Houston Texans

’m off hating them for all their “winning.”(13-4) Baltimore Ravens 20
(11-7) Houston Texans 13

This was one of those “ugly but thrilling” kinds of performances, with plenty of mediocre action to be found. Certainly Texan Jacoby Jones had his issues (that fumble in the first was costly indeed), but the death threats we’ve been hearing about is utterly ridiculous. The dude totally sucked yesterday, I’ll give you that. But it wasn’t bad enough to warrant that kind of reaction. Meanwhile, Houston’s defense managed to keep it closer than it should have been, coming up with a huge goal line stand in the third quarter.  They even got help from Arian Foster, whose 132 yards is the equivalent of running “all over” the Ravens, whose run defense is historically stellar.

Continue reading "The Final Drive: 2012 Divisional Round"

that won’t stop me from writing another edition of The Opening Drive! 

(11-6) Houston Texans at
(12-4) Baltimore Ravens
1:00 PM ET, CBS

After putting down the Bengals last week, the Texans stay in the AFC North but get a serious upgrade in competition. T.J. Yates hasn’t exactly been lighting up the scoreboard but he’s gotten by due to a fantastic Houston rushing attack behind a great offensive line that clears holes for Arian Foster. To beat Baltimore though, Yates will need more of those deep throws to Andre Johnson to pull the defense away from the line of scrimmage. The Ravens secondary has grown during the year, but they’re still not totally battle-tested. Baltimore will surely be gearing up to stop the run before all else. That rookie QB is going to have to stand up to a pass rush that includes Haloti Ngata and Terrell Suggs. Have fun putting up anything more than 13-17 points on that T.J.

Continue reading "The Opening Drive: 2012 Divisional Sunday"

I’m still appalled. Let’s just get The Final Drive started.(11-6) Houston Texans 31
(9-8) Cincinnati Bengals 10

The first game of the weekend started off awfully sloppy, with plenty of penalties and “jitters” as described by Nessler and Mayock. As the game drew on though, the Texans clearly established themselves as the better team by man-handling Cincy. Rookie lineman J.J Watt, who has shown an inherent talent and awareness to deflect passes at the line of scrimmage made the play of a game by boomeranging Dalton in the second quarter. Watt timed his jump perfectly and made the catch and rambled 29 yards to paydirt. Then he sacked Dalton to end the first half as the Bengals were driving. It was hilarious afterwards to see Dalton with the “Why didn’t you tell me that lineman wasn’t actually fat? I never would have thrown it his way had I known” face. I blame the scouts on that one. The Bengals performance could be encapsulated with their second half opening drive: they were stopped on second down for a loss, then flagged for 12 men in the huddle, then Dalton wasted a time-out as he couldn’t hear the play-call in Reliant’s noise. Those wheels came off. Missed chances to take away the ball from Houston, poor tackling on defense allowed Houston to let Arian Foster loose and control to flow of the game. T.J. Yates never had to make a big play, so the Texans got the win.

Continue reading "The Final Drive: 2012 Wildcard Weekend"

et’s just get right to these games, shall we?

(9-7) Cincinnati Bengals at
(10-6) Houston Texans
4:30 PM ET, NBC

As has become tradition in the NFL, the opening game of the Wildcard round is sorta… crappy. The Bengals are a slightly above average team that defied their lowly preseason expectations. Andy Dalton started strong as a rookie, but his production has certainly fallen off in recent weeks. A.J. Green will be healthy enough to make a difference, but I don’t think Dalton has enough developed talent around him to light up the scoreboard. Cedric Benson is a workhorse running back, but he’s never been explosive. Cincy’s offense is decent, but I’d give the edge to Houston’s defense in that match-up. They’re fast and aggressive and can slow down the Bengals enough to give their own rookie quarterback a chance.

Continue reading "Joe's 2012 Gameday Preview: Wildcard Saturday"

No need to worry, because the Final Drive starts right now!(2-13) Indianapolis Colts 19
(10-5) Houston Texans 16

Indy… what are you doing??? After all the speculation, you could single-handedly win yourself out of a franchise quarterback. Knock it off. (Or play more scrubs.) To Houston, I say congratulations. You’re in the playoffs. Now get ready to go home before anyone else.(6-9) Buffalo Bills 40

Continue reading "The Final Drive: Week 16, 2011"

ing nine wins separate Thursday Night Football’s combatants tonight as the AFC South Champion Houston Texans travel to Lucas Oil Stadium to take on the finally-not-winless Colts. Will this be a game… or a slaughter?

Continue reading "Joe's 2011 Thursday Night Preview: Texans at Colts"

tated, why not get the full scoop on week 14’s heart-stopping action? 

(10-3) Houston Texans 20
(7-6) Cincinnati Bengals 19

So maybe the Texans aren’t absolutely screwed with T.J. Yates at quarterback. Who knew? They probably won’t make a lot of noise in the playoffs depending on the seeding, but they should stay competitive. Unfortunately for Cincy, there may be too many “respectable losses” on their record.(10-3) New Orleans Saints 22

Continue reading "The Final Drive: Week 14, 2011"

Plenty of options for “Trap of the Week.” 
(9-3) Houston Texans at
(7-5) Cincinnati Bengals

Houston’s been running along surprisingly smoothly since the loss of Matt’s Schaub and Leinart. However, T.J. Yates won’t have the home crown behind him as he takes on a desperate Bengal squad this week. I’m not sure the Texans will have enough success on the ground to make up for Andre Johnson’s absence. 

Continue reading "The Opening Drive: Week 14, 2011"

Green for the entire game.(7-4) Atlanta Falcons at
(8-3) Houston Texans

Uh… who’s Houston starting at quarterback again? T.J. Yates? …It would be REALLY hard for me not to take Atlanta here. I’m not saying Yates is awful, but first starts are hardly ever stand-out performances. The Falcons are quietly winning but need a noisemaker for anyone to start taking them seriously.(11-0) Green Bay Packers at

Continue reading "The Opening Drive: Week 13, 2011"

, but that wasn’t enough for the Bills to avoid dropping their fourth straight.

