SO the Texans are in first place in the division....

[Lucky]

No, don't rest Weeden. He needs the reps to learn the offense and get familiar with his teammates and better his timing with the receivers.
And what makes anyone think Watt is the kind that will sit out a game that means we have a winning season?

We all know that Weeden can get all the necessary reps during secret practices. Come on, man!

Watt sat out the Tennessee game in 2011, after the Texans clinched. Pretty sure he wouldn't have a problem sitting out a meaningless game if it meant an extra week to heal his hand.

 

[Hervoyel]

We all know that Weeden can get all the necessary reps during secret practices. Come on, man!

Watt sat out the Tennessee game in 2011, after the Texans clinched. Pretty sure he wouldn't have a problem sitting out a meaningless game if it meant an extra week to heal his hand.

Yeah. If he was completely healthy then I don't think he'd want to sit but this time of year who's completely healthy? Nobody.

 

[Lucky]

Yeah. If he was completely healthy then I don't think he'd want to sit but this time of year who's completely healthy? Nobody.

The irony is that if the Texans weren't in the playoff race, Watt would demand to play. Especially if the sack title was on the line.

 

[ObsiWan]

We all know that Weeden can get all the necessary reps during secret practices. Come on, man!

Watt sat out the Tennessee game in 2011, after the Texans clinched. Pretty sure he wouldn't have a problem sitting out a meaningless game if it meant an extra week to heal his hand.

We also know that game speed and practice speed aren't equivalent.
I'll give you sitting Watt out to rest his hand (I still think he wouldn't want to) but Weeden needs all the game action he can get if he's to be halfway effective in the playoffs.

 

[Lucky]

We also know that game speed and practice speed aren't equivalent.

I hear you, and agree. Just like saying "secret practice".

 

[Scooter]

Am I the only one that wants to see Lechler throw a few passes? An accidental touchdown (like those thrown by Hoyer, Mallett, Yates and Weeden) and this forum would proclaim him the best shot on the roster.

And stop with the Weeden talk please. Dude couldn't make it as a Brown (sounds familiar), and Dallas would let anybody play quarterback this year ... and cut Weeden. He's an 'in case of emergencies' quarterback, not someone that should actually be on the field.

 

[Lucky]

Am I the only one that wants to see Lechler throw a few passes?

No, not the only one. That list would entail:

1. Lechler's mom.
2. The opposing team.
3. Anyone betting against the Texans.

Not sure if you fall into any of these categories.

 

[Scooter]

No, not the only one. That list would entail:

1. Lechler's mom.
2. The opposing team.
3. Anyone betting against the Texans.

Not sure if you fall into any of these categories.

Lmao sadly I don't. I'm just part of the category that has seen Fitzpatrick, Hoyer, Yates, Mallett, Keenum, Weeden, Garcia, Delhomme, Leinhart, post-injury Schaub and others behind center. At this point I'd rather see Lechler starting with Owen Daniels backing him up.

 

[amazing80]

Im all for letting Weeden play week 17, but Hopkins, Watt, Clowney, Brown should rest. No reason to trot those guys out there (considering they are already banged up).

 

[Speedy]

Haven't read anywhere else because I've been messing with the playoff generator for longer than I care to admit, so I don't know if it's already out there or not, but the nearest I can figure is that for the Texans to clinch this Sunday, at least one of these 3 things has to happen;

1) Texans win + Colts lose,

2) Texans win + Broncos lose + Falcons lose,

3) Texans win + Patriots lose + Jaguars lose.

 

[Bert Orange]

Correct, but the point of my post was to show how we clinch in week 16 so we rest starters in week 17. With my outline, it wouldn't matter what happens in week 17.

Sorry, but the magic number is still three for week 16 to rest week 17. We win and we still need the Colts to lose or three of some combination of our opponent wins or their opponent losses. It's only a magic number of two next week if the Saints win tonight. A Cincy win next week doesn't lock anything alone unless the Saints win tonight.

