had a pick taken back for a score.

He was intercepted three times on the night and replaced late by T.J. Yates, who led Houston to its first playoff win when Schaub was hurt two seasons ago.

"I'm better than I'm playing and our team's better than we're playing right now," said Schaub, who has thrown two TDs and six INTs over the last three weeks.

Though Kubiak said the team "can't survive" if Schaub continues to make those kinds of mistakes, he's not ready to make a switch even though some Texans fans are burning Schaub jerseys and a sign over one Houston area freeway is calling for his ouster.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/rams-texans-preview-171719111--nfl.html

More NFL.com expert picks: http://weeklypickem.fantasy.nfl.com/experts

What I want to see:

More rock poundage

Because, why not? Foster is looking more and more like the Foster we know and Tate (while I want to throttle him for fumbling in b2b weeks) is still running at a 6.2 ypc clip. The Rams are a little porous vs. the run, so it can't hurt to test that out.

Massive pressure on Bradford

He's been sacked 13 times in the last 3 weeks, so this is important. Cannot let him get comfortable in the pocket. The other number 8 in this game is very capable, but can be rather inconsistent. Job at hand today is to make him the latter.

Feed Graham the rock

Cannot stress this enough when it comes to passing the ball. There's no OD around, so I think this is key. Graham can be something bigger than he already is, so I say show this off.

Force some turnovers; minimize mistakes

-8 in G/T ratio. This has to stop. For a team that was so great at forcing TOs the last two years, the D hasn't been good in this department. If we can all remember the turnovers a team has forced, that to me is not good. Force a fumble, get a pick, anything. Also, the mistakes must CEASE. Bad penalties, Schaub's screw ups, fumbles, you name it. They have to stop; starting this week.

Back for the first time! Time to start a streak and get some consistency. Y'all know how that starts? Going 1-0 this week! Every week, that's the goal. Forget about Baltimore, Seattle and San Fran; those games are over and can't be made up. In other words: To hell with 'em. Let's get back to that winning side of things, and get something going, starting at home vs. STL. LET'S MUTHA****IN' GO, TEXANS!!

 

[Vance87]

Let's just get a freaking W

 

[NastyNate]

Let's duet.

 

[Bulls on Parade]

The good and the bad?

The good: We should blow out the Rams today and win. Matt Schaub should have a big game and look good versus a weak Rams team. At 3-3 we'll head into Kansas City upbeat and with some good vibes as a team. Our season would still be riding on #8's shoulders.

The bad: If we lose despite being heavy favorites at home, and Matt Schaub plays poorly, we may finally make a permanent change at quarterback. With a 2-4 record, I think it would be time to try and save our season with a drastic change.

I don't agree with the people who say you are giving up on the season if you make a quarterback change. Especially if that guy has no confidence and is playing poorly.

It will either be this after today's game...

Or it will be this after today's game...

 

[qqert]

OH YEAH BABY LETS GO TEXANS!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Malloy]

I don't want us to win. I want us to trash the rams, whipe them out and put 50 points on them. I want all 3 teams to score points tonight...

Greedy perhaps, but we all need to see this team FUNCTION

 

[TheMatrix31]

Beat their ass and get some momentum. The toughest part of our schedule is over. Now go dominate.

 

[Sigma]

The good and the bad?

The bad: We should blow out the Rams today and win. Matt Schaub should have a big game and look good versus a weak Rams team. At 3-3 we'll head into Kansas City upbeat and with some good vibes as a team. Our season would still be riding on #8's shoulders.

The good: If we lose despite being heavy favorites at home, and Matt Schaub plays poorly, we may finally make a permanent change at quarterback. With a 2-4 record, I think it would be time to try and save our season with a drastic change.

Good Point


PS: It's a joke, don't get angry

PPS: why did you let the sark start this thread?

 

[YeaLikeRightNow]

This is extremely difficult to say, but I think a Texans loss would be the most beneficial thing to happen for the team in the long run. Seeing the big picture is what makes me believe it is in the best interest of the team if we end up failing with Schaub. I mean, even if we won this game against a team considered mediocre (a lot of parity in the league nowadays), what does it really mean?

It means nothing.

 

[Bulls on Parade]

I mean, even if we won this game against a team considered mediocre (a lot of parity in the league nowadays), what does it really mean?

It means nothing.

