Why the Texans will get a win against New Orleans.

[XI CMURDER IX]

I wanted to outline some things that I have been thinking about the past day, and why I think the New Orleans game will be a win. Regardless of the outcome. I am not talking about a win in the column, but more of a mental standpoint.

The Texans find themselves in familiar waters coming into the third game of the season. 2 wins and 0 losses and on top of the AFC South. The one glaring difference, is Wade Phillips and the defenses mindset. At this time last year, the Texans were one of the worst defenses. Of course, we thought with time they would get better. Turns out after a 6-10 season, we were wrong.

After nearly pitching a shutout against Indianapolis, and keeping the Dolphins from getting a TD on multiple red zone attempts. The defense is full of confidence heading into a game where the Saints can put up numbers, and in a hurry. I think, the offense is the ones that will have to show up Sunday. This game is going to be close, and a blow out for either side is not coming. Whether the score is 7 to 3 or 45 to 38, the defense is going to keep us in this game, and the offense will have to capitalize off every turnover the defense EARNS.

If it does turn out to be the latter. Then there is no reason to panic, even if Brees puts up 500 yards. There is going to be shoot outs in the course of a season, and there is going to be defensive struggles. (This can be illustrated by the Green Bay Packers last year.)

I think this game is going to come down to, not talent on the rosters, but how each team reacts to momentum shifts. Thoughts?

 

[Trail.Blazr]

I think we have to approach this game similarly to how we would approach a Manning led Indy game in recent games. I don't think it's any secret that as Brees goes, so does the Saints. So far, I've not seen where Brees has been challenged much, if at all in the pocket.

Despite getting sacked 4 times over 2 games, he's still yet to turn the ball over... This against the likes of the packers and bears, who I have much respect for defensively.

We HAVE to find a way to pressure him all game long. This may lend to Ingram getting more than his share of yards, but I'd much rather the latter.

Compared to Miami's D, the Saints, while still no pushover, shouldn't be as challenging for the Texans to move on.

If we can keep this game on the ground, I like our chances.

 

[XI CMURDER IX]

I think we have to approach this game similarly to how we would approach a Manning led Indy game in recent games. I don't think it's any secret that as Brees goes, so does the Saints. So far, I've not seen where Brees has been challenged much, if at all in the pocket.

Despite getting sacked 4 times over 2 games, he's still yet to turn the ball over... This against the likes of the packers and bears, who I have much respect for defensively.

We HAVE to find a way to pressure him all game long. This may lend to Ingram getting more than his share of yards, but I'd much rather the latter.

Compared to Miami's D, the Saints, while still no pushover, shouldn't be as challenging for the Texans to move on.

If we can keep this game on the ground, I like our chances.

I'm thinking the same thing, we can't rely on the Saints making a mistake. The Texans are going to have to earn the ball on defense.

The offensive line has to do a much better job in the second and third quarters though.

 

[Hervoyel]

I think the Texans can run on the Saints and that it's vital that we do that. Long, time consuming drives that end in touchdowns are the real key to this. New Orleans is outstanding and they can crank out a lot of yards/score a lot of points. You play them the way you play the Colts with Manning I think. You try to keep Brees on the bench as long as possible and you do everything in your power to avoid falling behind because if you do you're dead. The moment you abandon the run they have you and Gregg Williams sets the hounds loose on you. We can't protect well enough to trot Matt Schaub back there forty times.

Ben Tate's gotta have a third straight big game. Our defense has to keep improving.

 

[thunderkyss]

I think we have to approach this game similarly to how we would approach a Manning led Indy game in recent games. I don't think it's any secret that as Brees goes, so does the Saints. So far, I've not seen where Brees has been challenged much, if at all in the pocket.

The Saints OL is actually better than the Colts.

 

[Dutchrudder]

The Superdome is a tough venue to play at. I don't expect to win this week, but I will be happy if they do. The Saints with Brees are always a formidable team.

 

[infantrycak]

The Saints OL is actually better than the Colts.

They have given up the same 4 sacks we have.

 

[dinkatoid]

You are right with the running, the saints really struggle to contain the run up the middle. This helps us not only gain yardage, but also control the clock. It is also clear that Harper can't cover at all. If we can spread them wide and try to get Harper isolated on Casey or Daniels, they could make a big play. I have also seen them bite quite a bit on play action, so that will be nice for us.

The thing we have to watch out for is the big play. NO loves to take the slot receiver and send them deep, especially with Henderson. He is the fastest guy on their team, and if they put him in the slot, they almost always send him deep. If we can keep them to a short passing game and running the ball I will be happy. I think we have a good chance if we just have to out rush them.