(8-3) Houston Texans 20
(3-8) Jacksonville Jaguars 13

I don’t care so much about this result, since the Jags are pretty terrible. But Matt Leinart broke his collarbone, effectively ending his season and leaving T.J. Yates in charge of this playoff-bound squad. That has to be a frightening thought for Texan fans. I was really looking forward to Leinart and his porn’ ‘stache.

Continue reading "The Final Drive: Week 12, 2011"

This might (and probably should) be Andy Reid’s last year in charge.

(7-3) Houston Texans 37
(4-5) Tampa Bay Buccaneers 9

I was going to write about how well the Texans have looked and how they are primed to be a possible sleeper for a bye week. That was until I read the news about Matt Schaub being done for the year. Now Matt Leinart is in charge. The Texans just went from a first round bye to a first round out.(3-6) Seattle Seahawks 22

Continue reading "The Final Drive: Week 10, 2011"

they don’t get beat by 55 points, consider it a win.(2-5) Jacksonville Jaguars at
(4-3) Houston Texans

Was the Jaguars’ win over the Ravens a stepping stone to something greater? Their offense should have an easier time against the Texans this week, but it might not be enough to combat Matt Schaub, who’s been rolling even without Andre Johnson. (3-3) Washington Redskins at

Continue reading "The Opening Drive, Week 8, 2011"

w and Matthew Stafford is “day to day” with ankle and knee injuries? Zoinks Scoob.(4-3) Houston Texans 41
(3-3) Tennessee Titans 7

Yeah… Chris Johnson is hot garbage right now. He’s still dancing around like he’s at a nightclub during the lock-out. Without him, the Titans are also hot garbage, leaving Houston at the top of the division be default.

Continue reading "The Final Drive: Week 7, 2011"

So that Falcons D has to think about covering Calvin Johnson. It’s a good idea.(3-3) Houston Texans at
(3-2) Tennessee Titans

These two teams are lining up to take the AFC South crown with little to no resistance from the rest of their division. This game could go a long way in establishing who emerges as the front-runner in a mediocre division.(1-4) Denver Broncos at

Continue reading "The Opening Drive, Week 7, 2011"

(3-2) Houston Texans at
(3-1) Baltimore Ravens

Houston gets another chance to prove itself, this time against the best defense in the NFL. Matt Schaub’s penchant for not coming through in the clutch will probably rear its balding head once again. I see at least one Raven pick-six in this one.(2-2) Dallas Cowboys at

Continue reading "The Opening Drive: Week 6, 2011"

rofessional winning streak.       (3-2) Oakland Raiders 25
(3-2) Houston Texans 20

It wasn’t an overly pretty win, but then again, the Raiders never really fit that description. Getting two interceptions off Matt Schaub (including one on the final play of the game) kept the Raiders ahead on the day after their longtime owner Al Davis passed away. It was a great emotional win for the Raiders. For Houston though, it drops them down to earth and showcases the troubles they’ll face without Andre Johnson.

Continue reading "The Final Drive: Week 5, 2011"

(2-2) Oakland Raiders at
(3-1) Houston Texans

After the devastating loss of owner Al Davis, I expect nothing less than a rallying effort from the Raiders in Houston. Their secondary is going to have issues defending Matt Schaub and that Texan air assault, but if their running game can keep Houston’s offense on the sidelines, they’ve got a shot.(3-1) Tampa Bay Buccaneers at

Continue reading "The Opening Drive: Week 5, 2011"

(3-1) Houston Texans 17
(2-2) Pittsburgh Steelers 10

I wouldn’t have been sure the Texans would have been able to stave off the Steelers in a close game, but these Steelers are clearly not the same as we’ve seen in years past. Ditto for the Texans.  Houston will likely continue aggravating and confusing experts everywhere in the next few weeks.

Continue reading "The Final Drive: Week 4, 2011"

I’m betting on the Vikes.(2-1) Pittsburgh Steelers at
(2-1) Houston Texans

I’m… not sure what’ll happen here. The Pittsburgh run defense has been…crappy this season? That means the returning (and hopefully finally healthy) Arian Foster could be in for a superb day getting hand-offs from Matt Schaub. I’m still not on the Texans bandwagon, but the Steelers are vulnerable and inconsistent. (2-1) San Francisco 49ers at

Continue reading "The Opening Drive: Week 4, 2011"

Let’s get right into The Final Drive!

(2-1) New Orleans Saints 40
(2-1) Houston Texans 33 

So… what happened to that vastly improved Texan defense? I suppose last year they would have given up 54 points? Whatever the case, losing to Drew Brees shouldn’t be counted too heavily against them.

Continue reading "The Final Drive: Week 3, 2011"

Let’s start The Opening Drive!

(2-0) Houston Texans at
(1-1) New Orleans Saints

Arian Foster’s going to be sitting this one out, so but the Texans’ running attack won’t miss as much of a step as you would think. Though to be frank, I’d be shocked if there’s more than 15o yards rushing between these two offenses. What would be the point? If you want aerial assaults, this is the game for you. I can’t believe in Houston yet… but I might start feeling differently if they can take it to the Saints on the home turf.(1-1) New York Giants at

Continue reading "The Opening Drive: Week 3, 2011"

ooks like the Steelers got soft after getting all that money.

AP Photos  

(1-0) Houston Texans 34
(0-1) Indianapolis Colts 7

Yeah, I knew they would be awful, but I thought that the Colts would be slightly better than this. I mean, there is some legitimate talent on that team… isn’t there?(1-0) Washington Redskins 28

Continue reading "The Final Drive: Week 1, 2011"

   Indianapolis Colts at
(0-0)          Houston Texans

This could be worth watching just to see if Kerry Collins’ legs fall off. Otherwise the Colts should get smoked.(0-0)          Dallas Cowboys at

Continue reading "The Opening Drive: Week 1, 2011"

h.
2010 Record: 8-8
2011 Prediction: 5-11

That's quarterback hair, baby. 

