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**Official Game-Day Thread** Texans at Bengals, Thursday Sep 14, 2017!!

patrick ✔ @PatDStat
Lamar Miller in the 4th quarter.
7 rushes for 35 yards. (5.0 YPC)#Texans
9:16 PM - Sep 14, 2017

patrick ✔ @PatDStat
Texans gave 10 sacks and 10 QB hits last week.
3 sacks and 5 hits this week.
9:13 PM - Sep 14, 2017

patrick ✔ @PatDStat
#Texans did not give up a sack in the second half tonight.
9:19 PM - Sep 14, 2017

patrick ✔ @PatDStat
Deshaun Watson was 5 of 7 (71.4%) for 39 yards in the 4th quarter. #Texans
9:18 PM - Sep 14, 2017
 
TheMatrix31 said:
That's most definitely not the case. And it's how you get teams that get buttsexed against any team that possesses even a shred of competence.

Wins are not wins. How you win matters because it reflects sustainability and legitimacy. I'm sick of this nonsense trope in the sports world.
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Dude. If you don't like a Texans win, no matter how ugly, go watch another team. A win on the schedule is a win no mater the score or how it was done.
 
Zach Cunningham looks legit.
KJo looks vulnerable so far -- hope he turns it around.
We need JJo back soon.
Geno Atkins was eating us alive, so how to game plan for it? Call a dozen run plays directly at him, apparently.
D'Onta should be running up the gut if we're going to do it -- not L Miller.
Thought we would have found creative ways to get B Miller the ball by now -- seems like the plan all along was to turn him into another plain vanilla wr.
Nice to see L Miller chip the DE and release for a 1st down reception -- we need to see a lot more of that this year.
JJ looked like a semblance of his old self -- optimistic about this.
Please don't drop Clowney into coverage ever again.
Surprised to see Mercilus blocked so easily -- looked like he was doggin it at times. Hopefully he's just not in game shape yet.
We double team their gunner and he's told Ervin 3 yo mama jokes by the time he catches the ball.
We were in Dalton's head -- you don't usually see the ball thrown away that often.
Su'a Filo doesn't belong in the league.
Mancz should permanently replace Allen.
We need Brown back badly.
Watson is throwing the ball well enough when making the right read but we got lucky on a few of those throws that they weren't pick 6's. Only makes sense that he'll read the field better as the season progresses.
To be fair -- I think we need to get guys healthy to judge where we're at on offense.
Good win for being beat up as we were.
 
Great game and congrats to you guys and the Texans. We had a great time down at the stadium.
Got some signatures on the ball JJ gave my son, but not JJ's. Got a pair of gloves from Mercilus as well.
In the fan photo section on the official site, my son and I are picture 25. Here's the link:

http://www.houstontexans.com/tv-med...01eeeea4#b6341680-1248-4968-a7e1-e0158c4b96fe

The game was about what I thought it would be and I called the Texans win for you guys because of your defense.
Watching Watson was fun and that run was really sick as well. Wishing you guys all the luck the rest of the way !!!
Much respect...
 
Thorn said:
I just hope Watson stays healthy and doesn't lose his mind.
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I know this might be tongue 'n' cheek about hoping he doesn't lose his mind, but his mind is the least of my worries.

The QB position is such a cerebral job. Success happens between the ears first, and if you body catches up (and sometimes it doesn't, e.g. Ryan Fitzpatrick) then you've got a helluva QB on your hands.

I've held my thoughts about Watson, until now. There's just something about the kid that I can't quite put my finger on. I don't know how that will translate to his future play, but I'm eager to find out.
 
EVOLVIST said:
I know this might be tongue 'n' cheek about hoping he doesn't lose his mind, but his mind is the least of my worries.

The QB position is such a cerebral job. Success happens between the ears first, and if you body catches up (and sometimes it doesn't, e.g. Ryan Fitzpatrick) then you've got a helluva QB on your hands.

I've held my thoughts about Watson, until now. There's just something about the kid that I can't quite put my finger on. I don't know how that will translate to his future play, but I'm eager to find out.
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It's football intelligence more than real world intelligence, though the latter contributes to the former. I can't say that Roethlisberger possesses much of the latter, but he exemplifies the former.

Watson has both, I believe. But more than anything, he simply knows how to step in the ring and punch. Some punches may be wild, but he proves he belongs in the ring. So many quarterbacks are guys who can physically throw a punch, but don't have the fighter's mind or football intelligence to feel comfortable there.

I watched the entire game on my phone while on an airplane, and I could see his confidence through that little screen. It's a genuine confidence, like he was born to be there. He's like Tebow with actual next level skill. I'm going to enjoy watching his development.
 
