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Patriots at Texans

Seegara

Guitar Picker, Dog Lover, Woodworker
This coming Sunday at 7:20, the visiting New England Patriots are due to take on the Texans. NBC is to televise the game on Sunday Night Football. The Boston team comes in as a 4 point favorite.

The Expatriots ain't what they used to be. They lead the conference on reputation alone. The Texans figure to win out if they can get past this game.

I initially figured this as the last loss of our season. Now I reckon somebody will sneak in and trip us up, I don't know who, but it won't be this Sunday. This is my upset special. Toros 21, Tratriots 20.
 

thunderkyss

Just win baby!!!
Staff member
Contributor's Club
Anybody thinking we score multiple TDs this game needs to be committed.

This ain't going to be an easy game & we're going to need our defense to keep us in the game. We can't get one dimensional. Offense has to stay on the field.

If we get down two scores to this team, there ain't no coming back.
 
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Speedy

Former Yeller Dweller
Anybody thinking we score multiple TDs this game needs to be committed.

This ain't going to be an easy game & we're going to need our defense to keep us in the game. We can't get one dimensional. Offense has to stay on the field.

If we get down two scores to this team, there ain't no coming back.
Yeah, the Pats have allowed just 9 TD in 11 games. Their defense has also scored 4 TD.

Turnovers will be key too. Pats have a league leading 29 takeaways, league leading 20 INT, and league leading +19 differential. Watson has 3 turnovers in the last 2 games. Ain't gonna be easy.
 

NastyNate

I go kerplunk
The Expatriots ain't what they used to be. They lead the conference on reputation alone.
LOL... WUT? Dude the Patriots are an elite defensive unit. They simply don't allow the opposing team to score. You think Obrien of all people is going to figure out that defensive scheme? They lead the conference because they're a damn good team. This is such a bad take.
 

ROO

Tweak the offense already!
Man, I just got this feelin', ya know...
O'Brien gonna coach his ass off on Sunday. His playcalling has sucked this whole year because he has been saving all the good plays so he could use them against Belichick.

Uh... yeah... something like that...
 

DocBar

Hall of Fame
Contributor's Club
If the defense can keep the game close, I like Watson's chances in prime time. If the Patriots get up by more than 2 scores, it's game over, imo.
 
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ShinobiMusashi

Waterboy
Obrien to Belichick reminds me of the coach from Waterboy movie(the Fonze?) where hes like deathly afraid of the other coach and just completely melts down mentally
 

dream_team

Hall of Fame
The past 2-3 times we played the Pats, I thought the Texans had an excellent chance of winning. This time, not so much.

The fact we can't pressure the QB with our front four is going to hurt! Combine that with a secondary that has played very little together, the Pats score enough to win this game.

The big question to me is how well will our offense do against their defense? I think we succeed only if we're able to run the ball on 1st down. If we can gain 3+ yards consistently, I think we got a shot.
 

KA4Texan

Woof!
Contributor's Club
I predict this game will be painful no matter what happens.

A) A Thanksgiving left over miracle happens and the Texans play like professionals but come up short in a last minute heart breaker.

B) They show up ill prepared and they will be painful to watch.
 

Mangler

Toro de España
If we score more than 1 TD, I'll be a Bill O'Brien nuthugger. Even if we lose.
Why? We damn near beat them in Watson’s rookie season, and we scored multiple touchdowns. Why would you become an O’Brien fan now? Watson IS our offense and all those awesome plays are because of him going off script and being a magician. Fukk Professor Buttchin! He ain’t getting sh1t from me.
 
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CloakNNNdagger

Hall of Fame
Game Preview: Patriots at Texans
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New England Patriots

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (10-1) at HOUSTON TEXANS (7-4)
Sunday, December 1, 2019 at 8:20 p.m. ET. NRG Stadium.
PATRIOTS: Game Release (PDF) - Roster - Depth Chart - Stats - Watch Games
TEXANS: Roster - Depth Chart - Stats - Roster Flip Card (PDF)

The New England Patriots improved to 10-1 following a win over Dallas and have now won at least 10 games for an NFL record 17 straight seasons (2003-19).

This week, the Patriots travel to face the AFC South-leading Houston Texans, a team the Patriots have beat in each of the last four regular seasons. New England last traveled to Houston to play the Texans in 2015, with each of the last three meetings taking place at Gillette Stadium.

The Patriots will try to extend their NFL record to 10 straight seasons with at least 11 wins with a victory over the Texans this week.

SERIES HISTORY

The Patriots will face Houston for the fifth straight year in the regular season and for the first time at Houston since a 27-6 New England win on Dec. 13, 2015, which was also played on Sunday Night Football.
Last season, the Patriots opened the year with a 27-20 win vs. Houston on Sept. 9, 2018, at Gillette Stadium.

