A lot of people will point to the Texans as a classic case of peaking too early. After an 11-1 start, they finished 1-3 and dropped all the way down the 3rd seed. After a less than impressive win over the Bengals in the post-season, they lost convincingly in New England to the Patriots. However, [...]
The Patriots blew out the Texans in Foxborough a few weeks ago so they’ll definitely blow them out again right? Well that seems to be what everyone thinks as, in spite of this ridiculous spread, the public is all over the Patriots. How ridiculous is this spread? Well, two weeks ago in the Patriots’ last [...]
For analysis on Cincinnati click here For analysis on Houston click here As tempting as it is to go against Matt Schaub, whose team is reeling right now, especially since this is Matt Schaub’s first playoff start (quarterbacks are 5-13 ATS at home in their first playoff start since 2002), I’m going with the Texans. [...]
The Texans’ recent 1-3 stretch has a lot of people questioning them, but their struggles aren’t limited to that 4 games stretch. There were signs before, including near overtime losses to Detroit and Jacksonville. Since losing Brian Cushing against the Jets way back in week 5, they have been less than spectacular. They barely beat [...]
Houston Texans (12-3) at Indianapolis Colts (10-5) The Texans need this win to lock up not only the #1 seed, but also a first round bye. If they lose, they’ll need Denver or New England to lose as double digit favorites or they’ll be the #3 seed. The Colts, meanwhile, are locked into the #5 [...]
Last week: 4 (+0) Record: 12-3 Net points per drive: 0.43 (8th) DVOA: 9.7% (10th) Weighted DVOA: 2.5% (13th) Studs LG Wade Smith: Allowed 1 quarterback hit on 40 pass block snaps, run blocked for 29 yards on 5 attempts WR Andre Johnson: Caught 7 passes for 97 yards on 9 attempts on 35 pass [...]
Minnesota Vikings (8-6) at Houston Texans (12-2) The Vikings kept their playoff hopes alive last week, as they are one of many 8-6 teams in the NFC. They are long shot hopes, however. Not only do they not control their own destiny, their final 2 games are against Houston and Green Bay, two of the [...]
Last week: 4 (+0) Record: 12-2 Net points per drive: 0.56 (6th) DVOA: 13.3% (8th) Weighted DVOA: 8.4% (10th) Here’s why the AFC’s top-3 is so interesting. The Patriots have beaten the other two, but have the worst record of the trio and thus they won’t have home field. The Broncos have lost to the [...]
Indianapolis Colts (9-4) at Houston Texans (11-2) The Texans were calling last week’s game in New England their biggest game in franchise history and rightfully so. This is a very young franchise that has played just 2 playoff games in its history and going to New England as an 11-1 #1 seed in week 14 [...]
Last week: 3 (+0) Record: 11-2 Net points per drive: 0.55 (6th) DVOA: 15.1% (8th) Weighted DVOA: 13.6% (8th) The Texans can win out pretty easily because I don’t think the Colts are as good as their record and finish 14-2 and get the #1 seed (their other game is against Minnesota). That would probably [...]
Houston Texans (11-1) at New England Patriots (9-3) This is a huge game. The Texans, tied for best record in the NFL at 11-1, will be dogs for the 2nd time this season as they head to Foxboro to play the New England Patriots. The Texans covered in their first instance as dogs this season, [...]
Last week: 3 (+0) Record: 11-1 Net points per drive: 0.79 (3rd) DVOA: 18.6% (7th) Weighted DVOA: 16.4% (8th) Studs LT Duane Brown: Did not allow a pressure on 34 pass block snaps, run blocked for 2 yards on 1 attempt FS Glover Quin: Allowed 4 catches for 33 yards on 7 attempts, 1 interception, [...]
Houston Texans (10-1) at Tennessee Titans (4-7) Tennessee may be 4-7, which isn’t a terrible record, but they are a terrible team. Of their 7 losses, 5 have come by 21 or more points and only one of their wins came by more than a field goal. Because of this, they are -97 in points [...]
Last week: 1 (-2) Record: 10-1 Net points per drive: 0.76 (3rd) DVOA: 14.9% (8th) Weighted DVOA: 12.8% (8th) Tier 1: Contenders Studs RB Arian Foster: Rushed for 102 yards (35 after contact) and 2 touchdowns on 20 attempts, 1 broken tackle, caught 5 passes for 15 yards on 5 attempts LT Duane Brown: Allowed [...]
Last week: 1 (+0) Record: 9-1 They’re still the #1 team, but maybe only by default. I’m still not sold on any one team right now and maybe they’re just keeping this seat warm for the 49ers, who I’ll be sold on in a way I’m sold on no other if Kaepernick continues to start [...]
Houston Texans (9-1) at Detroit Lions (5-5) Every year the Lions have a Thanksgiving home game and every year they struggle. They’ve covered just once in their last 9 Thanksgiving home games. Even last year when they were good and made the playoffs for the first time in a decade, they didn’t play well on [...]
Jacksonville Jaguars (1-8) at Houston Texans (8-1) This week, when the Jacksonville Jaguars go to Houston to play the Texans it will be the latest a 1-win team has played a 1-loss team since 1990, when the Patriots played the Bills, also during week 11, How long ago was that? Well, here’s a clue. The [...]
Last week: 2 (+1) Record: 8-1 I guess the Texans move into the #1 spot at Chicago’s expense with their win over them, but you have to wonder what the outcome would have been had Cutler not gotten hurt (he threw an interception on a promising drive immediately after suffering that concussion). It’s a shame [...]
Houston Texans (7-1) at Chicago Bears (7-1) I’ve called Chicago the best team in the NFL on several occasions. It’s close, but they are the team I’d least want to play right now. Atlanta may be undefeated, but they’ve had a very easy schedule and aren’t blowing guys out like the Bears are, winning 5 [...]
Last week: 2 (+0) The Texans didn’t put much effort into their game against the Bills, though they still won by 12, so I’m not going to put much effort into this write up. They’ll win the AFC’s top seed with ease regardless of what happens. They really only play 2 teams with close to [...]
Buffalo Bills (3-4) at Houston Texans (6-1) Despite Houston’s embarrassing loss to the Packers on Sunday Night a few weeks ago, they still rank 2nd in the league in points differential at +88. Among teams that have already had their bye, they rank 1st. Only New England, who is on bye this week and who [...]
Last week: 2 (+0) Record: 6-1 On bye.
Last week: 2 (+0) Record: 6-1 I thought about moving Houston back up into the #1 spot, but let’s see how good the Ravens actually are first. If they’re as bad as the Texans made them look, then that’s not as impressive of a win and the Texans’ struggles with the only good NFC team [...]
Baltimore Ravens (5-1) at Houston Texans (5-1) This is a very interesting game for a number of reasons. The most obvious is Baltimore’s injuries. This line was at -4 a week ago, but because of Baltimore’s injuries, it’s shifted 3 points, even though Baltimore won and Houston got blown out at home. In spite of [...]
Last week: 1 (-1) Record: 5-1 Like I said, Atlanta might be better than Houston, but I needed an AFC representative in the top-2. Houston didn’t show up on Sunday Night Football. It happens to everyone. Everyone is allowed 1. You’d think they’d want to make a statement against the Packers on national TV, but [...]