JamTex said:
Dude. If you don't like a Texans win, no matter how ugly, go watch another team. A win on the schedule is a win no mater the score or how it was done.
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Ok fine, and you and everyone else can keep being shocked at this team flaming the **** out every time it faces real competition or in the playoffs as it did the last three years. O'Brien was hired to make sure this didn't continue happening like it did during the previous regime.

A win doesn't change the fact that this team looked like **** tonight and continues to look like **** week-in, week-out in the same exact ways.
 
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Bulls on Parade said:
Bill O'Brien and Deshaun Watson could be a great marriage for a long time! Gutsy performance tonight despite not having enough available bodies at wide receiver and tight end. I hope Duane Brown ends his hold out before our Week 3 showdown with the Patriots at Foxborough. Let's go in there and upset the defending Super Bowl champs on the road!
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ya im sure that's gonna happen bro
 
A J Green: I can't believe we lost to the worst team in the NFL.

Wow this dude must be on crack. We' ve own the Bengals for what, 4 years now. And this fool thinks we are the worst team in the NFL. Too comical lol
 
TheMatrix31 said:
Ok fine, and you and everyone else can keep being shocked at this team flaming the **** out every time it faces real competition or in the playoffs as it did the last three years. O'Brien was hired to make sure this didn't continue happening like it did during the previous regime.

A win doesn't change the fact that this team looked like **** tonight and continues to look like **** week-in, week-out in the same exact ways.
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My son would tell my other son who is older," why are you big mad"?.

Man sit back and enjoy the win.
 
Texansballer74 said:
A J Green: I can't believe we lost to the worst team in the NFL.

Wow this dude must be on crack. We' ve own the Bengals for what, 4 years now. And this fool thinks we are the worst team in the NFL. Too comical lol
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Maybe Green reads this message board. According to 90% of the posters here the Texans have the worst owner, the worst GM, the worst coach, the worst offense, the worst defense, and the worst special teams in the history of the league. There are only 2 or 3 players who could even make the roster of the Browns and one of them is the Long Snapper.

According to this thread every single play call (offense and defense) this game was the worst ever. The 0-16 Lions would be at least 20 points favorites against this years Texans. Yet the Bengals managed to lose to this steaming pile of ineptitude.

If Green is on crack, I guess most people on this board are also.
 
Fred said:
Maybe Green reads this message board. According to 90% of the posters here the Texans have the worst owner, the worst GM, the worst coach, the worst offense, the worst defense, and the worst special teams in the history of the league. There are only 2 or 3 players who could even make the roster of the Browns and one of them is the Long Snapper.

According to this thread every single play call (offense and defense) this game was the worst ever. The 0-16 Lions would be at least 20 points favorites against this years Texans. Yet the Bengals managed to lose to this steaming pile of ineptitude.

If Green is on crack, I guess most people on this board are also.
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Not literally. I know he's not on crack. Hr was speaking out of frustration. Just shows he is human just like the rest of us. A lot of us fans get frustrated and go on a typing rampage.

But haven't we beat them like 6 games out of 7? Some of those loses were in the playoffs. Kick their ashes right out the playoffs. Lol
 
Speedy said:
LOL, with the bodies they have...or don't have, that's pretty much all they can do is go jumbo.
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Well, we expected that the Texans would do just that.
I was stating the obvious, hah.
I want to go back to see how the Bengals counteract.
Did it wear out their edge guys in the second half such that we didn't have to go much with the jumbo formation then.
The OTs were doing well enough not to have their names called.
Going quick to Hopkins helped, with him getting the best of his matchup.
It also required the LT not to have to pass block for too long.
Adam Jones is still rusted his first game back. He's no longer at his peak anyway, and the Bengals don't have another capable guy to rotate on Hopkins. With a pair like Ramsey and Bouye, it would have been a tougher challenge.

It will be interesting to see what strategy O' Brien comes up with next week, because Brady and the Pats will more than likely score more points.
 
Hervoyel said:
I don't feel bad about Strong being invisible. This is Carr 2002 all over again. I doubt that Watson ever looks past his first read and if he does have time to do it he goes right to his safety valve or pulls it down and runs.
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Yes & no.

I doubt Watson is seeing the whole field. But Strong should have been the first read some time. But it looks like it was either Hopkins or Ervin... occasionally L.Miller.

So yeah, probably not Strong's fault. But our offense is severely limited if Watson can't get off his first read & he only knows Hopkins & Ervin.
 
It's like the Texans needed a miracle and I can almost hear Hans from Die Hard faintly in the background saying "You asked for a miracle.... I give you the Cincinnati Bengals"

Thank God for the Bengals. We get bad and they're always ready to get worse.
 
thunderkyss said:
Yes & no.