Houston Texans

I still don’t believe in the Texans. That being said, there’s no one else to take this division if Peyton Manning can’t play most of the season. They’re the winners by default. They ridiculously underachieved in 2010, playing defense that couldn’t possibly get any worse. Matt Schaub is a fantastic fantasy quarterback, but I don’t feel he’s quite reached that elite status. Andre Johnson is a beast on the outside, but the Texans still don’t have a great #2 to take the pressure off him. If tight end Owen Daniels stays healthy, it could alleviate most of those concerns. Speaking of concerns, Arian Foster may be bothered by his hamstring injury if he gets rushed back onto the field. He can sit a week or two, but then the Texans need to stake their claim. With Wade Philips overhauling the defense into a 3-4 scheme, I expect a vast improvement. Drafting defensive end J.J. Watt helps fortify the front three, backed up by Connor Barwin and Brian Cushing. Where Houston made the most important signings were in the secondary, adding former stand-out Bengal corner Jonathan Joseph and safety Danieal Manning. It won’t completely solve their pass coverage problems, but it’s a great first step. I wanted to put them at 9-7, but it simply has to be their year. (Though I will say now that NO ONE should be surprised if they fall flat on their face. Again.)

Continue reading "Joe's 2011 NFL Season Preview: The AFC South"

efense needs to get big and physical in the middle if they’re going to continue to compete.

Houston Texans

My prediction: 9-7
What actually happened: 6-10
My result: ***

I never bought into the Texans being the “dark horse” of the AFC (as they seem to be anointed every year), but I didn’t think they’d struggle so mightily. Their defense McBlows.

Continue reading "How Much I Effed Up: The 2010 AFC Edition"

ut a loss would put Tom Coughlin squarely on the hot seat.(8-7) Jacksonville Jaguars at
(5-10) Houston Texans

No David Garrard or Maurice Jones-Drew? Then I can’t see the Jaguars getting this win. Can’t buy it.(7-8) St. Louis Rams at

Continue reading "Joe's 2010 NFL Opening Drive: Week 17"

uo;m all lathered up and ready for some football! Let’s get right into the action.

(5-6) Houston Texans at
(7-4) Philadelphia Eagles

At 5-6 the Texans haven’t lived up to their preseason hype. In a strenuous AFC South the Texans still have a fighting chance to regain the division lead but they absolutely need a win tonight to do it. Luckily for the hot-seated Gary Kubiak his All-Pro wide-out Andre Johnson wasn’t suspended for his fight over the weekend. Eagles corner Asante Samuel is out tonight, putting Philly's D in a tough spot. Samuel would likely have covered Johnson for most of the game. Even if he were completely healthy, Samuel can’t consistently win over Johnson, so there's no one Eagle corner that can man him up. Safety help is a requirement. Matt Schaub has to expose the soft Eagle secondary on every possible play.

Continue reading "Joe's Thursday Night Quickie: Texans at Eagles"

If Eli doesn’t commit turnovers, the Giants can beat anyone.

(5-6) Houston Texans 20
(5-6) Tennessee Titans 0

I don’t care about the game. What I do care about is the wicked awesome fight in the fourth quarter between professional annoyance Cortland Finnegan (the NFL’s Ron Artest) and Andre Johnson. Johnson simply wailed on Finnegan with three solid punches. They only got fined $25,000 each however, a weaker penalty than I would have liked. While I can appreciate their tenacity, I don’t believe the NFL wants street fights erupting on the field.

Continue reading "Joe's Final Drive: Week 12"

Next week? I want to see Favre tears.

Getty Images

(8-2) New York Jets 30
(4-6) Houston Texans 27

Okay, how lucky/good are these Jets? I can’t help but think they wouldn’t have been in the position for a game-winning drive if their talkative defense actually slowed down an opponent every once in a while. I said it. Their defense? Not so stellar. Their complete lack of an outside pass rusher has forced them to blitz, putting more pressure on their corners. (Who are pretty good.) Still, 8-2 in that division means quite a bit.

Continue reading "Joe's Final Drive: Week 11"

It's just sad when they go down.

(5-4) Jacksonville Jaguars 31
(4-5) Houston Texans 24

Houston is disappointing, but Jacksonville is a shocker. That final hail mary throw was nuts, but it doesn't take anything away from a great Jaguars win. More significantly, how far will the Texans fall? They're all but out of the AFC South race, so Gary Kubiak's job has to be in jeopardy.

Continue reading "Joe's NFL Final Drive: Week 10"

so there's that. Good luck!

(4-4) Houston Texans at
(4-4) Jacksonville Jaguars

As tight as the AFC South race is, the loser of this contest is going to have an uphill battle getting into the playoffs. They'll have to jump over at least two teams to do it. Houston's pass defense is even crappier than we thought going into the season, so David Garrard could light them up through the air... or he could complete 50% of his passes and toss a pick. Who knows? This game should at least have consistent scoring, as neither defense is all that impressive.

Continue reading "Joe's 2010 NFL Opening Drive: Week 10"

howed up to play, saving Brad Childress' job for the week.

(4-5) San Diego Chargers 29
(4-4) Houston Texans 23

Have the Chargers started their annual rise from the proverbial ashes? Perhaps. Does it really matter? Methinks not. Without several weapons on the field, Philip Rivers still made the Houston defense look pathetic by tossing four touchdowns. And where's the "dark horse" Texans we're supposed to be seeing this season? Until they do it, I don't believe in this team. They're a mediocre version of the Colts. And without Peyton Manning, you can't be the Colts.

Continue reading "Joe's Final Drive: Week 9"

etting more than 17 points, which is the recipe for a win.

(3-5) San Diego Chargers at
(4-3) Houston Texans

No Gates, Floyd or Nanee means Philip Rivers has to do it all on his own today. That spells trouble against a Houston squad that must be fuming after being overwhelmed by Indianapolis on national television Monday night. Andre Johnson's going to gut it out again today, but he won't be very effective. Still, Schaub and the Texans can and should defend their turf.

Continue reading "Joe's 2010 NFL Opening Drive: Week 9"

(5-2) Indianapolis Colts 30
(4-3) Houston Texans 17

Peyton Manning. Crusher o f Dreams. Destroyer of Worlds. After faltering in week one against the Texans, the Colts came out and made a statement on Monday night, jumping out to an early lead. When you give Peyton Manning a lead, he's unbeatable. Houston's not out of the playoff mix yet, but this loss puts them behind Indy and Tennessee in the division. Not the best of situations.

