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Playoffs...Divisional Round...New England Patriots!
- Thread starter JamTex
- Start date
infantrycak
Hall of Fame
We probably have to. A lot of teams (the best) go to the basics in the playoffs. "We do this well, stop us." But we don't have that. Not sure what you call our rushing attack now other than often. We aren't a Shanahan/Kubiak ZBS. And we aren't a 90s Cowboys power scheme. God Emmitt just punishing the Giants and other teams was beautiful. Sorry, anyway...folks know we will rush a lot but they don't fear our rushing. OB failure. Better hope the TEs show up.
This is not we have built from OL to RB. One of my biggest OB criticisms is it seems he wants 90s Cowboys and built Kubiak ZBS but is cross running. Anyway, power done correctly:
Showtime100
Got JJ?
michaelm
vox nihili
We haven't seen that Os to Fuller deep sideline pass connect since early in the season or maybe even preseason. The oline needs to keep him upright long enough and he needs to connect on that pass at least once. Probably more for us to have a chance. Fuller has been a non factor but we need to find a spark. Lightning in a bottle
infantrycak
Hall of Fame
You're looking for the Alvin Harper moment and those were really cool. But they were a lagniappe. Almost just letting Emmitt get his breath until he beat you down more. But hey if we get them it sure won't hurt.
bigmck
Rookie
"On any given Sunday, especially on Saturday, any team.............."
rittenhouserobz
Veteran
Key to winning is leaving Brady on the sidelines. Easier said than done. Texans have to stop the majority of Pats runs short, don't let them convert long third downs, Shut down Edelman on third down, read screen passes to RBs, a couple TOs somewhere. Offensively, the Texans have to run effectively. I don't see them passing the ball to a victory, but they could lose it by trying to pass too much. Aren't the Texans due a TD on Special Teams? Well Go Texans!!! 
If there was a Homer GIF I would have used it.
If there was a Homer GIF I would have used it.
ERR
Practice Squad
Yes the Pats have a good mix of RBs. Blount is the pounder. And then they have two different change-of-pace backs -- White and Lewis. To date, White has generally not run the ball much. When he has been in it has usually been to block or he splits out wide/leaks out of backfield. Lewis can really do both and is an amazingly shifty runner.
I would be surprised to see the Texans play 2 deep safeties most of the game (not saying they won't just that it would be a different way of attacking Brady). Most teams want to force him to go deep, and look to take away the short/intermediate stuff with higher completion rates. Generally teams that have had success have taken away the short stuff, gotten pressure with their front 4, and pressured Brady in the A-gap (of course that strategy beats most QBs).
Screw Brian, you're the Messiah. He's the Messiah! I should know. I've followed a few.
Can someone explain starting osweiler?
Savage took his job and played well. Only lost it due to injury.
And we heard all week that osweiler was "forced" on O'Brien and he wanted to start Savage week 1.
Bottom line, savage is the better QB and you don't have to go ultra conservative with him.
Savage took his job and played well. Only lost it due to injury.
And we heard all week that osweiler was "forced" on O'Brien and he wanted to start Savage week 1.
Bottom line, savage is the better QB and you don't have to go ultra conservative with him.
FuzzyLogic
Mathematically Possible
I would think it is one of two reasons either 1) the conspiracies are true and BOB is being forced to start BO against his wishes or 2) Savage hasn't been able to prove he can finish a regular season game, BO if nothing else has proven durable. If you spend a week prepping a guy to play you probably want some assurance he'll may make it to the end. Justified or not one thing Savage really needed to prove is that he could start a string of games in a row.
Brandon420tx
Flounder
I think "played well" is a stretch when discussing either QB
TheRealJoker
Hall of Fame
Lets be honest about Savage for a second.... he didn't do anything when he played that was better than the 1st half Os played against the Raiders.
He looked good when they went uptempo playing from behind against the Jags. Didn't score any tds.
He made a couple good plays against the Bengals but was otherwise shut down.
Other than not turning the ball over he didn't do anything to make you say, "He is our unquestioned starter. Even if he sustains a concussion in the regular season finale and misses the first playoff game."
He looked good when they went uptempo playing from behind against the Jags. Didn't score any tds.
He made a couple good plays against the Bengals but was otherwise shut down.
Other than not turning the ball over he didn't do anything to make you say, "He is our unquestioned starter. Even if he sustains a concussion in the regular season finale and misses the first playoff game."
That's pretty huge. Maybe the most important thing.