 

[Bert Orange]

Haven't read anywhere else because I've been messing with the playoff generator for longer than I care to admit, so I don't know if it's already out there or not, but the nearest I can figure is that for the Texans to clinch this Sunday, at least one of these 3 things has to happen;

1) Texans win + Colts lose,

2) Texans win + Broncos lose + Falcons lose,

3) Texans win + Patriots lose + Jaguars lose.

See post above. Just as much about wins as losses.

 

[amazing80]

Sorry, but the magic number is still three for week 16 to rest week 17. We win and we still need the Colts to lose or three of some combination of our opponent wins or their opponent losses. It's only a magic number of two next week if the Saints win tonight. A Cincy win next week doesn't lock anything alone unless the Saints win tonight.

If the Bengals beat the Broncos it counts as two in our favor, so a Texans win and Bengals win over Denver is an automatic for us.

 

[Bert Orange]

If the Bengals beat the Broncos it counts as two in our favor, so a Texans win and Bengals win over Denver is an automatic for us.

Well, that would be two. We need three. Our winning doesn't count as one of the three. Check your math.

 

[amazing80]

Well, that would be two. We need three. Our winning doesn't count as one of the three. Check your math.

My math is right, the magic number is 2 because if Colts win next week they create their own -1 by beating the dolphins. If they lose its also -1. So either way that game gives us a +1 heading into next week.

 

[Bert Orange]

My math is right, the magic number is 2 because if Colts win next week they create their own -1 by beating the dolphins. If they lose its also -1. So either way that game gives us a +1 heading into next week.

Agree to disagree then

 

[Bert Orange]

From another thread, just to verify math that is correct...

Excluding the winning percentages of our common wins against opponents (a wash) then Texans currently sit at 25-16 (Cincy, Jets, Saints) and colts sit at 22-21 (Denver, Atlanta, Miami - obviously dropping Miami to 5-10). New Orleans plays tonight, so we will either be up 3 wins or 4.

The maximum winning record for the Colts' opponent wins is then 27-21. Our worst outcome is 25-23. So we need three more victories by Cincy, Jets and/or Saints (including tonight's game).

And interestingly enough, as fate would have it, Cincy plays Denver next week, so one of us is going to get a much needed win and the other a tough loss. If Cincy wins, the Colts best outcome is 26-22 (noting Atlanta has to face the Panthers and Miami finishes against the Pats), and our worst is also 26-22

So, root for the Saints tonight and for Cincy to beat Denver (and obviously the Texans need to beat the Titans) and we lock it up.

Otherwise, we need the Saints to win tonight + any combo of two Texans opponent wins or two losses by Colts opponents, or if Saints lose tonight we need any combination of three more wins by Texans opponents or losses by Colts opponents) to lock it up.

 

[amazing80]

Agree to disagree then

There is literally nothing to disagree about. The Colts vs Miami game is an automatic win for us. Either Colts lose and its over or Miami loses and puts our "magic number" at 2. Either way we only need to worry about winning vs Tennessee and 2 other games, BUT because the Bengals play the Broncos, that game would actually count as 2 for us. If you don't think I am right, go to the playoff machine and check it out. I did it last night and today and got the same result.

 

[Speedy]

Sorry, but the magic number is still three for week 16 to rest week 17. We win and we still need the Colts to lose or three of some combination of our opponent wins or their opponent losses. It's only a magic number of two next week if the Saints win tonight. A Cincy win next week doesn't lock anything alone unless the Saints win tonight.

1) Texans win + Colts lose

If the Texans win and Colts lose, the Texans are 8-7, Colts 6-9 with 1 game left. I don't know where you're getting this magic number of 3 from.

2) Texans win + Broncos lose + Falcons lose

A Texans win and Denver and Atlanta losing, 2 teams the Colts beat that count in their SOV, gives the SOV tie-breaker to Houston. Game over.

3) Texans win + Patriots lose + Jaguars lose

A Texans win and a Jets win over NE and Saints win over J-ville, 2 teams the Texans beat and the Colts lost to, gives the Texans a stronger SOV, thus the tie-breaker, game over.