Continue reading "Joe's Final Drive: Week 8"

If not, Big Ben could leave Louisiana with a  big win.

(4-2) Houston Texans at
(4-2) Indianapolis Colts

It's high-flying time in Indy Monday night as these two division rivals finish up their regular season series. Everyone has mentioned how the Texans are built to take on the Colts, but that's not how it looks lately. Houston has been giving up passing yards by the truckload and you know Peyton Manning will expose that secondary at every possible instance. Colts need this win and they should get it.

Continue reading "Joe's 2010 NFL Opening Drive: Week 8"

curate and poised in the pocket. Something to look forward to in the Cleveland future?

(4-2) Houston Texans 35
(3-2) Kansas City Chiefs 31

Are either one of these teams for real? The Texans always fall behind early thanks to a poor defense and the Chiefs always blow leads late thanks to a inconsistent offense. Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson woke up in the fourth, leading the Texans to 21 points in the quarter. Houston stays ahead in their division with the win and the Chiefs aren't adversely affected by the loss. At least Matt Cassel had a much better overall game than we had seen from him lately.

Continue reading "Joe's Final Drive: Week 6"

rew Brees if he's to lead his team to victory on the road.

(3-1) Kansas City Chiefs at
(3-2) Houston Texans

I wanted to discuss this game. I really did. I just don't care about either of these teams. Houston has a horrific defense and KC has issues at the quarterback position. It should be a close, ugly game unless Romeo Crennel can't find a way to reign in that Texan offense.

Continue reading "Joe's 2010 NFL Opening Drive: Week 6"

Ouch.

(3-2) New York Giants 34
(3-2) Houston Texans 10

After dropping to the depths, the New York Giants have rebounded to stake their claim on the NFC East with an impressive win over the intimidating Texans. They built on their performance against the Bears by shutting down Matt Schaub and the Houston offense. For all the criticism Tom Coughlin received during their tough start, he should be getting a lot of credit now. His team has settled down and has tightened the clamps on defense.

Continue reading "Joe's Final Drive: Week 5"

(2-2) New York Giants at
(3-1) Houston Texans

A week after taking advantage of a weak Chicago offensive line, the Giants are in Houston to match-up with the high-powered Texans. Matt Schaub will take a hit or two, but don't expect another 10-sack performance by the defense though. Andre Johnson is expected to start today, but the Giant are lucky he's not 100%, otherwise I'd give this game to the Texans without question. If Aryan Foster can explode like he did last week, the Giants are in for a rough afternoon.

Continue reading "Joe's 2010 NFL Opening Drive: Week 5"

I mean, someone's knocking...

(1-2) Dallas Cowboys 27
(2-1) Houston Texans 13

Either Houston isn't as good as everyone thought (though I wasn't buying it completely) or Dallas doesn't completely suck. It's likely a bit of both, but Dallas came out and  tore apart the Texan's pass defense. They ran enough to keep the defense honest, but Tony Romo's 284 yards and 2 TD's weere the story. A rare Roy Williams sighting didn't hurt either. He'll have to step-up when teams are giving extra coverage to Miles Austin. Matt Schaub's two interceptions were an oddity. I'd bet this team is back on track next week against Oakland. Just a hunch.

Continue reading "Joe's Final Drive: Week 3"

and the Buccaneer offense and drop them from the undefeateds.

(0-2) Dallas Cowboys at
(2-0) Houston Texans

It's time for a Texas Take-down! A panic-stricken Cowboy squad can't afford to turn the ball over and make mistakes against this Texan offense. Offensive coordinator Jason Garrett may overreact and force the run this week, but it's pretty obvious to me that he should pass the ball against Houston's defense, which has given up more than 400 yards passing in each of their first two games. Look out in Cowboy-land if they start 0-3. My popcorn is ready.

Continue reading "Joe's NFL Opening Drive: Week 3"

My 6-10 prediction is looking awfully optimistic right now.

(2-0) Houston Texans 30
(1-1) Washington Redskins 27

I'm guessing Donovan McNabb remembered how overtime worked this time around. That didn't help his Redskins, who let the Texans come back from 17 down in the third quarter to get their second win. Matt Schaub's 497 yards passing would sound insane in a video game, making his case to belong in the second tier of NFL quarterbacks. Following their impressive outing against the Cowboys, the Redskins defense crumbled apart against Houston. There's no excuse for that.

Continue reading "Joe's Final Drive: Week 2"

yet. (1-0) Houston Texans at
(0-1) Washington Redskins After essentially playing their Super Bowl in week one, are the Texans in for a let-down? If they can put up a mere 17 points, I doubt it. The 'Skins just don't have the firepower to keep up with them and the Texan offense is certainly more on-track if not simply better than the Cowboys'. Washington's defense has to play a perfect game in order to make up for any offensive shortcomings, but if McNabb can find his groove in Shanahan's system then we could have ourselves a fun one in DC. (1-0) New England Patriots at(0-1) New York Jets Okay, who else enjoyed the Jets getting the trash-talk kicked out of them last week? I loved it. Now they host the division rival Patriots who just dominated the similarly-styled Bengals in the first half of their opener. Tom Brady knows this Jets defense and will find Wes Welker when in trouble, but the match-up to watch is obviously corner Darrelle Revis on receiver Randy Moss. If Moss is to stay in NE or get a new contract in the offseason he needs to play big in games like these. If Revis isn't exclusively on Moss throughout the day, then you know his hamstring is bothering him significantly. Maybe that's why you should come to training camp? Oh, and if Mark Sanchez stinks for a second straight week the Jets have NO shot of beating the Pats. (1-0) Jacksonville Jaguars at

Continue reading "Joe's NFL Opening Drive: Week 2"

That's hard to accomplish. Moving on...

(1-0) Houston Texans 34
(0-1) Indianapolis Colts 24 

The shocker of the weekend. While I'm not convinced at all that this means the Texans can take the division, it's nice for them to finally beat a team they've played twice a year since the franchise began. Other teams can learn from their strategy too. Just dominate the Colts with the run and you have a chance. Getting into a shootout with Peyton Manning is not advised. (I mean, the guy/robot did throw for 433 yards and 3 touchdowns.)