We could actually call 5 pass plays in a row and not worry about an INT.
TheRealJoker
Hall of Fame
Os didn't turn the ball over last game...
I dont think he's changed. 1 game with a super conservative offense because we were ahead
Sigma
Veteran
1. We are going to lose regardless
2. Let Osweiler get the blame
3. This way it will be easier to start Savage next year and keep Os on the bench
Porky
Hall of Fame
Sad but probably true.
TheRealJoker
Hall of Fame
That's not a winning fan mentality. Jamtex has worked really hard to build a winning fandom culture on this message board and it appears not everyone has bought in...
Our team is in the 2nd round! 2 wins from hosting the Super Bowl!
Try rooting for them to win instead of marking it as a loss before the game is played!!!
I believe in our offense and I believe Brock can get benched early enough for us to make a comeback!
TheRealJoker
Hall of Fame
There's the spirit!
Sigma
Veteran
The patriots are famous to focus on making the best parts of the opponents' game irrelevant.
I expect them to focus on stopping the run of our offense, forcing Os to throw. and on defence I expect them to shut down nr 90
So look out for Mercillus, this HAS to be the game of his life
I expect them to focus on stopping the run of our offense, forcing Os to throw. and on defence I expect them to shut down nr 90
So look out for Mercillus, this HAS to be the game of his life
TheRealJoker
Hall of Fame
Last game the Patriots defense went 2 deep at safety and dared the defense to run. We didn't have Duane Brown and though our line isn't great at run blocking now they are better than before.
Our offense was not able to hit those deep throws to Fuller that they were used to in the first 2 games and Os had not yet found out we have TEs on the roster.
I think it will be harder for the Patriots to employ that gameplan now with our improved run blocking and the emergence of the TE position.... which opens up the deep ball!
Our offense was not able to hit those deep throws to Fuller that they were used to in the first 2 games and Os had not yet found out we have TEs on the roster.
I think it will be harder for the Patriots to employ that gameplan now with our improved run blocking and the emergence of the TE position.... which opens up the deep ball!
Heath Shuler
SPEED KILLS
Texans 22
pats 21
pats 21
TheRealJoker
Hall of Fame
On defense we have to do 2 things:
1) Provide a good enough pass rush that they are forced to leave Bennet in as a blocking TE. Taking away their big redzone threat... then still getting a rush!
2) Not let them get their pass catching backs (Lewis/White) 1 on 1 with our LBs. That is what they'll be scheming for the whole game.
If we let them do that we could see coverage breakdowns like when the Raiders got these matchups in our first meeting.
1) Provide a good enough pass rush that they are forced to leave Bennet in as a blocking TE. Taking away their big redzone threat... then still getting a rush!
2) Not let them get their pass catching backs (Lewis/White) 1 on 1 with our LBs. That is what they'll be scheming for the whole game.
If we let them do that we could see coverage breakdowns like when the Raiders got these matchups in our first meeting.
sandman
Brexit Advisor
Just so we get facts straight. He hasn't thrown an interception since he came back off the bench. 65 attempts. He was throwing an INT every 29 attempts before being benched. As far as super conservative offense, he threw it 40 times against the Tits and almost 20 in the first half againt the Raiders. They turtled for one half. And he has accounted for 4 TD's with no turnovers. He isn't Rodgers, but he has clearly played better since coming back. Probably not enough to have a hope against the Pats, but he has played better.
#BelieveInBrock
Bulls on Parade
2017 Astros: Earn It!
I expect Brian Cushing to have one of his best games of his career on Saturday Night. It's time to unleash #56!!!! He's going to make every tackle near him, sack pretty boy #12 four times, and force a couple fumbles while tallying a pick six off Tom Brady.
There's an exception to every rule, and this game is the exception to the above rule.
100 games = 100 losses
You can still root for your team but be realistic about the probable outcome. It's called managing expectations.
For instance, the Texans play the Patriots this weekend. And I'm attracted to Kate Upton.
But, my chances of hooking up with Kate Upton are the same as the Texans against the Patriots.
Speedy
Former Yeller Dweller
53.8%, 6.5 Y/A, 84.2 PR, 2 TD, 0 INT since coming off the bench.
59.5%, 5.7 Y/A, 71.4 PR, 14 TD, 16 INT before his benching.
Better is relative. Also, his return is a very small sample size.
#BelieveInBrock
I'll still root for you bud.
