NFL
Houston Texans vs New England Patriots Preview
It may be early but the Houston Texans and the New England Patriots week one gridiron battle is a statement game. A statement game for different reasons but a statement game nonetheless. The winner of this game will likely go on to play in Atlanta in early February as the AFC representative in Superbowl LIII.
Series History
Since 2003, the New England Patriots have held a 9-1-0 edge in the match-ups. Four of those games have been decided by one score. Three of those four by a single field goal. In “06” and then a decade later in 2016, the games were blowout victories by New England. Four times New England scores less then 16 points. The Patriots, on the other hand, has scored 27 points plus nine of ten meetings. The other score they put up 23 in 2003, their lowest output ever.
Houston Texans
The Texans are desperate for a win over New England. They have not won over the Patriots since January 3, 2010 when Matt “Pick Six” Schaub was under center. In fact it is the only Texans win the history between these two franchises. With nine passing touchdowns in 10 games, Houston has had a difficult time putting up points. In three of the last five outings, Houston signal callers have failed to toss a scoring strike.
“They make minimal errors,” former Tennessee Titans coach Mike Mularkey said. “They make the opponent do the damage to themselves.”
And if you don’t believe that to be true, look at the Houston Texans. Ten games, nine losses by an average of Ten game 2.5 sacks per game allowed. Ten games allowing no less than three plus scores per game. It gets worse. 15 interceptions and 25 sacks in ten games and we haven’t even mentioned fumbles. Can it get worse? Yes it can.
JJ Watt has been held in check. The two-time Defensive Player of the Year has nine tackles with zero sacks. Whitney Mercilus and Jadaveon Clowney have secured eight and a half sacks of the team’s 25 over the ten games. Only twice has the defense kept the Patriots under 300 yards of total offense. It tough to win like that.
New England Patriots
No matter it seems how prepared Houston might think they are, Tom Brady is more ready. The veteran field general was a mere mortal once throwing for 109 and no scores in a loss on January 3, 2010. Tom Brady averages 22 completions, 272 yards and nearly three touchdowns a game against Houston. Like last season, he finds ways to win when others fold up their tent and go home. Ask Atlanta if you don’t believe me.
The New England defense has held Houston in check recording 25 sacks along the way and holding Houston to just two 100 yard rushing games and one 100 yard receiving game. None of those in the last four meetings. Three of the last four meetings, the Texans have secured less than 300 yards of total offense. Half of the meetings have resulted in Houston achieving less then 300 yards of total offense. Former New England quarterback Brian Hoyer is the only Texans quarterback to not throw an interception otherwise Houston has tossed 15 in nine games.
Bill Belichek vs Assistants
Bill Belichek rarely loses to his former assistants. Only Al Groh at 2-0 and Nick Saban at 2-2 are .500 are better against the savant. And yes it’s that Nick Saban. It’s worth noting that Groh’s wins came before the Patriots became a dynasty. Even the combined geniuses of Houston Texans head coach Bill O’Brien and Romeo Crennel have been unable to solve the mastermind.
Houston will need every available star on both sides of the ball to bring their “A” game to have a chance. A win for Houston over the five time Superbowl champions starts the season off right and sends a notice that 2018 will be different.
For the Patriots, it’s all about Brady and Belichek. Together they are unstoppable. Just ask the former assistants.
Difference of opinion
This week O’Brien and Belichek fielded the same question from the media. The answers were as different as the way in which they fielded the question. One answer came in person, the other via conference call. The question referred to if there were too much information to decipher since both teams have played and scrimmaged each other.
O’Brien
“There’s a lot of information nowadays with all of the different – the EXOS system that we work off of and then other systems that we have – Russell Joyner and his crew, Timmy Brog and his crew, they give us a ton of information. I think you have to, as a coach, you have to do a great job of paring that information down so that your players can play fast. Going back to your original question, yeah, there’s certain things about the two teams that I’m sure we’re familiar with each other, obviously, certain players. We’ve played against certain players over the years many, many times. Some of us have coached those players. So, yeah, there’s certain things, but every year I do think it’s different. Every year, overall, in the big picture of things, teams are different. We’re different, they’re different and we have to understand that, too.”
Belichek
“I don’t know. It’s probably too much information. There’s quite a bit we know about this team, but there are so many unknowns. Coach (Bill) O’Brien, Coach (Romeo) Crennel, Coach (Brad) Seely all do a very good job of game planning and attacking weaknesses. Just because those things happen at a point in time a while ago, some of them are relevant, but there’s probably some of them that definitely aren’t relevant – trying to sort all of that out. In the end, we have more than enough information at this time to prepare for the game, but we know that there’s going to be things in the game that we haven’t prepared for and we’re going to have to handle during the game. That’s the way it always is opening day, but that’s really one of the challenges of this game and this team.”
Statements
For years, the Houston Texans have not been able to shake the moniker of failing to win the games that mean the most. Remember when they went to New England wearing lettermen jackets and a swagger? That didn’t turn out so well. Or how about the time they left too much time for Brady? A game in which not even DeShaun Watson could save them. They just can’t seem to put it all together. So this year it is game one and a win over the nearly invincible Patriots sets the tone for the season. The Texans are healthy. There is no excuse for failure.
New England opens with the Texans who have been projected to take their place at the next Superbowl celebration. That’s enough to put a chip on Tom Brady’s shoulder. A win over Houston tells the NFL you better find something better then this because we are not to be denied. The Patriots have the mentality of winning when it matters. They win when others say it is impossible. Belichek is a master at turning malcontents into team players. Brady is an ageless wonder who can’t spell failure. Once again ask Atlanta.
Mark it down. The winner of this game game represents the AFC at SuperBowl LIII.
Photo credit to NFL Streams Live via Flickr