I doubt Watson is seeing the whole field. But Strong should have been the first read some time. But it looks like it was either Hopkins or Ervin... occasionally L.Miller.

So yeah, probably not Strong's fault. But our offense is severely limited if Watson can't get off his first read & he only knows Hopkins & Ervin.
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Yes, exactly. Our offense is severely limited. He probably doesn't only know Hopkins and Ervin on every play but with the OL we have playing the way they are he probably feels an urge to either pull it down and run or look for the safety valve very quickly.
 
It looks to me like Clowney is regressing at his OLB role. Put that man at DE and let him play. Still too much thinking and not enough attacking on defense.
Pains me to say it but a healthly DB would improve our OL situation but I still wouldn't pay him any more than his contract calls for. I'm also not waiving any fines.
Hopefully this gives us a little boost of confidence and some time to heal up.


Did Strong ever get on the field? I can understand him not being on the field during jumbo formations but we need the WRs to freaking play. Can't get open from the sidelines.
 
I certainly was not expecting a win but will take it.
Watched til about 9.30 and from what I saw, the offense still lacks firepower but the defense was great in the redzone.
They have 10 days to heal and prepare for Brady and will get some guys back from injury.
Not expecting a win up there but hopefully we can see a good showing.
 
thunderkyss said:
Yes & no.

I doubt Watson is seeing the whole field. But Strong should have been the first read some time. But it looks like it was either Hopkins or Ervin... occasionally L.Miller.

So yeah, probably not Strong's fault. But our offense is severely limited if Watson can't get off his first read & he only knows Hopkins & Ervin.[/Q

Correction:

And he just didn't have much time to go through his progressions. That freaking Geno Atkins was killing Filo causing Watson mental clock to go off quicker than what we would like.

The next game is 10 days away, so Watson should be able to build some chemistry with Strong.
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CloakNNNdagger said:
Since Bayless is the only TE, we are probably going to see eligible OLs.
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I went back thinking someone had made this comment and I don't know what could be heard on TV.
However, the Texans must have called eligible o-linemen every other play, if not more so. I got annoying to keep hearing over the system at the stadium.
Good call on that one !!!
 
Hervoyel said:
Yes, exactly. Our offense is severely limited. He probably doesn't only know Hopkins and Ervin on every play but with the OL we have playing the way they are he probably feels an urge to either pull it down and run or look for the safety valve very quickly.
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Could very well be by design.
I was checking on Prescott last year and noticed that was the case early on.
He rarely goes to the second read (only when he had a ton of time and a secure pocket); mostly was first read, if not comfortable with it, then run.
Not a bad idea.
 
HOUSTON TEXANS
TOP 5 GRADES:
DI J.J. Watt, 88.8 overall grade
LB Zach Cunningham, 83.4 overall grade
S Eddie Pleasant, 83.2 overall grade
C Nick Martin, 82.4 overall grade
DI D.J. Reader, 80.4 overall grade

PERFORMANCES OF NOTE:
QB DESHAUNWATSON, 70.2 OVERALLGRADE
Thursday night was a far better performance than Watson’s Week 1 outing, but it was still a mixed bag overall. He had the long scramble for the game’s only touchdown, which was easily the play of the game. However, he also threw a pass in the first quarter that could have, and maybe should have, been intercepted by Darqueze Dennard with the potential for it to be returned for a touchdown, which would have made it a completely different game. Watson also completed just two passes that were targeted 10-plus yards downfield on six attempts.

HB D’ONTA FOREMAN, 72.0 OVERALLGRADE
The Texans’ offensive line was pretty poor as a run-blocking unit overall, and their extra offensive linemen sets didn’t add much in place of their typical tight ends. Both running backs had little to work with but got as much as they could given the circumstances. Foreman had a couple nice runs, broke two tackles, and gained 32 of his 40 rushing yards after contact.

DI J.J. WATT, OVERALLGRADE
Football is more fun when J.J. Watt is on the field and healthy and playing the way we’re all used to seeing him play. We got that tonight. The future hall-of-famer totaled six pressures on the night (all hurries) to go with two stops and a great 88.7 run defense grade. Watt’s first step was unstoppable tonight, as he often found himself by Cincinnati offensive linemen before they were even fully up out of their stance. Watt is now up to eight total pressures on the season to go with an elite 90.7 run defense grade through two games.