For instance, the Texans play the Patriots this weekend. And I'm attracted to Kate Upton.
But, my chances of hooking up with Kate Upton are the same as the Texans against the Patriots.
I'll still root for you bud.
And you think Belichek hasn't noticed this? Do you honestly think he is going to show us the same look at before?
You bring 5 or 6 then all the underneath stuff is open. Brady is at his best when facing 5 or more rushers. Look at his stats.
He doesn't like getting rushed from inside, as he's not mobile and doesn't have the lateral agility of say Rodgers. He's a true pocket passer, who likes to step up when he throws. Take that away and you can slow him down. But you better do it with 4 or he'll carve you up.
Every team that has had success against the Patriots rush with 4 and win, and drop 7 to flood the zones. Giants, Broncos, Seattle.
bigmck
Rookie
Key to winning is leaving Brady on the sidelines. Easier said than done. Texans have to stop the majority of Pats runs short, don't let them convert long third downs, Shut down Edelman on third down, read screen passes to RBs, a couple TOs somewhere. Offensively, the Texans have to run effectively. I don't see them passing the ball to a victory, but they could lose it by trying to pass too much. Aren't the Texans due a TD on Special Teams? Well Go Texans!!!
We had one last week but called back due to a Flag. That was our one TD until 2018 Playoffs.
sandman
Brexit Advisor
Did I say anything different?
I prefer to believe in #RAC and his defensive players.
TexansFTW
Veteran
Texans gonna be good, they will have extra motivation and the Patriots don't believe they need to cheat to pull this victory off.
https://medium.com/sportspickle/rep...-cheat-to-beat-texans-38872801bd85#.13l30gz6a
https://medium.com/sportspickle/rep...-cheat-to-beat-texans-38872801bd85#.13l30gz6a
Huh? is this an actual quote from BOB? I can't believe it is.
Maybe you should talk with the Seahawks about the SB they lost to the Patriots…the one where Brady set all passing and completion records for a 4th quarter and willed his team back from 2, 14 point deficits and against one of the best defenses in the SB era.
LITP
Practice Squad
Relax dude - the clue's in the title - Sportspickle. Its a satire site.
So they're the #1 scoring defense. Why is that?
At first, I assumed that meant that they really buckle down when in the red zone. Then I got to thinking... how many teams actually get into the red zone against them? They're usually blowing people out & I'm sure teams try things out of their norm... they may not actually get to the red zone.
I know there are mixed feelings about Football Outsiders & their DVOA. But they're ranked 16th in DVOA.
Then these guys have them at 52% on Red Zone possessions.
Don't get me wrong. I believe NFL history is written using NFL stats. If they say we're the #1 defense this year based on their stats, I'm fine with that. & if those same stats say NE is the #1 scoring defense, so be it. They do a good job of keeping teams from reaching the red area.
But with a -1.5 DVOA & 52% red zone percentage, there should be opportunities for us to put some points on the board. Think of them as Jacksonville with a stouter run defense.
At first, I assumed that meant that they really buckle down when in the red zone. Then I got to thinking... how many teams actually get into the red zone against them? They're usually blowing people out & I'm sure teams try things out of their norm... they may not actually get to the red zone.
I know there are mixed feelings about Football Outsiders & their DVOA. But they're ranked 16th in DVOA.
Then these guys have them at 52% on Red Zone possessions.
Don't get me wrong. I believe NFL history is written using NFL stats. If they say we're the #1 defense this year based on their stats, I'm fine with that. & if those same stats say NE is the #1 scoring defense, so be it. They do a good job of keeping teams from reaching the red area.
But with a -1.5 DVOA & 52% red zone percentage, there should be opportunities for us to put some points on the board. Think of them as Jacksonville with a stouter run defense.
DX-TEX
#TomSavageDontCare
JJ Zachariason @LateRoundQB 5h5 hours ago
Quarterbacks that New England's faced this year and their per drop back rank (min 200 drop backs, 34 total QBs), per @numberFire metrics.
Doesn't matter.
The Texans haven't shown that they can score TDs in the Red Zone anyway.
AFCSouth Champions two years in a row!!!
Texecutioner
Hall of Fame
You can still root for your team but be realistic about the probable outcome. It's called managing expectations.
For instance, the Texans play the Patriots this weekend. And I'm attracted to Kate Upton.
But, my chances of hooking up with Kate Upton are the same as the Texans against the Patriots.
Nah, I think you've got a much better shot actually.