Continue reading "Joe's Final Drive: Week 1"

at his team scores touchdowns and doesn't just settle for field goals.

Indianapolis Colts at
Houston Texans

I almost didn't talk about this game. Until the Texans actually win a game against the Colts, it's never going to be "their year." As good as the Texan offense is, the Colts still have Peyton Manning. In weeks one through twelve, that's as close to an automatic win as you get.

Continue reading "Joe's NFL Opening Drive: Week 1"

Adding a veteran wide-out in free agency would have been a huge help, but what do I know?

Houston Texans

For the past few years the pundits and experts have picked the Houston Texans as their pre-season "dark horse" in the AFC playoff race and every year the Texans have fallen short of those predictions. Matt Schaub took a giant leap forward in '09, playing 16 games and finally proving his durability and his worthiness of his contract. With 29 touchdowns, Schaub has the ability to lead a high-powered Texan offense that just re-upped with Andre Johnson, arguably the best receiver in the NFL. They drafted running back Ben Tate out of Auburn to provide a change of pace from lead back Steve Slaton, who only managed 437 yards last season. A healthy Owen Daniels at tight end means the Texan offense will be a force to be reckoned with.

Continue reading "Joe's 2010 NFL Season Preview: AFC South"

We'll see how that plays out in two weeks.

(9-7) Houston Texans 34 
(10-6) New England Patriots 27

The biggest injury of the weekend is clearly the loss of Wes Welker for the Pats. For those of you screaming that Belichick shouldn't have been playing his starters, Welker was injured on the first drive of the game without being contacted. It could have happened warming up. His loss will leave QB Tom Brady without his favorite receiver and plenty of double coverage for Randy Moss. For the Texans, congratulations are due for the first winning season in franchise history, but they couldn't sneak into the playoffs. Regardless, QB Matt Schaub, who led the league in passing yards, gives them hope for the immediate future.

Continue reading "Joe's Final Drive: Week 17"

Maybe you shouldn't have lost five straight?

(10-5) New England Patriots at (8-7) Houston Texans

If the Texans are going to make their first ever playoffs, they need losses from two of the following three teams: the Jets, Ravens, or Broncos. Matt Schaub has taken great strides to become a top signal-caller this season and he'll be staring at a weak New England secondary today.  The real question is how long the Patriots will feel like playing. Tom Brady says he expects to play the entire game, but I'm not convinced. Perhaps a half, but anything beyond that would be foolish. Bill Belichick's Pats aren't playing for anything other than the 3 or 4 seed, so unless they prefer to play San Diego I don't envision more than a half for Brady, Welker and Moss. Houston should get the win unless Belichick has a second coach-fart this season. 

Continue reading "Joe's Opening Drive: Week 17"

themselves too big a hole of which to climb out.

 
Was it too little too late?

(8-7) Houston Texans 27
(7-8) Miami Dolphins 20

Jumping out to a 27-3 first half lead, the Texans dropped their guard and let the Dolphins rally in the second half. Chad Henne went for over 300 yards passing, but he doesn't have enough weapons to overcome such a deficit. Even if the Texans don't make the playoffs, they have a chance for the first winning record in franchise history. 

Continue reading "Joe's Final Drive: Week 16"

On Heinz Field, I'll give a slight edge to Pittsburgh.

(7-7) Houston Texans at (7-7) Miami Dolphins

With six 7-7 teams hoping to get a shot at two wildcard slots, this contest will definitely crush one team's playoff dreams. Houston hasn't had a winning season in their short franchise history, much less a playoff berth. Needless to say, the Texans have plenty to play for. (As does their coach, who will likely not return if one of those two goals are not met.) Miami won't catch New England to repeat as AFC East champs, but they could make noise in the playoffs if they can claw their way in. Chad Henne gives them hope for the future as well as the present. I have an urge to take the Texans for the win.

Continue reading "Joe's Opening Drive: Week 16"

I don’t expect it will be close for long.

Indianapolis Colts (10-0) at Houston Texans (5-5)

It may not important for the Colts, but this game is paramount for any chance of a Texans appearance in the postseason. With Jacksonville climbing past them last weekend, Gary Kubiak’s squad is losing pace in the AFC wild card race. Standing in their way is Peyton Manning: Crusher of Dreams, Destroyer of Worlds.

Continue reading "Joe's Opening Drive: week 12"

(5-3) Houston Texans at (7-0) Indianapolis Colts

This is without question the best Texans squad in the franchise’s short history. With a solid pass rush and effective ground attack, the Texans are designed to beat the Colts. Still, I’ll believe they can beat them in Indy when I see it, not before. Peyton Manning is at the top of the NFL quarterback heap yet again, but he’ll need his defense to hold up down the stretch to make it to another Super Bowl. Now that former defensive player of the year and safety Bob Sanders is out for the season with a torn biceps, that D won’t have any room for mistakes.

Continue reading "Joe's Opening Drive: Week 9"

Troy Polamalu is all the difference in the Pittsburgh D.

Great shot.  

(4-3) Houston Texans 24
(3-3) San Francisco 49ers 21 

Well, they almost blew it, but the Texans held onto the victory to get over .500 this season. In an AFC south with the inconsistent Jaguars and winless Titans, the Texans could make a strong showing for second and a winning record. Meanwhile, over in San Fran, the Niners have lost three straight. They benched Shaun Hill at halftime and brought in former number one pick Alex Smith, who tossed three TD’s to Vernon Davis (who is a beast) to close the gap. Smith will start next week. Also a storyline was Michael Crabtree’s insertion into the starting line-up, catching five passes for 56 yards. It may not sound like a lot, but for someone that has only been with the team a few weeks, it’s impressive.

Continue reading "Joe's Final Drive: Week 7"

oot injury, this has potential to turn into a shoot-out. 

(3-2) San Francisco 49ers at (3-3) Houston Texans 

Houston could turn some heads if their second straight victory comes at the expense of the hard-nosed Niners. Singletary’s group should be fuming after their horrid loss to the Falcons two weeks ago. Still, I can’t get too excited about these teams. Both have too many issues to be legitimate contenders. 

Continue reading "Joe's Opening Drive: Week 7"

The Final Drive of week six starts right now! 