 

[IDEXAN]

The Saints are gonna take their 2 jumbo guards that average 'bout 330 and run the ball down the throat of our undersized DLine featuring NTs that average 'bout 295-300 lbs. Trust me Texans fans, it ain't gonna be pretty
and I'd just soon be a realist and hold out CB Joseph and other key injured players to get ready for Pittsburg the next week in Reliant Stadium which is a game that's definitely more winnable.

 

[infantrycak]

The Saints are gonna take their 2 jumbo guards that average 'bout 330 and run the ball down the throat of our undersized DLine featuring NTs that average 'bout 295-300 lbs. Trust me Texans fans, it ain't gonna be pretty
and I'd just soon be a realist and hold out CB Joseph and other key injured players to get ready for Pittsburg the next week in Reliant Stadium which is a game that's definitely more winnable.

WTF? The Saints should be more worried about our rushing game. We have averaged over 150 yds per game rushing (with our backups) and they are under 100 yds. But I guess that means their daunting rushing attack makes this game unwinnable.

 

[TimeKiller]

The Saints are gonna take their 2 jumbo guards that average 'bout 330 and run the ball down the throat of our undersized DLine featuring NTs that average 'bout 295-300 lbs. Trust me Texans fans, it ain't gonna be pretty
and I'd just soon be a realist and hold out CB Joseph and other key injured players to get ready for Pittsburg the next week in Reliant Stadium which is a game that's definitely more winnable.

Define losing mentality!


Wow.

 

[Hervoyel]

The Saints are gonna take their 2 jumbo guards that average 'bout 330 and run the ball down the throat of our undersized DLine featuring NTs that average 'bout 295-300 lbs. Trust me Texans fans, it ain't gonna be pretty
and I'd just soon be a realist and hold out CB Joseph and other key injured players to get ready for Pittsburg the next week in Reliant Stadium which is a game that's definitely more winnable.

They're all winnable. I don't think the Texans need to concede anything yet.

Sure they can run on us. So could the Dolphins. I don't care if the Saints run up 150 yards on the ground against us as long as we can do the same or better to them.

This is admittedly most likely a loss. It isn't a foregone conclusion though.

 

[Perki-Perk]

I'm still cautiously optimistic. Hoping for a big W! If we pull this game off, then I expect us to be 6-0 after week 6. The Ravens lost to the freaking Titans for crying out loud. Pittsburg has already shown their vulnerability. The Raiders got ousted by the Bills. I'm thinking things seem to be falling into place for us. I believe a famous coach said won time, "Being a champ takes a whole lot of skill, but a lot more luck." If they didn't, they should have.

 

[Hervoyel]

I'm still cautiously optimistic. Hoping for a big W! If we pull this game off, then I expect us to be 6-0 after week 6. The Ravens lost to the freaking Titans for crying out loud. Pittsburg has already shown their vulnerability. The Raiders got ousted by the Bills. I'm thinking things seem to be falling into place for us. I believe a famous coach said won time, "Being a champ takes a whole lot of skill, but a lot more luck." If they didn't, they should have.

Do not take the Steelers for granted. That opening week beat down from the Ravens shouldn't be taken out of context. The Ravens literally unloaded everything they had against Pittsburgh much the same way we did to the Colts last season in week one and blew them off the field. The next week Pittsburgh returned to normal (slaughtering the Seahawks) and the Ravens came out flat and lifeless against the Titans. You can't read too much into either the Ravens/Steelers, Steelers/Seahawks, or Ravens/Titans games. They're all three related based on emotion.

The Steelers aren't as bad as they looked against Baltimore.
Baltimore isn't as bad as they looked against Tennessee.

Tennessee just happened to catch the Ravens at the right time. They aren't as good as they looked in that game either.

There's not a team in the next four weeks that can't beat us. We could just as easily be 2-4 as 6-0 if we think we have any of these teams number. Hopefully our defense keeps improving as they get more experience in the system under their belts and we get a few breaks along the way. I'd like to be 4-2 (but 5-1 would be better) when we play our next division game (Tennessee).

 

[Jackie Chiles]

They have given up the same 4 sacks we have.

Those sacks have come with 33 more pass attempts for them. I do like the matchup with their defense better than the Dolphins though, I like our chances of protecting Schaub.

 

[thunderkyss]

The Saints OL is actually better than the Colts.

They have given up the same 4 sacks we have.

So if 1+1=2 & 2+2=4...... what the hell does that have to do with the price of Tea in China?

Miami has given up 6 sacks,

The Colts gave up 5 sacks,

We gave up 4 sacks,

The Saints gave up 4 sacks.