 

[ObsiWan]

We need to win the last two games.
We've been down that "we need so-and-so to lose" before path and it's never been a good thing for us.

 

[Speedy]

We need to win the last two games.
We've been down that "we need so-and-so to lose" before path and it's never been a good thing for us.

Of course. I was just pointing out how it gets clinched Sunday.

 

[PHILLYTEXANFAN]

Of course. I was just pointing out how it gets clinched Sunday.

I just hope this first ever win at Indy may have lit a fire under this teams arse

 

[Bert Orange]

There is literally nothing to disagree about. The Colts vs Miami game is an automatic win for us. Either Colts lose and its over or Miami loses and puts our "magic number" at 2. Either way we only need to worry about winning vs Tennessee and 2 other games, BUT because the Bengals play the Broncos, that game would actually count as 2 for us. If you don't think I am right, go to the playoff machine and check it out. I did it last night and today and got the same result.

I've already accounted for the Miami win. And I've already accounted for a Bronco counting as a win and a loss. And if all other of our opponents lost and theirs won, we'd finished tied dead even and it goes to SOS. It isn't that hard to line up the numbers.

 

[Bert Orange]

If the Texans win and Colts lose, the Texans are 8-7, Colts 6-9 with 1 game left. I don't know where you're getting this magic number of 3 from.


A Texans win and Denver and Atlanta losing, 2 teams the Colts beat that count in their SOV, gives the SOV tie-breaker to Houston. Game over.


A Texans win and a Jets win over NE and Saints win over J-ville, 2 teams the Texans beat and the Colts lost to, gives the Texans a stronger SOV, thus the tie-breaker, game over.

Was pretty clear the magic number pertains only to a tiebreak on SOV, dude. It OBVIOUSLY doesn't come into play if the Colts lose. Your second point is correct and adds up to three wins/losses, ergo magic number 3! Your last point would assume we beat the Jags and finish with a better record than the Colts (i.e. We win out). No tiebreaker needed for that. And it has nothing to do with locking up the division this Sunday.

 

[Bert Orange]

There is literally nothing to disagree about. The Colts vs Miami game is an automatic win for us. Either Colts lose and its over or Miami loses and puts our "magic number" at 2. Either way we only need to worry about winning vs Tennessee and 2 other games, BUT because the Bengals play the Broncos, that game would actually count as 2 for us. If you don't think I am right, go to the playoff machine and check it out. I did it last night and today and got the same result.

I just did it to make sure the ESPN playoff machine software wasn't goofy. If you enter every game going against us (don't forget to tick off wins for Pitt and losses for the Chiefs - they factor into SOS) and every game for the Colts EXCEPT the Bengals/Denver game, you will see the Colts win the tiebreaker on SOS. So, as I said, a Cincy win is unequivocally NOT a clinching game for us on a standalone basis.

Now, let's take care of business against Tacks and root for the darn Fins and be done with all this crap!! Cheers.

 

[TD]

If the Texans win and Colts lose, the Texans are 8-7, Colts 6-9 with 1 game left. I don't know where you're getting this magic number of 3 from.


A Texans win and Denver and Atlanta losing, 2 teams the Colts beat that count in their SOV, gives the SOV tie-breaker to Houston. Game over.


A Texans win and a Jets win over NE and Saints win over J-ville, 2 teams the Texans beat and the Colts lost to, gives the Texans a stronger SOV, thus the tie-breaker, game over.

Exactly...the magic number could be as low as 1, but definitely not more than 2.

 

[MistaRed]

I wish the NFL would put a Texans playoff game at night but probably won't get the ratings the other 3 games would.

So we'll most likely be the first game of the weekend.

 

[Byrds Man]

Even though the Texans are in first place, NBC's Rodney Harrison has dismissed them very rudely for the last two weeks on the Sunday night game preview show. I know the guy's got a couple of rings, but I'd really like the Texans to give him a big $hit burger to eat.

 

[BetaV1]

I'm mostly just thrilled the talking heads can't wail about a 7-9 team hosting a playoff game.

Now it might be an 8-8 team.