(3-3) Houston Texans 28
(4-2) Cincinnati Bengals 17 

Every once in a while, Houston goes ballistic and puts up mega-points. Matt Schaub once again proves he’s a fantastic fantasy QB… five games a season. The Bengals aren’t an elite team, so you had to expect a letdown eventually after winning four straight. Now they dropped back with Pittsburgh, who are also 4-2, but technically behind since the Bengals beat them head-to-head.  

Continue reading "Joe's Final Drive: Week 6"

his is the season he can get back on track as being one of the best QB’s in football.

(1-1) Houston Texans    31
(0-2) Tennessee Titans 24

I told you they needed this game, but that didn’t stop the Titans from giving up 357 yards passing and 4 touchdowns to Matt Schaub. After holding down the Steeler offense, Tennessee’s defense looked lost without Albert Haynesworth. Even Chris Johnson’s near 300 yards of offense couldn’t save them. Texans could be on the rise, but give it a week or two, then pass judgment.

Continue reading "Joe's Final Drive: Week 2"

Expect heavy doses of both teams’ running attacks.

Just stay down Jake.

Houston Texans (0-1) at Tennessee Titans (0-1)

In this AFC South contest, the Titans may need a win more than any team this week. The Texans are used to being mediocre, but Jeff Fisher’s squad is coming off a season with a 13-0 start. Falling to 0-2 behind the Texans and Colts would dig them a shallow but ugly hole.

Continue reading "Joe's Opening Drive: Week 2"

How long can you go to him?

New York Jets 24, Houston Texans 7

Mark Sanchez sure didn’t seem like a rookie did he? Crisp passes and poise in the pocket give Jets faithful reason to be hopeful for the future and present. That intimidating defense and balanced rushing attack won’t hurt either.

Continue reading "Joe's Final Drive: Week 1"

Julius Peppers in a contract year, look for double-digit sacks from the lineman.

New York Jets at Houston Texans

The storyline for the Jets is simple. They have a rookie head coach in Rex Ryan and they’re starting a rookie quarterback in Mark Sanchez. Houston’s lackluster defense (aside from Mario Williams of course) should be a good warm-up for Sanchez. Expect Ryan to run the ball with speedy Leon Washington, the veteran Thomas Jones, and rookie Shonn Greene. A .500 season could the best the Jets could hope for.

Continue reading "Joe's Opening Drive: Week 1"

ve had some time to cool off, I can now address the Chicago Bears’ heart-breaking loss to the Houston Texans last Sunday. Chicago entered Sunday’s must-win contest with two possible scenarios to make it into the playoffs. If they won and Minnesota lost to the Giants, the Bears would claim the division title and host a wild-card game. If the Vikings won, the Bears could still make it in as a wild-card with losses from Dallas and Tampa Bay. Minnesota ended up beating New York with a last-second field goal, Tampa Bay ended up losing a fist-fight with the Raiders of all teams, and Dallas fell into despair thanks to the Eagles in the afternoon game. Of course, all of these possibilities required a Bears win in Houston that never happened. Lovie Smith’s crew never showed the desperation and intensity you would expect of a team fighting to make it into the post-season.  

Continue reading "Bears' Season Ends in Houston"

From Week 12 to Week 15 the Houston Texans showed great poise and determination. They started a 4-game winning streak in Cleveland in a defensive battle. Not overly impressive, but a win is a win in the National Football League. The team then dominated a displaced looking Jacksonville Jaguars team at home in the first Monday Night game in franchise history.

Continue reading "Still Important"

the week.

Overall Record: 21-19
Week 14 Record: 1-3


1) Houston Texans @ Oakland Raiders

The Houston Texans were officially eliminated from the playoffs at the end of Week 15 to no surprise after the shaky first half of the season, but faded playoff hopes hasn't kept the team down the past 4 weeks as they've played tough defense and good football overall. In the last 4 weeks the Texans have defeated (in order): Browns, Jaguars, Packers, Titans. Okay the Browns and Jaguars isn't too big of a deal, but going into Lambeau and dominating the Packers and then coming home and defeating the first place team and rival the Titans? That's a statement. This should be a layup for the Texans this week as they go into Oakland to face the 3-11 Raiders. A loss would be very disappointing for a team that has won 4 straight. I take the Texans in this one as they'll win their 5th straight game (hopefully).

Continue reading "NFL Week 16 Predictions"

for the Bucs’ playoff chances after being in the driver’s seat only a few weeks ago.

Houston Texans 13, Tennessee Titans 12

A fourth-quarter decision by Titans head coach Jeff Fisher to go for it on fourth down instead of letting All-Pro Rob Bironas kick a 49 yard field goal may cost his team the number one seed in the AFC. Into the wind or not, Bironas had made four field goals already on Sunday and should have been called on to give his team the lead. Next week the Titans get a rolling Steelers squad who play the same smash-mouth type of football. Houston has surged late this season, winning their last four contests. Matt Schaub, Andre Johnson, and Steve Slaton are cornerstones of an explosive Texan offense that is no longer the laughing stock of the AFC South. With winnable games against the Raiders and Bears left on their schedule, a 9-7 record is not out of reach for Texas’ second team.

Continue reading "Joey A's Final Drive: Week 15"

A 1-point win never seemed so mammoth.

Yesterday the Houston Texans defeated the Tennessee Titans 13-12 in front of a jam-packed crowd at Reliant Stadium. With the win the Texans evened their season record at 7-7 and recorded their first 4 game winning streak in franchise history. Playoff chances have been done for weeks, but the Texans are still playing tough and like a team with a lot on the line.

Continue reading "Not This Time"

Another week is in the books in the National Football League as we head to Week 15. But first let's take a look back at the week that was...Week 14! (my tongue is getting twisted) Several surprising outcomes this past Sunday including a few of the games I picked. I went a disappointing 1-3 in my picks. Very poor performance on my part. I'm finally realizing I'll never have a grip on the NFL. It's the most inconsistent professional sport out there. Any team can lose on any given week. But enough sulking, let's get on to this week's Fallout Report!

Continue reading "NFL Week 14 Fallout"

ckers!