In 2016, the Patriots and Texans played twice with New England taking a 27-0 victory on in the regular season and a 34-16 win in the Divisional Playoffs. Both games were played at Gillette Stadium.
Overall, the Patriots have played the Texans 11 times and hold a 10-1 advantage, including 8-1 in the regular season and 2-0 in the postseason.

The Patriots are 3-1 against the Texans when playing in Houston.

New England’s only loss against Houston was in the final game of the 2009 regular season when Houston defeated the Patriots, 34-27. The Patriots had already clinched the division prior to that game and Tom Brady was relieved for portions of that game by then backup QB Brian Hoyer.

Before the Texans joined the league, the Patriots and the Houston Oilers were foes dating back to the days of the American Football League, playing twice a year from 1960-69 and 33 times overall before the Oilers moved to Tennessee following the 1996 season. The Houston Texans inaugural season was 2002.


SCOUTING THE MATCHUPS
By Paul Perillo

When the Patriots run - Edge: Texans

For the first time in several weeks there were some signs of life in the Patriots running game. While it might be easy to point to the return of Isaiah Wynn as a reason for the improvement, in reality the credit should really go to Sony Michel. Michel did a great job of avoiding tacklers in and around the hole against the Cowboys, showcasing some effective jump cuts to pick up plenty of extra yards that weren’t necessarily there. While his numbers were modest – 85 yards on 20 carries – he did a nice job of helping the Patriots move the ball in tough conditions. He should have some chances to do the same Sunday night in Houston against a run defense that is similar to the Dallas version he just faced. The Texans allow 108 yards per game on the ground, which is middle of the pack at 17th in the league. J.J. Watt’s absence certainly has hurt the cause, but Houston has been susceptible to allowing chunks on the ground. It will be interesting to see if Michel can build off his solid effort against the Cowboys and continue to give the Patriots offense a boost.

When the Patriots pass - Edge: Patriots

When it comes to pass defense, Houston struggles in pretty much every area. The Texans allow 260 yards per game through the air (25th), have just five interceptions (30th) and 22 sacks (28th in sacks per pass play) and have allowed better than 41 percent of third downs to be converted, which is 31st in the league. Former Patriots defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel has searched for answers all season as he’s tried to patch things together in a banged up secondary. Bradley Roby (hamstring) and Johnathan Joseph (shoulder) are the starters at corner but have missed time due to injury. Lonnie Johnson (ankle) also is banged up, necessitating the moves to acquire castoffs Gareon Conley and Vernon Hargreaves, the latter being a former first-round pick banished by the lowly Bucs. Roby, Johnson and starting safety Justin Reid (concussion) all sat out the Texans Week 12 win over the Colts and their status moving ahead is unknown, although they practiced early in the week. The Patriots have injury concerns of their own at receiver with Phillip Dorsett (concussion) and Mohamed Sanu (ankle) both sitting out the Cowboys game. With Wynn back and Michel showing signs of life, it would be nice to see Tom Brady get his receivers back working indoors in Houston against a suspect secondary.

When the Texans run - Edge: Texans

Carlos Hyde is the type of power back that has had some success against New England this season. Despite dominance on virtually every level of defense, the Patriots rank 23rd in average yards per rush, and Hyde averages just under 5 yards a carry. He’s given the Texans some balance while third-down specialist Duke Johnson provides a change of pace. Deshaun Watson (301 yards, 5 TDs) also can make plays with his legs, so the Patriots front seven will have its hands full. The Patriots did a reasonable job against Ezekiel Elliott last week, allowing 86 yards on 21 carries, but the task may be more difficult this week dealing with the Texans read-option looks. The linebackers continue to play well, particularly Kyle Van Noy and Dont’a Hightower. Van Noy and John Simon will need to do be solid in setting the edge to prevent the big plays the Texans have managed with Hyde in recent weeks. Keeping Houston’s ground game under wraps will go a long way toward shutting down the Texans, but that’s easier said than done.

When the Texans pass - Edge: Patriots

Watson is one of the game’s most electrifying talents. While’s not quite as dangerous as Lamar Jackson as a runner, he’s far superior to the Ravens quarterback as a passer. He’s connected on 69 percent of his throws and has 20 touchdowns and seven picks for the season. It looks like he’ll have his top three receivers – DeAndre Hopkins, Will Fuller and Kenny Stills – all available for the Patriots, so this will be a tall order for the outstanding Patriots secondary. Stephon Gilmore continues to impress going against the opponent’s top threat. He’ll likely face another tough assignment this week against Hopkins, who leads the team with 81 grabs for 839 yards and six touchdowns. Fuller is a deep threat while Stills works from the slot. The status of Jason McCourty, who missed the Dallas game with a groin injury, will be important. Without him, the secondary might be stretched a bit thin. However, the Patriots should be able to pressure Watson, who makes life tough on his offensive line by often holding the ball while trying to allow deep patterns to develop downfield. The front seven should have some success getting after him, and Gilmore’s strong work on Hopkins will help neutralize what can be a very dangerous offense.