& that doesn't count QB pressures.... The Saints OL is still better than the Colts OL

 

[Imatexanfan]

Do you remember us embarrassing them in pre season??? I'm thinkin' they want a lil payback, that being said this game will be the hardest team we face this season...regular season that is

 

[Double Barrel]

I think the Texans can run on the Saints and that it's vital that we do that. Long, time consuming drives that end in touchdowns are the real key to this. New Orleans is outstanding and they can crank out a lot of yards/score a lot of points. You play them the way you play the Colts with Manning I think. You try to keep Brees on the bench as long as possible and you do everything in your power to avoid falling behind because if you do you're dead. The moment you abandon the run they have you and Gregg Williams sets the hounds loose on you. We can't protect well enough to trot Matt Schaub back there forty times.

Ben Tate's gotta have a third straight big game. Our defense has to keep improving.

This.

Just like Indy, the best defense against the Saints is to keep Brees on the bench with long drives. Run it down their throats and wear out that Saints defense, which could greatly benefit the Texans in the 4th quarter when they need to make a game-winning drive.

I think it will be a close game, and might even come down to who has the ball last.

 

[Thorn]

I'm going to really enjoy the next four Sundays, because we are going to find out a lot about our team. In the next four weeks we have the Saints, Steelers, Raiders, and Ravens. Three out of our next four are against what must be considered top flight teams, the Raiders are well....who knows what the Raiders are?

 

[dinkatoid]

I'm going to really enjoy the next four Sundays, because we are going to find out a lot about our team. In the next four weeks we have the Saints, Steelers, Raiders, and Ravens. Three out of our next four are against what must be considered top flight teams, the Raiders are well....who knows what the Raiders are?

The raiders will be a test just because of the running game. They will be able to run it down our throats if we aren't careful. They also have a great D line, so keeping Schaub upright will be a challenge.

 

[Blake]

I think this will be a very good game. We are not a team to be F*cked with. Our ground game is amazing, and Schaub to AJ is icing on the cake. But NO has one of the top 3 QB's in the league. An offense that can attack you from any position and a defensive coordinator that is as smart as they come. I give the edge to NO since we will be in their building with their fans, but I am not counting our boys out.

No matter the outcome, the Saints will know they were in a football game come Monday.

 

[IDEXAN]

WTF? The Saints should be more worried about our rushing game. We have averaged over 150 yds per game rushing (with our backups) and they are under 100 yds. But I guess that means their daunting rushing attack makes this game unwinnable.

Hey, I hope I'm wrong but I don't think we are as good as the Saints and it's in their place, which is a really tough stadium for the visiting team. And i don't think the preseason game (which we won of course), means anything.
But like I said, I hope I'm wrong.

 

[infantrycak]

Hey, I hope I'm wrong but I don't think we are as good as the Saints and it's in their place, which is a really tough stadium for the visiting team. And i don't think the preseason game (which we won of course), means anything.
But like I said, I hope I'm wrong.

I would expect them to be favored. I was only disagreeing about the rushing attack. You sounded like you wanted to concede the game based on roster weight.

 

[House of Pain]

Based on what I've seen so far this year, the Texans (and their fans) should not view any game as unwinnable. Unless we lose certain players to season ending injuries, I believe they can win them all. Now...is it going to be easy in the Big Easy? Of course not. Saints got plenty of talent, and the core of players who played in the SB are still there. If the Texans win this game, they will make things much easier for themselves.

Note: I can't see this game as anything other than a shootout.

 

[Rey]

Hey, I hope I'm wrong but I don't think we are as good as the Saints and it's in their place, which is a really tough stadium for the visiting team. And i don't think the preseason game (which we won of course), means anything.
But like I said, I hope I'm wrong.

IMHO, we beat the Dolphins with vanilla play on both sides of the ball. Didn't see a whole lot of crazy blitzing. I think we ran 1 screen, didn't motion or use James Casey to create mismatches.

I really think that the Texans wanted to just line up and beat the Dolphins without showing too much.

 

[Carr Bombed]

The Saints OL is actually better than the Colts.

And so is Miami's offensive line with Jake Long and Connor Barwin still made him look silly. What does it matter?

There hasn't been a offensive line who has come remotely close to stopping our front 7 yet and I don't expect the Saints offensive line to start blocking them either. I think our front 7 just might be that good. We'll be hunting Brees the same way we've been hunting everybody else.


Anyways if we're looking for a reason why we're going to beat the Saints, y'all are missing the biggest one. We're going to beat the Saints, because we're a bunch of cheaters who play dirty pool with our "illegal cut blocking" shenanigans. It's the only way we can even stay on the same field with the almighty Saints and their legendary defense.

 

[Dread-Head]

1.Send the defense in play after play with the idea that their job is to inflict physical and psychological pain on their opponents.

2.If you are on the Defensive line, your job is to either punish any SOB carrying a football or anyone who comes BETWEEN you and the SOB with the football.

3. If you are a member of the secondary your job is either to get between that football and that reciever or to PUNISH him for either catching it or simply fantasizing about catching it.

