Open Thread: New England Patriots vs Houston Texans, Week 15

by tommasse on Dec 17, 2006 1:03 PM EST in New England Patriots News

Let's just hope for a cleaner game today, huh?

Go PATRIOTS!

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Inactives

Ben Watson, Laurence Maroney and Vince Wilfork. Not good. Hopefully, they're resting and New England can handle a pretty poor team without them.

by tommasse on Dec 17, 2006 1:05 PM EST reply actions

How does Gaffney drop that?!

Pats could have been up 7-0. They end up "four and out." Already, it's in the defenses hands.

by tommasse on Dec 17, 2006 1:07 PM EST reply actions

Mike Wright playing nose tackle for Wilfork

by tommasse on Dec 17, 2006 1:09 PM EST up reply actions

Another good opening defensive series

Houston ran the ball three straight times. Pretty odd. Maybe they figured New England would be weak in the middle with Wright in place of Wilfork.

by tommasse on Dec 17, 2006 1:11 PM EST reply actions

This is why Houston is 4-9

Fake punt around your own 40? Against one of the best run defenses in the league? Not very smart. Gary Kubiak will not be a head coach for long.

by tommasse on Dec 17, 2006 1:13 PM EST reply actions

Dillon looking particularly Dillon-esque

I bet Butch Sterns and Ron Borges said he would have an awful game today.

by tommasse on Dec 17, 2006 1:16 PM EST reply actions

TD Faulk; Let's see if coaches stick with run

By the way .. Where's Mario Williams?

by tommasse on Dec 17, 2006 1:17 PM EST reply actions

Now that I think of it

Since New England doesn't really have any receivers, they'll probably keep running for a while. At least until Houston slows them down.

by tommasse on Dec 17, 2006 1:20 PM EST up reply actions

What a great play by Seymour!

Excellent job just getting his hands up, and then good concentration to locate the batted ball and hauling it in.

Great field position. Far cry from last week.

And a key defensive turnover. Also encouraging to see.

by tommasse on Dec 17, 2006 1:24 PM EST reply actions

Not surprising: No replay on phantom penalty

On the bright side, New England gets points on the turnover (10 points on what is really two turnovers).

Also, Gostkowski looking better, more comfortable. We'll still have to see him under pressure.

by tommasse on Dec 17, 2006 1:26 PM EST reply actions

Peyton Manning has it all wrong

"They're saying 'moooovers.'"

Actually, Peyton, they're saying, "Loooooser."

Oh. "Cut that meat."

by tommasse on Dec 17, 2006 1:28 PM EST reply actions

Disgusting tackling again

You're not going far in the playoffs with tackling like that.

by tommasse on Dec 17, 2006 1:31 PM EST reply actions

Back to the studio. Back to the studio.

We're going to get lots of that. They have no replays to show. The broadcast team is terrible. They're going to be spending more time showing replays from other games than from this one.

by tommasse on Dec 17, 2006 1:33 PM EST reply actions

Houston can't run. Will have to throw

So New England will have to keep picking off Carr's passes. They can't tackle, so that's their only option.

by tommasse on Dec 17, 2006 1:34 PM EST reply actions

2nd TD for Faulk

Excellent execution on that screen. Patriots are up 17-0 just 11:29 into the first quarter. They have a 7:00 to 4:29 edge in time of possession.

by tommasse on Dec 17, 2006 1:37 PM EST reply actions

1st Q time of possession

Patriots 9:11, Texans 5:49.

by tommasse on Dec 17, 2006 1:46 PM EST reply actions

And I couldn't be happier. Effectively three turnovers (officially two) and almost four. Total defensive domination with the exception of one play of poor tackling. Offense moving the ball despite not having far to go. I hope the rest of the game is so uninteresting.

by tommasse on Dec 17, 2006 1:53 PM EST reply actions

Brady 9 of 13

Most of the incompletions are drops.

by tommasse on Dec 17, 2006 2:00 PM EST reply actions

20-0 .. not a bad start

by tommasse on Dec 17, 2006 2:00 PM EST reply actions

All action on Houston's end of the field

Except the opening series, which the Patriots began on their own 33.

by tommasse on Dec 17, 2006 2:07 PM EST reply actions

Hmmm ... only one penalty on New England

And nearly halfway through the 2nd quarter. That doesn't make the last couple weeks seem suspicious at all does it?

by tommasse on Dec 17, 2006 2:11 PM EST reply actions

A 19-yard rush and a 27-yard pass ealier

Houston has 81 yards (only 50 net).