Special Teams - Edge: Patriots

THE REST OF THE STORY
 

thunderkyss

Just win baby!!!
Staff member
Contributor's Club
Why? We damn near beat them in Watson’s rookie season, and we scored multiple touchdowns. Why would you become an O’Brien fan now? Watson IS our offense and all those awesome plays are because of him going off script and being a magician. Fukk Professor Buttchin! He ain’t getting sh1t from me.
That Patriot defense was a liability to that team. 2019, these Patriots don't allow TDs.
 

OptimisticTexan

2024 / Rebuilding Block 4 After Playoffs / Texans
I'd be a lot happier if OB threw caution to the wind and opened the entire 1st half with a no huddle offense. Why? This would be the last thing the Patriots would expect from the OB coached Texans. Let the short and quick passing game set up the running game and downfield strikes. Texans got to get the Patriots out of their defensive game plan fast and early while keeping their personnel on the field. At some point in the 2nd QTR, Fuller and Hopkins would have their chances down field.

If OB tried this approach, Texans might put up 2 or more TD's early and set the pace for the rest of the game. Can't let the Patriots grab the lead then hope to catch them later......OB has to set the pace and make the Patriots play catch-up.
 

KA4Texan

Woof!
Contributor's Club
Does anyone here not expect Belichick to outcoach OB ?

I'm just hoping OB doesn't total embarrass himself …. be a non-factor instead of being a negative somehow or another.
I wouldnt expect OB to out coach Belichick if BB gave OB a list of the plays he was going to call for the game, the order in which he was going to call them, let OB listen to their chatter in his ear as BB is calling the plays and gave OB 2 weeks to prepare.

BB is Albert Einstein
OB is Ralph Wiggum.
 

powda

The bridge between stupid and useless is short.
I'd be a lot happier if OB threw caution to the wind and opened the entire 1st half with a no huddle offense. Why? This would be the last thing the Patriots would expect from the OB coached Texans. Let the short and quick passing game set up the running game and downfield strikes. Texans got to get the Patriots out of their defensive game plan fast and early while keeping their personnel on the field. At some point in the 2nd QTR, Fuller and Hopkins would have their chances down field.

If OB tried this approach, Texans might put up 2 or more TD's early and set the pace for the rest of the game. Can't let the Patriots grab the lead then hope to catch them later......OB has to set the pace and make the Patriots play catch-up.
I absolutely love uptempo offenses. I feel like most QBs get in rhythm and perform better. It would be nice to catch the Pat's in a 3 or 4 wr package vs their base defense. Problem is, you give your defense no breather and they're typically worn down by the start of the 4th quarter.

Honestly I don't see it happening. Ob's got to much pride in his plays to resort to such trickery.
 

thunderkyss

Just win baby!!!
Staff member
Contributor's Club
Omenehu & Martin need to get home. No more "almost" got there for them. They have to get home, emerge like Watt did at the end of his rookie season (despite referee bias).

& Whitney has to play like it's a contract year.

I expect Belichick to slow down our offense. Our defense has to do the same. We cannot allow NE to score more than 18.
 

maverick512000

Hall of Fame
Historically we are 1-10 against the Pats, they have an elite defense including the best corner in the NFL, we got destroyed by the Ravens and were one extra catch by Hill away from losing to Colts, Brady may not be the best right now but he’s still Brady.

Yeah if we win this Hallmark better make a damn movie out of it. Miracle on Kirby Drive.
 

thunderkyss

Just win baby!!!
Staff member
Contributor's Club
Historically we are 1-10 against the Pats, they have an elite defense including the best corner in the NFL, we got destroyed by the Ravens and were one extra catch by Hill away from losing to Colts, Brady may not be the best right now but he’s still Brady.
& the only thing we have to hang our hat on is that we almost beat them two seasons ago.

 

OptimisticTexan

2024 / Rebuilding Block 4 After Playoffs / Texans
Historically we are 1-10 against the Pats, they have an elite defense including the best corner in the NFL, we got destroyed by the Ravens and were one extra catch by Hill away from losing to Colts, Brady may not be the best right now but he’s still Brady.

Yeah if we win this Hallmark better make a damn movie out of it. Miracle on Kirby Drive.
Best CB in the league can only cover 1 WR.....take your choice, Hopkins, Fuller or Stills. Maybe Coutee wants in on some slot action. Texans need to start early and often with hitting Fells and the Jordan's. Throw in Hyde and Jackson and that suddenly becomes 9 pretty good options to upset the Patriots defensive attack.