LB ZACHCUNNINGHAM, 83.4 OVERALLGRADE
Cunningham followed up a nice professional debut last week with an even better game this week, earning good grades in both run defense (83.9) and coverage (81.6). The second-round pick out of Vanderbilt tied for the team lead with five tackles and three of those were stops (a tackle that constitutes as a loss for the offense based on down and distance) and he was targeted just twice on the 27 snaps he dropped into coverage on.

https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/pro-refocused-houston-texans-13-cincinnati-bengals-9

DJxWI1JXoAAZWj1.jpg:small
 
I am happy about the win, but much like last season and the season before that and the season before that and so on I am not confident this team can beat or complete with the better teams in the league. Watson is raw, WR dropping passes, OL is lousy, BoB Offense is ultra conservative, injuries piling up.

But I'm happiest about seeing some promise at QB and RB and the defense is shaping up.
 
Vinnie Ronca‏ @PFF_Vinnie 4h4 hours ago

#Texans RBs had to earn their yardage vs the Bengals. On average, they gained just 0.9 yards per attempt before initial contact w/ defenders


Vinnie Ronca‏
@PFF_Vinnie

Collectively, Miller and Foreman gained an average of 2.47 yards AFTER contact per attempt
8:19 AM - 15 Sep 2017

Ian Rapoport ✔ @RapSheet
#Texans CB Johnathan Joseph, who left last night with a shoulder injury, did not suffer a major injury, I’m told. Did have an MRI today
12:39 PM - Sep 15, 2017

Vinnie Ronca @PFF_Vinnie
32 of D'Onta Foreman's 40 rushing yards vs. CIN came AFTER contact
10:12 AM - Sep 15, 2017

patrick ✔ @PatDStat
Bill O’Brien said Watson dove into the film from the Cincy game on the plane to see his mistakes. #Texans
10:36 AM - Sep 15, 2017

patrick ✔ @PatDStat
“He rarely makes the same mistake twice. He learns fast.” Bill O’Brien on Deshaun Watson. #Texans
10:34 AM - Sep 15, 2017
 
Was anybody targeted with a pass other than Hopkins and Ervin? I missed the 1st part of the game until I went to a sports bar. Nobody here carried the game except NFL channel, which I don't get.
 
What a difference winning the turnover battle makes. Field position was horrible throughout the game due to horrible coverage from special teams but the Texans did not turn the ball over!

Win the turnover battle and this defense will keep it close. Just imagine if the special teams won the field position battle...
 
TheRealJoker said:
What a difference winning the turnover battle makes. Field position was horrible throughout the game due to horrible coverage from special teams but the Texans did not turn the ball over!

Win the turnover battle and this defense will keep it close. Just imagine if the special teams won the field position battle...
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I thought that our punter and kicker did excellent jobs.

Coverage teams not so much.

:coffee:
 
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On that play where Geno Atkins mauled Watson, what was our OL supposed to do?

The LT engaged the DE, who ran him into XSF. XSF was expecting to block Atkins, but Atkins delayed his rush & when the LT & DE passed him, he went around the left side where no one had a shot to pick him up.

It was like a stunt, where normally I'd expect the LT to pass the DE off to XSF. But if they were expecting a straight rush, the LT knows his responsibility is to keep the DE blocked.

So I'm asking, if you were the LT, what would you have done? Or what was supposed to be done?
 
thunderkyss said:
So I'm asking, if you were the LT, what would you have done? Or what was supposed to be done?
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It was a good play by Atkins. But, Watson needed to get rid of the ball before taking that huge hit. Sure, he got back up and made a huge play. But QBs can't take those kinds of hits consistently and survive. Part of the learning curve for Watson is that pass rushers can cover ground faster and DBs can break on the ball quicker. He'll learn, hopefully sooner than later.
 
thunderkyss said:
On that play where Geno Atkins mauled Watson, what was our OL supposed to do?

The LT engaged the DE, who ran him into XSF. XSF was expecting to block Atkins, but Atkins delayed his rush & when the LT & DE passed him, he went around the left side where no one had a shot to pick him up.

It was like a stunt, where normally I'd expect the LT to pass the DE off to XSF. But if they were expecting a straight rush, the LT knows his responsibility is to keep the DE blocked.

So I'm asking, if you were the LT, what would you have done? Or what was supposed to be done?
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Watch that play again and see what you think. Prosch ran right by Atkins (with a light love tap with his right hand as he passed him by and just kept on running), when Atkins was already outside of the LT, instead of picking up Atkins.
 
CloakNNNdagger said:
Watch that play again and see what you think. Prosch ran right by Atkins (with a light love tap with his right hand as he passed him by and just kept on running), when Atkins was already outside of the LT, instead of picking up Atkins.
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True, but the guard and tackle looked lost. They didn't know who to block on that play. But Prosch should've chip him for real instead of giving him a love tap.
 
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