Mike Petraglia checks in from Foxboro with five takeaways from the Patriots’ stunning last-minute victory over the Houston Texans. I can still say “stunning” right? I don’t know, I’m almost starting to expect them.
texans
Patriots Pull Out Win vs. Texans
Tom Brady threw for 378 and five touchdowns, leading a last-minute comeback drive to dispatch the Houston Texans 36-33 in Foxboro on Sunday. It was a surprisingly close game with Texans rookie quarterback Deshaun Watson escaping numerous tacklers and making multiple plays that gave Houston the late lead.
But Tom Brady is still Tom Brady, leading the 50th (!!!) fourth-quarter comeback of his career in victory. The Pats now move to 2-1 on the season and will face the Carolina Panthers next Sunday who are coming off a 34-13 loss to the New Orleans Saints.
Catch. Toe Tap. Win.
Oh my, @brandincooks! pic.twitter.com/XaycVBdeIk
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) September 24, 2017
A Look Back: Patriots-Texans Rivalry
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4G9vij_cHo
While the Patriots-Texans rivalry hasn’t been much of a rivalry on the field, their games have actually featured some really significant developments that have had major impacts. Though the Patriots haven’t lost to the Texans since 2010’s season finale and own a 8-1 overall record, the Texans have exacted more than a pound of flesh in some of those victories.
The most notable is of course losing Wes Welker to a torn ACL in that only loss, which set the stage for the Pats to get embarrassed at home in the wild card round the next week against the Ravens. The Welker injury was everything the Pats could not afford to have happen, losing their third down engine in a meaningless game a week before the playoffs started. This thrust Julian Edelman into the spotlight against the Ravens, where he came through with six catches for 44 yards and two touchdowns, but it would be four more seasons before Edelman truly took over that role from Welker.
Patriots Gameplan: Week 3 vs. Houston Texans
Here come the Texans and all their former Patriots once again! Including the preseason this will be the third time in a year the two teams have met, so yeah this feels like a game in the division against a familiar foe.
Somehow the Texans are always rolling out a different quarterback surrounded by the same excellent pieces at wideout and on defense. And usually that’s the difference between these two teams. No matchup more clearly illustrates how hard it is to win in this league without a good player at the most important position.
Still, there’s always some trepidation when you’re going against a talented front like the Texans’, led by JJ Watt and Jadeveon Clowney. If those guys play out of their mind and rookie quarterback Deshaun Watson plays a clean game, who knows, maybe the Texans can pull off the upset. But the Patriots are near-unbeatable at home and have already had a wake-up call stinker in their home opener. I expect the Pats to turn in one bad game in September, usually on the road. Two would be a big problem, especially if both of them were to come at home.
Here’s the gameplan for what the Pats have to do to get by some old friends once again and move above .500 for the first time this season ;)…
[Read more…] about Patriots Gameplan: Week 3 vs. Houston Texans
Scouting Report: Texans
We’re slightly turning the page to the Texans today, though I’ll still dive into some offensive film study from the Saints game tomorrow. The Texans are 1-1, coming off an extended break after beating the Bengals in the first Thursday Night game of the regular season (aside from the season kickoff where the Pats got blown out of course, but who needs to remember that game?).
The two teams have met six times in the last five seasons, including twice in the playoffs and really, none of them have been all that close except for 2013’s 34-31 surprising nail biter in Houston. Many of the other games were far more hyped and far less close. Last season the Pats outscored the Texans 61-16 in two meetings.
Now, with a set of preseason practices and a game together, the already-familiar teams have gotten to know each other even better. Yes, there are plenty of connections between the two franchises but on Sunday all that will once again be out the window.
Let’s take a quick look at the Texans and how they match up this time around.
Five Patriots to Watch vs. Texans
The Patriots will play their second preseason game of the summer on Saturday night against the Texans, returning to Houston, where they were last seen winning Super Bowl 51.
It’s a good bet we’ll see more of the starters this week after Bill Belichick gave just about every top line player the night off in the first week of the preseason against the Jags.
The headlines for the Patriots, as they are for most teams, are all about overcoming injuries. Nate Solder has been out for a couple weeks, while one of his backups, LaAdrian Waddle had to leave joint practices with then Texans for medical evaluation back in Boston. Rookie left tackle Tony Garcia has also been missing time, leaving just Cam Fleming and Marcus Cannon, two players who should be protected as much as possible.
Tackle isn’t the only spot the Pats are dangerously thin. Defensive end Derek Rivers also had to return home to get his knee looked at and rookie Deitrich Wise continues to recover from a concussion he suffered in week one.
Simply put, the team cannot afford another injury at either of these two vital positions, but they can’t let that stand in their way of setting a baseline of performance against Houston. Between this week and next, the starters will get most of their work in. So it’ll be exciting to finally see some of the top end guys in action.
Here are five players that I’ll be keeping a close eye on.
Pats Posits: We’re Back in the AFCCG!
The Patriots overcame three giveaways, pulling away late to close out the Houston Texans 34-16 in the AFC Divisional round, just as american football betting thought they would. The Pats now await the winner of the Steelers and Chiefs as they head to their record sixth-straight AFC Championship game.
The Patriots struggled to find a rhythm on offense, but Dion Lewis was a standout, setting an NFL Playoff record by scoring touchdowns rushing, receiving and on a kickoff return. The Patriots have been managing Lewis since the summer with this moment in mind. Now, when it all counted most, Lewis was the go-to playmaker out of the backfield.
The defense was every bit as suffocating as we expected it to be against an impotent Houston offense, holding the slim Patriots lead throughout the game and coming up with three interceptions of Brock Osweiler. Logan Ryan had the game of his career, recording three passes defensed, an interception, a sack, a QB hit, a tackle-for-loss and seven tackles.
There’s plenty to dissect, but most importantly, the Patriots are one game away from the Super Bowl.
More on it all in the Posits…