 

[El Tejano]

I wonder if the Seattle fans complained about going to the playoffs 8-8. Seems like they had this attitude that all they needed to do was win. Hmmm.

 

[El Tejano]

I wonder if the Seattle fans complained about going to the playoffs 8-8. Seems like they had this attitude that all they needed to do was win. Hmmm.

 

[The Pencil Neck]

I wonder if the Seattle fans complained about going to the playoffs 8-8. Seems like they had this attitude that all they needed to do was win. Hmmm.

8-8? The Seahawks went in at 7-9 and upset the Saints.

The Panthers went in at 7-8-1 and beat the Cardinals.

People need to stop whining about division winners with bad records getting into the playoffs.

 

[thunderkyss]

I wonder if the Seattle fans complained about going to the playoffs 8-8. Seems like they had this attitude that all they needed to do was win. Hmmm.

Seattle fans are a different breed. They were the definition of mediocre when they created the 12th man homefield advantage.

 

[TejasTom]

Seattle fans are a different breed...

Yep, they are tofu-eating, raw food-loving, kale-juicing, granola-munching, coffee-drinking, socks with sandals-wearing, wanna-be hippies.

 

[Marshall]

Yep, they are tofu-eating, raw food-loving, kale-juicing, granola-munching, coffee-drinking, socks with sandals-wearing, wanna-be hippies.

One part seems to stand out as DIFFERENT!

 

[HOU-TEX]

Even though the Texans are in first place, NBC's Rodney Harrison has dismissed them very rudely for the last two weeks on the Sunday night game preview show. I know the guy's got a couple of rings, but I'd really like the Texans to give him a big $hit burger to eat.

I'm not sure how you can blame him. We're an average team (8-8 or 9-7) going into the playoffs where teams with better records will be watching from home. A lot of people don't like the way the playoff seeding is determined. I'd be pissed too if we were one of those teams with the better record sitting at home while an 8-8/9-7 team moves on.

 

[JB]

I'm not sure how you can blame him. We're an average team (8-8 or 9-7) going into the playoffs where teams with better records will be watching from home. A lot of people don't like the way the playoff seeding is determined. I'd be pissed too if we were one of those teams with the better record sitting at home while an 8-8/9-7 team moves on.

I'm one of those that think divisions should be done away with, and the top 6 teams from each conference go to the playoffs

 

[Hervoyel]

I like divisions and don't want to see any changes. There's always somebody crying about their team not making it into the playoffs because somebody else won their division with a lesser record. The answer to that is "Win your division and don't depend on getting a wild card"

Winning your division means something. Being one of the general clusterfuck of (mostly) over .500 teams in the NBA that make the postseason doesn't so much in my opinion.

Look at the AFC today and tell me honestly who that team is that is going to get screwed out of their rightful place by the Texans winning the AFC South.

These guys are already in: New England @ 12-3, Cincinnati @ 11-4, Denver @ 11-4, and Kansas City @ 10-5.

That leaves one other spot (besides "ours" assuming we win the AFC South) and it goes to either the New York Jets @ 10-5 (currently holding it) or the Pittsburgh Steelers @ 9-6

Pittsburgh is one game better than we are. The Jets are two games better than we are at the moment. If they lose to the Bills and we beat the Jaguars then they're one game better than we are, AND we beat them.

The NFC is the same thing. Nobody is getting screwed over there either.

I don't see anybody getting cheated out of their place at the table. I see competitive, meaningful football games through the last week of the season. I'm fine with that.

 

[ChampionTexan]

I'm not sure how you can blame him. We're an average team (8-8 or 9-7) going into the playoffs where teams with better records will be watching from home. A lot of people don't like the way the playoff seeding is determined. I'd be pissed too if we were one of those teams with the better record sitting at home while an 8-8/9-7 team moves on.

You might need to make that singular - if it ends up being true at all.