On the surface I agree. One measly win isn't going to change anything over night. But it leads to the next big game which leads to the next big game and so on. A loss today would ruin any future excitement.

A win today over the Rams would simply mean we are still alive in the playoff picture at 3-3 with a big game coming up at Kansas City. I would actually feel excited again about this team. And if we beat the Chiefs on the road, a task that will not be easy, we'll enter the bye week at 4-3 with two weeks to prepare for the big home game against the Colts. Win that game and at 5-3 we're most likely in first place in the AFC South halfway through the season.

It's like a domino effect but in a positive way. What if I were to tell you if the Texans win today's game against the Rams it will be the start of a six-game winning streak and we'll have an 8-3 record after 11 games? I think all of us would take it. Plenty of football left to be played this season.

This is still an 11-5 team in my eyes.

 

[Thorn]

Schaub's days in Houston are numbered. With a makeshift o-line he can't do the job so he'll be gone next season. And I thank the football gods for that.

In any case, I still hope we win. I hope the defense totally crushes the goats and gets a shutout. No matter what happens on offense, we can at least get a FG hopefully.


GO TEXANS!

 

[TejasTom]

Green Bay @ Baltimore(Red) -- Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston, Tony Siragusa
Carolina @ Minnesota(Blue) -- Sam Rosen, Brian Billick
St. Louis @ Houston(Green) -- Chris Myers, Tim Ryan
Philadelphia @ Tampa Bay(Yellow) -- Dick Stockton, Ronde Barber
Detroit @ Cleveland(Purple) -- Tom McCarthy, Heath Evans
NO GAME(Grey) due to NFL rules

UPDATES:
Roanoke VA; Eugene OR: PHI-TB to GB-BAL
Spokane WA: DET-CLE to GB-BAL
Lima OH; Wheeling WV; Monroe LA: GB-BAL to DET-CLE
Alexandria LA; Laredo TX: GB-BAL to STL-HOU
St. Joseph MO: STL-HOU to GB-BAL

Game Release

Flip Card

Ref: Bill Leavy

Houston’s top-ranked pass defense has only allowed 671 net passing
yards through five games. That’s the fifth-lowest total through the first​

five games of a season since 1994.

 

[TheMatrix31]

This is extremely difficult to say, but I think a Texans loss would be the most beneficial thing to happen for the team in the long run. Seeing the big picture is what makes me believe it is in the best interest of the team if we end up failing with Schaub. I mean, even if we won this game against a team considered mediocre (a lot of parity in the league nowadays), what does it really mean?

It means nothing.

I don't wanna see a ****ing word from you if we rattle off 8 or 9 wins in our remaining 11 games.

 

[YeaLikeRightNow]

I don't wanna see a ****ing word from you if we rattle off 8 or 9 wins in our remaining 11 games.

...and I, TheMatrix31...would gladly oblige if that happens!

 

[steelbtexan]

GO TEXANS

NO MORE PICK 6's

 

[dream_team]

On the surface I agree. One measly win isn't going to change anything over night. But it leads to the next big game which leads to the next big game and so on. A loss today would ruin any future excitement.

A win today over the Rams would simply mean we are still alive in the playoff picture at 3-3 with a big game coming up at Kansas City. I would actually feel excited again about this team. And if we beat the Chiefs on the road, a task that will not be easy, we'll enter the bye week at 4-3 with two weeks to prepare for the big home game against the Colts. Win that game and at 5-3 we're most likely in first place in the AFC South halfway through the season.

It's like a domino effect but in a positive way. What if I were to tell you if the Texans win today's game against the Rams it will be the start of a six-game winning streak and we'll have an 8-3 record after 11 games? I think all of us would take it. Plenty of football left to be played this season.

This is still an 11-5 team in my eyes.

Good post. Unfortunately, there are people that want us to lose and miss playoffs just to increase chances that Schaub will no longer be our starter.

 

[Lucky]

I don't wanna see a ****ing word from you if we rattle off 8 or 9 wins in our remaining 11 games.

I don't like the sentiment that losing is good. I don't care for the incessant sunshine pumping, either. But, I'm not asking the Sunshine Club to quit posting if the Texans continue to struggle. If you don't like what you're reading, ignore it.

 

[houstonhurricane]

This is a big game - at least record-wise. Before we started stinking up the joint, I was actually concerned about it. However, since it is basically our season that is on the line, I think we absolutely roll today. 31-13 Texans.