4. Stay out of the neutral zone, listen to the play call, but ignore the snap count and watch the damned football.

5. Take a 4th down where they elect to "go for it" personally and respond accordingly.

6. If a QB runs right at you and isn't attempting to "slide" light his bit-chazz up like a Christmas tree.

 

[RazorOye]

You are right with the running, the saints really struggle to contain the run up the middle.

well, we're not even sure of that in New Orleans. Franklin was not healthy the first game of the season, and it showed.

But aside from 1 42 yd (iirc) gain by Forte, he was kept in check on the ground and was most productive releasing into openings in front of the secondary.

I like Rogers, Ellis, and Franklin in the middle of that DLine. And they looked much better week 2 than they did week 1.

Running-wise, if you're talking success in the middle, it can certainly still be had. Tie up the interior of that line and get to our LBers.

I love Vilma but he can get washed out of plays and doesn't shed blocks the best. Herring is thoroughly unimpressive. Shanle is serviceable at best. If you can make it to the second level, you can run in the middle - our LBs are not stout in that regard.

At the line of attack, I actually think there's more success to be had on the outside than the middle. Our DEs don't keep containment all that well. Rookie Cam Jordan has seen a lot of play with the suspension of Will Smith - who returns. But Smith isn't strong against the run, either.

We've got a rookie, an above average DE, and journeymen/speed specialists on the end.

I think it's going to be frustrating for me watching the front 7 vs. the Texans' running game on Sunday.

They looked good on Sunday vs. the Bears.

but cmon... I'm not delusional. It's the Bears OLine.

Hot garbage.

 

[ObsiWan]

Do not take the Steelers for granted. That opening week beat down from the Ravens shouldn't be taken out of context. The Ravens literally unloaded everything they had against Pittsburgh much the same way we did to the Colts last season in week one and blew them off the field. The next week Pittsburgh returned to normal (slaughtering the Seahawks) and the Ravens came out flat and lifeless against the Titans. You can't read too much into either the Ravens/Steelers, Steelers/Seahawks, or Ravens/Titans games. They're all three related based on emotion.

The Steelers aren't as bad as they looked against Baltimore.
Baltimore isn't as bad as they looked against Tennessee.

Tennessee just happened to catch the Ravens at the right time. They aren't as good as they looked in that game either.

There's not a team in the next four weeks that can't beat us. We could just as easily be 2-4 as 6-0 if we think we have any of these teams number. Hopefully our defense keeps improving as they get more experience in the system under their belts and we get a few breaks along the way. I'd like to be 4-2 (but 5-1 would be better) when we play our next division game (Tennessee).

Absolute truth.
Repped.

I don't remember which player was quoting which coach, but I love the mindset the quote represents; it went something like... "We're trying to be 1-0 every week; that's our goal."

Don't look past anyone. Don't be in awe of anyone. Try to be 1-0 every week.

 

[EllisUnit]

Here are my keys to the game.

Do i think the Texans will win. YES, Why because i'm a freakin homer.

Now realistically T _ _ S A _ _ T_ S_ _ U_ D W _ _ . Couldnt bring myself to actually say it.

But heres to a good game, and may the football god smile upon us and grant us a victory. After having nothing to cheer about for 9 seasons. it sure as hell would be nice.

 

[Norg]

Cause remember when a wade phillips dallas team beat the undeafted that would go on to win the SB saints


yeah maybe he can do it again

and remember when CLE went into the superdome and beat the saints hell if they can do it so can we

 

[hradhak]

I agree with all those who say that controlling the ground game is critical for us. New Orleans defense is good, but it's real success was creating turnovers in their Super Bowl season. They definitely have holes that we can exploit. We need a turnover free game to really help us out.

Our defense is going to really show us what it is worth in this game. I expect Wade to dial up the blitzes and throw something interesting at them that we haven't seen before If we can create turnovers we have a shot.

 

[thunderkyss]

I agree with all those who say that controlling the ground game is critical for us. New Orleans defense is good, but it's real success was creating turnovers in their Super Bowl season. They definitely have holes that we can exploit. We need a turnover free game to really help us out.

It just shocks me that someone would say this, or think that their run defense is suspect.

This is Greg Williams' defense we're talking about. The guy that Gary & McNair should have gone all-in for.

 

[SaintRusty]

It just shocks me that someone would say this, or think that their run defense is suspect.

This is Greg Williams' defense we're talking about. The guy that Gary & McNair should have gone all-in for.

The Saints Defense is still a bit of a mystery. They got shredded by Green Bay (quite possibly the best offense in the league) in week 1, then played lights out against Chicago (quite possibly one of the worst) in week 2. If not for a horrendous personal foul call, they wouldn't have scored a single TD.

Hard to say where the middle ground lies, although I am sure Houston will be more towards the Green Bay side and less on the Chicago side. Just a matter of how much.