Assuming the Texans win on Sunday, at most there will be one team with a better record watching from home, and that will either be the Jets or the Steelers. In the admittedly unlikely event Pittsburgh loses to Cleveland on Sunday, (and again - assuming a Texans win) there will be no non-playoff teams with better records than the Texans, and at most only two (Atlanta, Pittsburgh) with records equal to the Texans.

 

[Texecutioner]

8-8? The Seahawks went in at 7-9 and upset the Saints.

The Panthers went in at 7-8-1 and beat the Cardinals.

People need to stop whining about division winners with bad records getting into the playoffs.

Bringing up older teams that didn't deserve to be in the playoffs doesn't make this feel like anything other than what it is. If the Texans had a young QB filled with potential it would, but they don't. They've ignored the position that determines if they can make a run from year to year.

Their owner has come out like a complete buffoon again, and stated that even a 4-12 record would be acceptable here as long we won the division any way. When you hear that kind of talk from an owner who has had as horrid of a history that ours has, it doesn't make this playoff run exciting. It just gives a bad taste in your mouth because it means more of the same status quo that has held the team back for several years. Yippee!!

 

[Carr Bombed]

I'm one of those that think divisions should be done away with, and the top 6 teams from each conference go to the playoffs

Screw that, talk about unnecessary overkill..horrible idea. You'd be killing one of the greatest things about the NFL.. rivalries. The NFL is never going to do that and they shouldn't do it either. People act like this kind of thing happens every single year.. and if the Texans get in on a 9-7 record, that's not that atrocious.. it's not like they're getting in on a 7-9 losing record which other teams have done.

And let's currently look at the team with a better record (by one game) who's on the outside looking in. The Steelers.. sorry, don't feel sorry for them at all. They spit the bit against a 4-10 divisional rival (there's that rivalry thing again) who was starting a guy who just joined the damn team.. If they miss the playoffs it won't have crap to do with us.. it's their own damn fault, they controlled their destiny and blew it..(if they find themselves sitting at home, it's because they deserve to be there) that and because another team (Jets) upset their divisional rival (again rivals).

Let's not try to reinvent the freaking wheel here, the division system works just fine

 

[Thorn]

Damn folks. The playoffs are the playoffs. Sorry we're not serving champagne and cheese dip with it, so you'll have to tough it out.

 

[TD]

I don't see anybody getting cheated out of their place at the table. I see competitive, meaningful football games through the last week of the season. I'm fine with that.

I am with you. There are too many variables in individual schedules to go purely by record. Division winners with the best of the rest seems the fairest way to compensate for the limitations of scheduling 32 teams in 16 games.

Now I suppose you could play each team in the conference once and take the top 6, but would the league be better off losing home-and-home rivalries and inter-conference play? I don't think so.

 

[Hervoyel]

I am with you. There are too many variables in individual schedules to go purely by record. Division winners with the best of the rest seems the fairest way to compensate for the limitations of scheduling 32 teams in 16 games.

Now I suppose you could play each team in the conference once and take the top 6, but would the league be better off losing home-and-home rivalries and inter-conference play? I don't think so.

This exactly. You would have somebody with a crappy record complaining that they had to stay home when they played some kind of murderers row of teams while somebody else got in who was able to kick over a bunch of tomato cans along the way and pile up a great record.

 

[JB]

Screw that, talk about unnecessary overkill..horrible idea. You'd be killing one of the greatest things about the NFL.. rivalries. The NFL is never going to do that and they shouldn't do it either. People act like this kind of thing happens every single year.. and if the Texans get in on a 9-7 record, that's not that atrocious.. it's not like they're getting in on a 7-9 losing record which other teams have done.

And let's currently look at the team with a better record (by one game) who's on the outside looking in. The Steelers.. sorry, don't feel sorry for them at all. They spit the bit against a 4-10 divisional rival (there's that rivalry thing again) who was starting a guy who just joined the damn team.. If they miss the playoffs it won't have crap to do with us.. it's their own damn fault, they controlled their destiny and blew it..(if they find themselves sitting at home, it's because they deserve to be there) that and because another team (Jets) upset their divisional rival (again rivals).