Kevin Faulk has 17 rushing, 43 receiving and 13 returning. That's 73.

by tommasse on Dec 17, 2006 2:18 PM EST reply actions

At least Gaffney caught that one

Must be nice to make up for the earlier drop, especially against his former team.

by tommasse on Dec 17, 2006 2:24 PM EST reply actions

The worst of the worst

Pretty shaky officiating crew (though they're doing a pretty good job, really), a pretty poor broadcasting team. And I can't say much for the live stats group.

Whoever does performs those duties, this must be one of the worst crews. It's several minutes before NFL.com gets updated.

For big games, like Patriots-Bears, there were updates seconds after the completion of plays. Today, Brady was hitting Gaffney for 6 points, and NFL.com was just posting the play that led to the 2-minute warning. I had to wait about 4 minutes or more after the Texans last play on the last series to get Houston's total yards to compare to Faulk.

by tommasse on Dec 17, 2006 2:29 PM EST reply actions

Halftime stats

Time of possession: Patriots 18:02, Texans 11:58
Penalties: Patriots 2 called (1 assessed), 5 yards; Texans 4 called (3 assessed), 56 yards
Turnovers: Patriots 0, Texans 3 (plus a 4th-down failed conversion)

Brady: 11 of 17 for 89 yards, 2 TD (only 5 receivers)
Carr: 6 of 13 for 59 yards, 2 INT

Dillon: 11 carries, 37 yards
Faulk: 3 carries, 17 yards, 1 TD
Ron Dayne: 9 carries, 48 yards

Faulk: 1 catch, 43 yards, 1 TD
Reche Caldwell: 5 catches, 19 yards
Houston: 4 receivers with 1 catch each. Only receiver with more than one catch has 2 for 5 yards.

Bruschi: 3 solo tackles, 3 assists
Ty Warren: 3 solo, 1 assist
Asante Samuel: 3 solo
Tully Banta-Cain: 2 solo, 2 assists, 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble
Mike Vrabel: 2 solo, 2 assists
James Sanders: 2 solo, 1 INT
Rosevelt Colvin: 1 solo, 1 assist, 1 sack
Seymour: 1 solo, 1 assist, 1 INT

by tommasse on Dec 17, 2006 2:51 PM EST reply actions

NFL.com .. still 12:04 left in the 3rd Q

We've been at commercial following Dayne's TD for a minute or so already.

by tommasse on Dec 17, 2006 2:53 PM EST reply actions

They posted Dayne's TD

Just as Ellis Hobbs ran back the kickoff for a touchdown.

by tommasse on Dec 17, 2006 2:55 PM EST reply actions

I predicted 34-16

It's 34-7. That means Houston will need to kick 3 field goals and shut out New England the rest of the way. And the 3rd quarter just started.

by tommasse on Dec 17, 2006 2:57 PM EST reply actions

That pick of Mario Williams really paid off

Down 34-7, he tackled a backup fullback for a loss, forcing New England to punt. Pretty impressive.

by tommasse on Dec 17, 2006 3:11 PM EST reply actions

As bad as Carr's pass was ...

... the camera work was far, far worse. Thanks, CBS!

by tommasse on Dec 17, 2006 3:14 PM EST reply actions

Haven't been able...

to watch the game here in Jersey, that might be a good thing considering the Pats record in the three games I have been able to watch (cough, 0-3, cough). It sounds really nice, though. I wish they could play every crappy team on their schedule like this (i.e. kick the snot out of them, early and often...). Maybe they needed to get shut out in Miami last week, might light a fire under their asses. We all know how the season ended the last time the Pats were shut out...

by The JDP on Dec 17, 2006 3:14 PM EST reply actions

You're not missing much

But maybe that's a good thing (cough).

With any luck, you're not being subjected to these commercials for "Armed and Famous," but that's probably too much to hope for.

I don't know if they needed that loss last week, and it certainly won't help their pursuit of a top-two seed, but it may have had the effect you propose. Good theory.

by tommasse on Dec 17, 2006 3:25 PM EST up reply actions

Next week at Jacksonville....

will be the real test, as strange as that sounds with their having lost to Houston twice(?!?); I think the Pats remember who they are now though, and I wouldn't bet much against them in Jan/Feb...

by The JDP on Dec 17, 2006 3:46 PM EST up reply actions

Jaguars about to lose to Tennessee today too

That could be bad news. If Jacksonville still has a shot for the playoffs, they might play like a desperate team with nothing to lose. And down south, that really could be a major test.

by tommasse on Dec 17, 2006 3:48 PM EST up reply actions

Quick glance at the standings...