If the OL could give Watson just a smidge more time in the pocket....it could make this game interesting.
 

thunderkyss

Just win baby!!!
Staff member
Contributor's Club
Still not very good, I’d think. The Bucs are more dangerous than expected. The Titans in Tennessee doesn’t look like a gimme either.
I think by the time we get to the Bucs they'll have all but quit.

Titans will be playing for a wildcard if they win out

Denver, I don't think they know it's over.
 

JB

Innocent Bystander
Contributor's Club
Best CB in the league can only cover 1 WR.....take your choice, Hopkins, Fuller or Stills. Maybe Coutee wants in on some slot action. Texans need to start early and often with hitting Fells and the Jordan's. Throw in Hyde and Jackson and that suddenly becomes 9 pretty good options to upset the Patriots defensive attack.

If the OL could give Watson just a smidge more time in the pocket....it could make this game interesting.
Best CB covers best WR, are your 9 + QB better than their top 11?
 

Big Lou

Hall of Fame
Best CB in the league can only cover 1 WR.....take your choice, Hopkins, Fuller or Stills. Maybe Coutee wants in on some slot action. Texans need to start early and often with hitting Fells and the Jordan's. Throw in Hyde and Jackson and that suddenly becomes 9 pretty good options to upset the Patriots defensive attack.

If the OL could give Watson just a smidge more time in the pocket....it could make this game interesting.
The field will cover Fuller, odds are he will come up gimpy by the second series.
 

steelbtexan

King of the W. B. Club
Contributor's Club
Best CB in the league can only cover 1 WR.....take your choice, Hopkins, Fuller or Stills. Maybe Coutee wants in on some slot action. Texans need to start early and often with hitting Fells and the Jordan's. Throw in Hyde and Jackson and that suddenly becomes 9 pretty good options to upset the Patriots defensive attack.

If the OL could give Watson just a smidge more time in the pocket....it could make this game interesting.
Agreed,

In the pocket?
 

disaacks3

Moderator
Staff member
I'd love to say I think the Texans have a real chance in this one, but I just can't.

The #2 Total and Passing Defense vs. our inconsistent Offense? Ouch.

Our "who wants to play today?" secondary vs. Tom Brady (even if injured)? I'll be shocked if we don't get torched for 350+ yds.

Here's hoping I'm wrong, but it's pretty much the same feeling I had going into the Ravens game...either we squeak one out, or get blown out badly again. Given how we barely escaped a gimpy Colts team, I expect the latter.

Pats - 38
Texans - 13
 

Double Barrel

Texans Talk Admin
Staff member
Contributor's Club
I'll be surprised if the Texans are even competitive for four quarters in this game.

It has all the typical trends of a 'piss down your leg' game for the Texans. But, I'm sure the marketing spin will be that it's just raining.

Biggest fear is Watson tries to do too much and gets hurt for the rest of the season. I'd like a chance to see him at least try to win a playoff game this year.
 

steelbtexan

King of the W. B. Club
Contributor's Club
I'll be surprised if the Texans are even competitive for four quarters in this game.

It has all the typical trends of a 'piss down your leg' game for the Texans. But, I'm sure the marketing spin will be that it's just raining.

Biggest fear is Watson tries to do too much and gets hurt for the rest of the season. I'd like a chance to see him at least try to win a playoff game this year.
The prophet speaks
 

IDEXAN

Hall of Fame
Contributor's Club
Cautiously optimistic we could pull off a surprise in NRG Sunday night if Fuller is 100% healthy and ready to go.
 

badboy

Hall of Fame
I'd love to say I think the Texans have a real chance in this one, but I just can't.

The #2 Total and Passing Defense vs. our inconsistent Offense? Ouch.

Our "who wants to play today?" secondary vs. Tom Brady (even if injured)? I'll be shocked if we don't get torched for 350+ yds.

Here's hoping I'm wrong, but it's pretty much the same feeling I had going into the Ravens game...either we squeak one out, or get blown out badly again. Given how we barely escaped a gimpy Colts team, I expect the latter.

Pats - 38
Texans - 13
Would it not be more accurate to say it's a who can play rather than who wants to For our defense? Corners Brad Roby, Lamar Johnson and sometimes Joseph have been out. Safeties Adams, Jordan Reed also have been out injured. IRC, Conley has played very well in his only two games as has Hargrave in the one game he has been on the roster. On offense rookie right tackle Howard returned last game and played less than 100%. It seems like he wants to play or he wouldn't be out there. Perhaps if Patriots would sit out their starting right tackle and both starting corners and both starting safeties...
 
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