 

[drs23]

Good post. Unfortunately, there are people that want us to lose and miss playoffs just to increase chances that Schaub will no longer be our starter.

I could be completely wrong, I've been know to be so in the past but I have the feeling that we are seeing the last days of Matt Schaub the starter in Houston. After McNair and Rick Smith's 'on the record' comments regarding #8 during the off season and the way his contract is structured I see the fork in the road coming after this season.

 

[djohn2oo8]

Rotoworld
According to NFL Network, Matt Schaub will be on a very short leash in Sunday's game against the Rams.

Coach Gary Kubiak admitted he almost made the switch to T.J. Yates this week. He's going to give Schaub a chance to right himself in a dream matchup at home with the Rams, but more turnovers will not be tolerated. Expect an extremely run-heavy approach with some conservative play-action passes sprinkled in

hmmmmm

 

[GuerillaBlack]

Look, we aren't going anywhere with Schaub as the QB. I think we almost all know that. The best thing for the team would be for Schaub to pull a Schaub early and then get benched, while the Texans still get the W. Schaub can't beat the elite and its been that way for years. A fool's gold game by Schaub would be the worst thing that could happen.

 

[jaayteetx]

Look, we aren't going anywhere with Schaub as the QB. I think we almost all know that. The best thing for the team would be for Schaub to pull a Schaub early and then get benched, while the Texans still get the W. Schaub can't beat the elite and its been that way for years. A fool's gold game by Schaub would be the worst thing that could happen.

Pretty much sums up how I feel.

 

[EllisUnit]

Look, we aren't going anywhere with Schaub as the QB. I think we almost all know that. The best thing for the team would be for Schaub to pull a Schaub early and then get benched, while the Texans still get the W. Schaub can't beat the elite and its been that way for years. A fool's gold game by Schaub would be the worst thing that could happen.

Agree with this, if he looks awesome against this terrible rams team than Kubiak will forget his last 4 games and there will be no end in sight to Schaubs true suckiness.

 

[Lucky]

Agree with this, if he looks awesome against this terrible rams team than Kubiak will forget his last 4 games and there will be no end in sight to Schaubs true suckiness.

The Rams have a NFL team. If Schaub looks awesome against them, well that would be awesome. I would change my tune and wait ti see if he could consistently be awesome.

However, I don't expect that to happen. I don't think there is a switch that can change Matt Schaub into the QB he once was. But if that switch exists, I will welcome it.

 

[houstonhurricane]

I think Schaub has a solid performance today - it is next week that will probably determine his fate. A poor showing and loss in KC with a bye week to follow might actually lead to a permanent change.

 

[dream_team]

I could be completely wrong, I've been know to be so in the past but I have the feeling that we are seeing the last days of Matt Schaub the starter in Houston. After McNair and Rick Smith's 'on the record' comments regarding #8 during the off season and the way his contract is structured I see the fork in the road coming after this season.

I agree... I'm a Schaub supporter and Sunshine Pumper. But I think the only thing that will save Schaub's long-term future as a Texan will be a Super Bowl win. I can definitely see the Texans drafting a QB in the first round next year.

 

[dream_team]

So what happens if Schaub throws yet another pick 6, but it clearly wasn't his fault? For example, receiver runs the wrong route, or perfectly thrown ball gets tipped by receiver and into a defender's hands.

I think fans will still boo and demand his benching.

 

[GuerillaBlack]

The Rams have a NFL team. If Schaub looks awesome against them, well that would be awesome. I would change my tune and wait ti see if he could consistently be awesome.

However, I don't expect that to happen. I don't think there is a switch that can change Matt Schaub into the QB he once was. But if that switch exists, I will welcome it.

But he is not going to consistently be awesome anymore. And even when he was, it was only against weaker teams like the Rams. It's done.

 

[Lucky]

So what happens if Schaub throws yet another pick 6, but it clearly wasn't his fault? For example, receiver runs the wrong route, or perfectly thrown ball gets tipped by receiver and into a defender's hands.

I think fans will still boo and demand his benching.

I think hypothetical are pointless. If I had posed the scenario after the Charger MNF win that Schaub would keep his job after throwing pick 6's in 4 consecutive games, I would be lambasted. And deservedly so.