We ain't gonna win any tiebreakers (6-4 AFC record, head-to-head loss to Indy), so we are for all intents and purposes two games behind SD and BAL, and two behind Indy if they win Monday (not so sure about that, but they probably won't lose every game they have left, they're at HOU next week and home for Miami the week after); so I'm thinking we're locked into the number 4 seed, and the coaching staff would be smart to use next week's game as a playoff tune-up game against a JAX team that must win, and use the TEN game as basically a bye-week; keeping in mind the whole time that if JAX beats us, there's a good chance we'll host them in round one a couple of weeks later (are we gonna make round one match-ups against JAX a ritual here or what???)

by The JDP on Dec 17, 2006 4:00 PM EST up reply actions

Tennessee game (Week 17) no longer a 'gimme'

They're looking pretty good after beating Jacksonville. We'll have to see how things play out the rest of the day, but the Titans might still have a way outside shot at a Wild Card. We'll probably know by game time on Week 17, but I don't think they'll just lay down, regardless.

I don't really want to play either one of them, to be honest. But like you said, the Patriots are probably locked into the No. 4 seed, so all that matters is that they maintain their hold on the division. Then it's a matter of who they play in the first game, and we'll take it from there.

by tommasse on Dec 17, 2006 4:16 PM EST up reply actions

I mean...

use the Tenn. game as a bye-week, like literally; sit the starters (would that be insulting???). The way the past few seasons have gone, I'd let the backups get some serious playing time. It'll probably never happen, but I don't see any potential drawbacks here. I'd even let Matt Cassel play for three quarters or so, see what he can do...

by The JDP on Dec 17, 2006 4:22 PM EST up reply actions

Isn't that what they did last year?

In the Miami game. Starters played the first quarter. Worked out OK initially .. Pats demolished Jacksonville .. but then was the fiasco vs. Denver. Of course, as Belichick will tell you, "Last year was last year; this year is this year."

I don't know. I'm just saying. Y'know? We can certainly debate this lots more in the next two weeks.

by tommasse on Dec 17, 2006 4:32 PM EST up reply actions

F'in Denver...

I have to look it up, but I believe our all-time record vs. the Broncos is probably something like 2-98; if I pulled a Rip van Winkle next year and fell asleep for like fourteen years, and woke up to find out the 16-0 2021 Patriots lost the AFC championship at home to a 7-9 wild-card team, my first though would be "F'in Denver!!!"

We'll see what happens. I really do want to see how Matt Cassel plays in a meaningful game, though...

by The JDP on Dec 17, 2006 4:41 PM EST up reply actions

3rd Q ToP: Patriots 25:30, Texans 19:30

by tommasse on Dec 17, 2006 3:22 PM EST reply actions

Is 8 enough for Asante Samuel?

I really can't believe I just wrote that.

Anyway, that puts Samuel all alone in the league lead for most interceptions.

by tommasse on Dec 17, 2006 3:29 PM EST reply actions

Even more amazing...

considering Ty Law ain't shutting stuff down on the other side...

by The JDP on Dec 17, 2006 3:48 PM EST up reply actions

And two other defensive backs are out

With Rodney Harrison still sidelined and Eugene Wilson gone for the year. He won't get the credit he deserves, but it's great to see.

by tommasse on Dec 17, 2006 3:54 PM EST up reply actions

I wonder if they're trying to work Gostkowski

Not running up the score -- like Miami did going for 2 last week. Gostkowski getting in lots of kicks, just none from a great distance. "Confidence-builders" they call them. 40-7. Just hope for no injuries the last 12 minutes.

by tommasse on Dec 17, 2006 3:32 PM EST reply actions

ToP: Patriots 27:44, Texans 20:16

by tommasse on Dec 17, 2006 3:33 PM EST reply actions

Thankfully, starters are sitting

Many of the offensive starters are now on the sidelines. No point taking chances with injuries, and good opportunity to let the reserves get some experience. But somehow I remember saying that in the last game of the season last year. Nah. This is a different story.

by tommasse on Dec 17, 2006 3:47 PM EST reply actions

Starters sitting...

about time...

by The JDP on Dec 17, 2006 3:49 PM EST up reply actions

Kevin Faulk injured?

Michael Felger of the Boston Herald just reported during the 5th Quarter that Faulk had a major limp in the locker room following the game and did not talk to the media.

Certainly with the injury to Laurence Maroney, that's not good news. Faulk has been a key member of the offense for several years. He's always making a big play at a crucial juncture.

He had a fantastic game, and it would be a tremendous shame if he ends up getting hurt in a game that was over long before the clock indicated.

by tommasse on Dec 17, 2006 4:53 PM EST reply actions