“You come to Foxboro, it’s gonna be snowing, it’s gonna be cold. Come on in here. We still play, and we win. That’s what we do.”- Teddy Bruschi
The road to Houston starts with the Texans and goes through route 1 tonight. Brockstar and the band are in town looking for an encore after beating up on the bruised and battered Raiders last weekend. With a comical and outlandish 16 point spread, it’s clear who Vegas likes in this one. Matt Dolloff (CBS Boston Contributor) sides with the house, stating:
There are more than enough former Patriots on the Texans staff to understand how tough of a game Saturday will be, but way too many for them to foster the kind distaste for New England that’s needed to have a chance at pulling the upset at Gillette. The same reason that O’Brien won’t get enough out of his team on Saturday is the same reason Belichick will be calling off the dogs by the end of the third quarter.
It’s an interesting point. Whether it’s back in the day with the old Rex Jets squads, Bart Scott and Cromartie spewing filth before during and after the game, or more recently, with T-Sizzle and the Ravens, the teams that give the Pats trouble come playoff time are the ones that despise everything about Belichick and co. The most disrespect the Texans have displayed towards New England was their sickly curmudgeon of an owner, Bob McNair, and his comments on everybody’s favorite (non) story, deflategate:
“I think if it was J.J. Watt, I think he would have been cooperative and it wouldn’t be a question,” McNair said. “I don’t think J.J. would destroy his cell phone. The whole idea is that we want to make sure we have a competitive playing field that’s level for everybody. We don’t want people breaking the rules.”
You’re absolutely right, Bob. JJ’s cell phone is too important to “destroy.” How else is he going to snapchat Papa John gym selfies? To Instagram his studying the playbook in the wee hours of the night? Was Brady as cooperative as JJ would have been…
Moving along here, Mike Petraglia (WEEI) is going against the grain and taking the points in tonight’s showdown. He cites the Tom-forsaken Jets loss in 2010 as all the evidence we need to hold off on booking your AFC Championship seats until around midnight:
You think the scoring defense was good this year? That year, the defense, led by the likes of Vince Wilfork and Ty Warren up front and Jerod Mayo in the middle, held their opponents to seven points or less in four of the final five games… They were going to maul the helpless Jets and Rex Ryan at Gillette. It was fait accomplit. That was the year the Jets shocked Tom Brady and the Patriots, 28-21, in a game that wasn’t even that close because the Jets defense threw all sorts of weird looks at Brady and dropped coverage. This Texans defense has the capability of playing even better than that Jets defense that night.
Trags, you’re right. The Texans’ defense does have that capability. But the chance the Houston offense throws up 28? None to none. Anything can happen in any given game, but you have to feel good about the Pats’ D keeping Brock and the boys in the teens. Speak of the thief, in Sam Hollister’s (PatsPropaganda) Scouting Report piece, he highlights some observations about the Big O:
- 3o1/510 (59%), 2,957 yards (5.8 yards per attempt), 15 touchdowns and 16 interceptions, passer rating of 72.2
- Pro Football Focus (PFF) grade: 40.1 (34th, between Ryan Fitzpatrick and Jared Goff, ELITE company)
- 27th in completion percentage, 30th in yards per attempt, and 29th in passer rating
- Is owed more money than Tom Brady over the next two seasons!
Fitzmagic and Goff? That’s all you need to know about his performance this season. Off the field? Signing that fat check must sting every week, huh Bobby Mc? Can’t hit them all. At least you’ve got JJ, right?
Two critical members of Patricia’s defense tasked with making life difficult for the Houston offense? Defensive lineman Trey Flowers and captain/linebacker Dont’a Hightower, both of whom had excellent columns written on them this week. Let’s start with Jeff Howe’s (Boston Herald) piece on Hightower, named to his first Pro Bowl and a 2nd team All-Pro this season. Howe writes:
The Week 9 trade stung the locker room, and Hightower and Collins were incredibly close. But as coach Bill Belichick and his staff never broke stride, Hightower, safety Devin McCourty, defensive end Rob Ninkovich and defensive tackle Alan Branch were among the group of leaders who kept the players focused. Hightower and the vets watched more film with the younger, newer players who were tasked with stepping up, whether it was Kyle Van Noy and Shea McClellin into Collins’ linebacker role or Trey Flowers on the defensive line.
Hightower has fought through injuries and been a calming influence, on and off the field. Like Bruschi and Mayo before him, he’s spearheaded this unit from the middle of the field. Collins gone, Jones gone, it’s clear who the coaching staff valued most and who they picture as a long-term Patriot. Pay the man. Period.
With the aforementioned Jones gone, there was a gaping hole at defensive end coming into the year. Most (*raises hand*) thought Jabaal Sheard would inherit the role of pass rushing stud picking up double digit sacks. Although Sheard has played better of late, it’s been 2nd year pro Trey Flowers, AKA “Technique,” who’s really emerged. Phil Perry (Comcast Sports Net) wrote a phenomenal piece on him this week, elaborating on just how much he has impressed his teammates day after day throughout the year. Take it from a pair that get a heavy dose of him everyday in practice:
“When you bring him up, the first word that comes to mind is relentless,” said rookie left guard Joe Thuney. “He’s always trying to get off the block, always trying to get around you. You have to stay locked in and focused on working together for the whole play when you’re blocking him. He represents a pretty unique challenge.”
“Trey’s one of those guys who just doesn’t stay blocked,” said right guard Shaq Mason, before happily steering a reporter to center David Andrews, who has the misfortune of being matched up with Flowers more often than anyone else during workouts on the fields behind Gillette Stadium.
A couple weeks back on Monday Night Football, John Gruden said Flowers was the best player on New England’s defense. This week on Felger and Mazz’, Greg Bedard (Sports Illustrated) said he’s a star. At times over the last two months, he’s looked totally unblockable. Look out for him in a big way during this run.
Now to get you going for tonight…
It’s go time.