Overall Record: 20-16
Last Week: 2-2


1) Houston Texans @ Green Bay Packers

The Texans were impressive in their dismauling of the Jaguars on Monday Night Football. Many will put the excuse of the Jags 'mailing it in' (which is probably true), but! A win is a win is a win and for Texans fans...that was nice for a change. The Texans will travel to frigid Lambeau Field to take on Aaron Rodgers and the Packers. Game time temp is suppose to be anywhere from 10-20 degrees. Being from Houston, let me tell you something....When it's 50 outside, I think "hey this is pretty chilly!". I cannot imagine what playing in 15 degree weather feels like. I know some Texans players have prior experience in playing in the cold, but some don't. I think the Texans will get dominated in this one. Packers are going to be playing like it's a nice sunny day while the Texans are like the icicles along the bottom of the roof, just waiting until it gets warmer to melt away. With that said, Green Bay, Green Bay, Green Bay......unfortunately for Texans fans.

Continue reading "NFL Week 14 Predictions"

Week 13 is in the books as we are getting closer to the playoffs in the National Football League (still 4 weeks away, but with the way this season has flown bye, it won't be long!). Before I begin I want to apologize to my 3 readers for not keeping up with the Fallout Report. I'll have it on time (every Tuesday) from now until the playoffs. With that said, let's see how I did!

Continue reading "NFL Week 13 Fallout"

Jets in this game.

Winners - New York Jets

4) Jacksonville Jaguars @ Houston Texans

I bet ESPN is stoked to have this game on Monday Night Football this week. Two disappointing 4-7 teams go at it here. Listening to Houston sports talk radio this past week, the fans are still pumped for the first ever MNF game at Reliant Stadium, but it could have been so much more if the Texans could have performed better up to this point. Reliant should be filled or ESPN and management might think twice about bringing Monday Night Football back to Houston anytime soon. Onto the game, both teams have had some good games against each other. The Jaguars are the Texans only other 'real' rivalry in the AFC South. You could say the Titans since they use to be the Oilers...but the Texans have only defeated them 2-3 times. Forget about the Colts (Texans have only won once against them in their franchise). However the Texans have defeated the Jags 5-6 times in their existence. Both teams can forget about the playoffs this season. So really this game will be all about pride. I think the Texans hosting their first ever MNF game will still be pumped and I think they'll take it to the Jaguars early. I'll be a homer here and take the Texans. Do ESPN proud, Houston.

Continue reading "NFL Week 13 Predictions"

tions rock and rollin!

Overall Record: 15-13
Last Week: 3-1

1) Houston Texans @ Cleveland Browns

Two disappointments this season go at it here. The

Continue reading "NFL Week 12 Predictions"

Week 11 was one of the more interesting weeks in the NFL this season. A game ended in a 11-10 score for the first time in NFL history, a game ended in a tie and we also saw 'America's Team' get back on track with their star quarterback at the helm. I'll get to that and more as this week's Fallout report kicks off.......riiiiight now!

Continue reading "NFL Week 11 Fallout"

it works out!

Overall Record: 12-12
Last Week's Record: 2-2

1) Houston Texans @ Indianapolis Colts

To me, this is like the Cowboys/Giants game from a couple of weeks ago. No one expected the beat up Cowboys to go into Jersey and defeat the defending Super Bowl Champions. And going into this game hardly anyone thinks the Texans have a shot at beating the Colts. That's because they don't. Their not beating the Colts in Indy. This is a team thats getting healthier each week and a team that is getting hotter as the weeks progress. This should be relatively easy for the Colts as the Texans' season continues to get more disappointing.

Continue reading "NFL Week 11 Predictions"

ord: 2-2

*Classic NFL Films music hits*


1) Baltimore Ravens @ Houston Texans

Last time I checked this was a pick-em in Vegas. The Ravens rough and tough defense heads into Houston to battle the Texans at Reliant Stadium. Houston will be without starting quarterback Matt Schaub for up to a month or beyond with a torn MCL suffered in last week's game against the Minnesota Vikings. Back up Sage Rosenfels will get the call and before I make a prediction for this game. While I was watching the Broncos/Browns game on Thursday night. They showed a graphic for the AFC Playoff Picture and crazy enough...I saw the Texans logo! A long shot, but hey it's Week 10. Still 7 more weeks of football to be played. I'm going to go with the homer pick and pick the Texans here. If this game was being played in Baltimore, I would pick the Ravens in a heartbeat but the Texans have played good at home.

Continue reading "NFL Week 10 Predictions"

The debut of the Crypt Keeper was not a success. Two consecutive 2-2 records in the past two weeks (tongue twister yikes) keeps the overall record at .500 for the season. No worries though, I know success is on its way as the Crypt Keeper and I will go back to the drawing board to chalk up better predictions and analysis. With that said, let's see what happened in Week 9 of the NFL.

Continue reading "NFL Week 9 Fallout"

8-8
Last Week's Record: 2-2

*Classic NFL Films music hits*

1) Houston Texans @ Minnesota Vikings

The Texans are coming off a romp of the Cincinnati Bengals while the Vikings are fresh off a bye. A couple things that scare me being a Texans fan is Adrian Peterson and our run defense and the fact that Minnesota put up 41 points in Week 7 against a Bears defense. However the Texans have a couple things Minnesota fans can worry about: Andre Johnson and Mario Williams. Johnson has been absolutely ferocious as a receiver and Williams has been a sack master. Texans aren't a good road team and thats also a concern, but I'm picking them in this one as they'll win their 4th game in as many weeks getting them back to .500 after dropping their first four.

Continue reading "NFL Week 9 Predictions"

A week filled with late game nervousness and dominant performances. The Texans were the ones doing the prowling as they tore apart the Bengals. 'America's Team' didn't look so sharp, but they found a way to win. The NFL brought a real shootout to London (hopefully no one was hurt!) and Brett Favre didn't look good for the second consecutive week, but thankfully for the Jets, they played the Chiefs. I'll cover those games in this week's Fallout report!

Continue reading "NFL Week 8 Fallout"

the Jets in this one.