Let's not try to reinvent the freaking wheel here, the division system works just fine

I'm not trying to reinvent the freaking wheel here, nor do I give a **** about a team that may be left out. I'd like to see every team play every other team in it's conference and no more ducking half the conference so you can beat up on a team twice to glorify your record. I get that it's not a popular idea, but I do think it would lead to better football through out the season and produce a better SB. And I think you are wrong about rivalries... my opinion but beating up a crappy 3-13 Titans team twice is not as exciting (to me) as having to produce against all the teams in your conference.

It'll never happen and I know that, but I think it would be nice to see every team in your conference every year, not just every 4 years

 

[Thorn]

Taking away the 2nd game against your division rivals only gives you an additional 3 slots. That's not enough to fit a whole division in there anyway.

 

[Seegara]

Screw that, talk about unnecessary overkill..horrible idea. You'd be killing one of the greatest things about the NFL.. rivalries. The NFL is never going to do that and they shouldn't do it either. People act like this kind of thing happens every single year.. and if the Texans get in on a 9-7 record, that's not that atrocious.. it's not like they're getting in on a 7-9 losing record which other teams have done.

And let's currently look at the team with a better record (by one game) who's on the outside looking in. The Steelers.. sorry, don't feel sorry for them at all. They spit the bit against a 4-10 divisional rival (there's that rivalry thing again) who was starting a guy who just joined the damn team.. If they miss the playoffs it won't have crap to do with us.. it's their own damn fault, they controlled their destiny and blew it..(if they find themselves sitting at home, it's because they deserve to be there) that and because another team (Jets) upset their divisional rival (again rivals).

Let's not try to reinvent the freaking wheel here, the division system works just fine

So many times the Giants have got in by the skin of their teeth with something like 9-7 records and won the Soup Bowl. Will BoB's teams be late bloomers like those of Tom Coughlin?

 

[Carr Bombed]

I am with you. There are too many variables in individual schedules to go purely by record. Division winners with the best of the rest seems the fairest way to compensate for the limitations of scheduling 32 teams in 16 games.

Now I suppose you could play each team in the conference once and take the top 6, but would the league be better off losing home-and-home rivalries and inter-conference play? I don't think so.

Not to mention, fans of teams in other conference would never get a chance to see the great players who play in the other conference play live.. it makes zero sense.

Also it wouldn't stop the bitching anyways.. because guess what, there's still bitching about the conference playoff system in the NBA.

Like when people bitched about how multiple eastern conference teams should be pushed out of their conference playoff seeding to accommodate western teams that had a better record.. No matter what you do, some scenerio is going to occasionally arise that's going to cause people to ***** and moan and say life's not fair..

 

[BetaV1]

I'm not trying to reinvent the freaking wheel here, nor do I give a **** about a team that may be left out. I'd like to see every team play every other team in it's conference and no more ducking half the conference so you can beat up on a team twice to glorify your record. I get that it's not a popular idea, but I do think it would lead to better football through out the season and produce a better SB. And I think you are wrong about rivalries... my opinion but beating up a crappy 3-13 Titans team twice is not as exciting (to me) as having to produce against all the teams in your conference.

Something tells me after that Ravens game Sunday Steeler fans agree with you.

 

[Carr Bombed]

I'm not trying to reinvent the freaking wheel here, nor do I give a **** about a team that may be left out. I'd like to see every team play every other team in it's conference and no more ducking half the conference so you can beat up on a team twice to glorify your record. I get that it's not a popular idea, but I do think it would lead to better football through out the season and produce a better SB. And I think you are wrong about rivalries... my opinion but beating up a crappy 3-13 Titans team twice is not as exciting (to me) as having to produce against all the teams in your conference.

It'll never happen and I know that, but I think it would be nice to see every team in your conference every year, not just every 4 years

So you really wouldn't even schedule teams from the other conference.. How about we just do away with the merger while we're at it..

In your scenerio the Manning Brothers probably would've never even faced off in their careers.. Missing out on story lines like that and others would be counter productive for the NFL.

And yes, in your scenerio you are indeed trying to reinvent the wheel