Fans are frustrated that Kubiak won't make the change that is so obvious to them. And that frustration is demonstrated by booing. That's their right. I don't see how one play would change that perception.

 

[Lucky]

But he is not going to consistently be awesome anymore. And even when he was, it was only against weaker teams like the Rams. It's done.

It's well done. Burnt, even.

Hoping for Schaub to turn this around is like waiting for Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy, the Easter Bunny, and the Great Pumpkin to come to your birthday party. You can hope it happens. Just don't hold your breath.

 

[htowntexans1985]

Inactives: QB Keenum, RB Wood, DE Montgomery, OL Gardner, Dobbins, DE Jamison, and OL White.

 

[burro]

Living in DFW is a drag sometimes...there's no broadcast, so I'll have to go to a Buffalo Wild Wings or something to watch today's game. Which means that I'll likely be pissed off and pushing the legal limit in my over the hill 4 cylinder on the way home; that's assuming this bad "trap game" feeling I have comes to fruition...again.

Eff it. Go Texans!!!

 

[CretorFrigg]

Living in DFW is a drag sometimes...there's no broadcast, so I'll have to go to a Buffalo Wild Wings or something to watch today's game. Which means that I'll likely be pissed off and pushing the legal limit in my over the hill 4 cylinder on the way home; that's assuming this bad "trap game" feeling I have comes to fruition...again.

Eff it. Go Texans!!!

This. Why is DFW the only part of Texas that doesn't get the Texans game?

 

[thunderkyss]

Posting from section 609, ready to support my team.

 

[burro]

This. Why is DFW the only part of Texas that doesn't get the Texans game?

It's half NFL broadcasting rules and half Jerry Jones' stranglehold over the media market. Today's game is on FOX, not a snowball's chance in hell of that game being broadcast here.

 

[EllisUnit]

It's half NFL broadcasting rules and half Jerry Jones' stranglehold over the media market. Today's game is on FOX, not a snowball's chance in hell of that game being broadcast here.

When i first moved to SA 3 years ago, they only showed the cowgirls games, not they show every single texans game besides maybe 1 a season due to broadcasting rules.

 

[HTown2ATX]

Ready for the game, just have no idea what to expect. KTBC FOX here in Austin still says Teams TBA for the noon game and any Austinites (myself included) get nervous when the Texans are not committed to as we Texans fans here have been dicked more ways than you can count before. So, especially with the recent poor play hopefully the game is on as it should be.

 

[CretorFrigg]

It's half NFL broadcasting rules and half Jerry Jones' stranglehold over the media market. Today's game is on FOX, not a snowball's chance in hell of that game being broadcast here.

If the Cowboys were playing, it would make sense to me...but the Cowboys have a Sunday night game.

 

[SAMURAITEXAN]

Let's go Texans! Should win this one. Matt, just be careful when you throw please.

 

[TexanExile]

I can't believe I'm up at 1 AM again to watch this team. I said last week I was done watching them for October if Schaub wasn't benched at halftime.

Here I am, though. Like a codependent. "No, baby, I'm sorry, I'll change...I'll never do it again!" (Insert pick 6 here)

Ugh. Being a die hard fan is...well, you know.

 

[MEGA SWATT]

Hello Jennifer Hale

 

[SAMURAITEXAN]

I can't believe I'm up at 1 AM again to watch this team. I said last week I was done watching them for October if Schaub wasn't benched at halftime.

Here I am, though. Like a codependent. "No, baby, I'm sorry, I'll change...I'll never do it again!" (Insert pick 6 here)

Ugh. Being a die hard fan is...well, you know.

You are not alone. It is 2AM here and we both face very sleepy Monday morning.

 

[STEEL BLUE TEXANS]

ST still stinks

 

[MEGA SWATT]

I think our d is due for their own pick 6

 

[EllisUnit]

was Schaub actually walking around trying to motivate the offense

 

[Austrian]

Here we go. D first.

 

[sandmanx]

The Texans kicked off first...must be a first in the Kubiak era.

 

[Dishman]

was Schaub actually walking around trying to motivate the offense

Maybe he's had a slump buster over the weekend and is feeling great. Here's to hoping!

 

[WolverineFan]

We have to lead the league in offsides. Happens 2-3 times a game.

 

[EllisUnit]

Maybe he's had a slump buster over the weekend and is feeling great. Here's to hoping!

think i saw him with a 5 hour energy