Winners - New York Jets

3) Cincinnati Bengals @ Houston Texans

The Texans will face a second winless team in as many weeks when they host the Bengals this Sunday at Reliant Stadium. Texans got out to an early 21-0 lead against the Lions before letting Detroit creep back in making the final score 28-21 Houston. Texans won the game, but as a fan of the team...it was quite scary toward the end. If the Lions played a decent first half along with the second half they played, we might be sitting here today talking about the Lions first victory. With that said Texans are 10 point favorites here. I've seen a few people across the web say how the Bengals will win the game. Not 'could' or 'maybe' but 'WILL'. All I have to say is good luck. Bengals have talent, they just haven't been able to have a decent chemistry this season. This is a team that just a few seasons ago was in the playoffs facing the Steelers. Carson Palmer could be out for the season. Ryan Fitzpatrick will get the start. Texans' fans know that a few seasons ago Fitzpatrick made a huge comeback when he played for the Rams against the Texans. That was a tough loss. With that said I'm picking the Texans. Bengals go to a tough 0-8.

Continue reading "NFL Week 8 Predictions"

Not only did the Patriots lose...they got rolled. I don't have the persona of the Houston Texans. I'm not patient. I have the persona of Jerry Jones. I've only been picking for 2 weeks going on to my third this week, but my crystal ball was already on a short leash after week 1 for picking the Texans over the Colts.

Continue reading "NFL Week 7 Predictions"

who can really tell what Gruden thinks when it comes to his quarterbacks?

Miami Dolphins (2-2) at Houston Texans (0-4)

After two tough wins against the Patriots and Chargers, the Miami Dolphins better not let their guard down. It’s a drop-off in competition, but the Texans will be looking to rebound aggressively in front of their home crowd who watched in dismay at their collapse against the Colts. Matt Schaub will be back in the starting line-up, but he has yet to earn the mega-deal he received after being traded from Atlanta. He’d best begin soon or he will find himself without a job. Miami has doubled their win total from last year through just four games, but they’re not resting on their .500 laurels. Chad Pennington and the offense are going to keep using the “single wing” formation until somebody learns how to stop them, especially if they keep winning. Joey Porter and the defense is playing lights out, holding their last two opponents to thirteen and ten points. Tony Sparano will keep his team on their toes, to make sure they don’t settle for just being an average team. I’m sure Bill Parcells will too.

Continue reading "Joey A's NFL Week Six Preview"

ots to work through still, but their defense will keep them in most games.

Indianapolis Colts 31, Houston Texans 27

Houston simply coughed up this surefire win. Peyton Manning and the Colts came back to score 21 points in the final five minutes to come out on top. Texans QB Sage Rosenfels manned up after the game, taking all of the blame for his team’s collapse. I respect that immensely, but it is also completely true. His two lost fumbles while running for first downs on two consecutive drives allowed the Colts to save their season. He even had a shot to lead his team down and take back the lead with under two minutes left, but he threw a horrible pass for an interception, ending any hope of saving face. Texan fans are rightfully distraught about their team’s home opener, as it retracts any thoughts of challenging for a playoff spot. Indy, on the other hand, breaks even at 2-2, when it could very easily be 0-4. Peyton Manning gets better each week, so all the Indy defense needs to do is hold the fort until Bob Sanders returns to the line-up.

Continue reading "Joey A's Final Drive: Week 5"

It was an interesting week in the National Football League. A few surprises, a big meltdown by one team and one bruised and battered team found a way to win a big prime-time game. Let's get right to it--game by game.

Continue reading "NFL Week 5 Fallout"

Steelers are a Super Bowl caliber team by many, this will be a good test. 3) The Houston Texans horrible defense were able to stop Taylor/Jones pretty nicely last week. I think the Steelers review what the Texans did and try to copy it. 4) Three out of the last 4 Sunday Night Games the upset has won. That's right. Every Sunday Night game besides the Packers/Cowboys, the upset team has won. And I have a little superstition in me. I'm picking the Steelers in this one.

Continue reading "NFL Week 5 Predictions"

n until either quarterback makes the defense pay for it.  

Indianapolis Colts (1-2) at Houston Texans (0-3) 

 Peyton Manning and the Colts used their early bye week to de-rust their offense after three shaky outings. It should have also allowed their injured players more time to adequately heal. A healthier Dallas Clark is always welcome, though Pro Bowl safety Bob Sanders probably won’t return to the line-up this week. Houston will attempt to take advantage of his absence by putting an emphasis on their running attack with rookie Steve Slaton and a returning Ahman Green. In this AFC South meeting, the Texans need to make a stand, or their season will be over after only weeks. For the Colts, it’s their chance to return to .500 and to start catching up to the division-leading Titans.  

Continue reading "Joey A's NFL Week Five Preview"

urg Steelers – Is this team still King of its Division?  Can their OL protect Big Ben?

Houston Texans – In a division dominated by the Colts, are these young Texans ready to at least compete for a wild card spot?  Will we see an even better Mario Williams this year? If we do, we just might be looking at the best DE in the league.

Continue reading "NFL Opening Weekend = Christmas in September"

The Houston Texans were a much improved team last season, even without star wide receiver Andre Johnson playing in most of those games. They played well enough to garner their first .500 season. An accomplishment for a struggling franchise. They have helped to make the AFC South the toughest division in the AFC and although they will most likely lose all of their division games this season, they will at least put up a valiant fight. I think we are going to see an even better team then last year with the possibility of a 10-6 season. That will not be easy, but as long as they don’t do worse then .500 they will have had a good season. Lets take a look at some of the weapons the Texans will bring with them into this season.

Continue reading "32 Teams in 32 Days, Team #12: The Houston Texans"

*Editor's Note: This piece was written Tuesday night but, due to Internet problems, is being posted just now.

Only the NFL can make headlines with the release of its regular season schedule. Granted, there are only a handful of games for fans to absorb, so the attention given to each week is natural. However, this speaks increasingly to the booming popularity of the league.

Continue reading "Bears Schedule Analysis"

On Sunday, the Browns beat the Houston Texans to the score of 27-17. Afterwards, on such Cleveland sports programs like “Browns Redzone,” fans called in to voice their anxiety about the quarterback situation. 

Continue reading "The Quarterback Dilemma in Cleveland ..."