GAMEFACE!

There isn’t a lot of mystery about today’s season opener against the Dolphins. Put simply – if Miami can’t get their running game going and have to rely on rookie QB Ryan Tannehill to win the game, they are finished.

Overconfidence is fine when you’re just a writer covering your favorite team. If you’re the team, then not so much. Some of the articles I’ve read and soundbites I’ve heard from the Texans this week make it sound like they are taking the Dolphins just a little too lightly, but it’s not going to matter. I think it might just be that this team, especially on defense, didn’t know true confidence until Wade Phillips showed them the way.

I expect the Dolphins will have a plan for Tannehill to get rid of the ball quickly. Will he be able to make instantaneous decisions when his primary receiver is covered? One of the few criticisms I’ve heard about Tannehill in the preseason is that he tends to lock in on his primary receiver. If that’s the case today, then he may be in for a longer afternoon than I thought. The speed difference between college and the pros isn’t something a quarterback can get used to in limited preseason snaps – especially since every former player to a man will tell you that first team speed in preseason still pales in comparison to first team speed once the games count.

For the first time ever, I am picking the Texans to shut their opponent out. Those who have been around since this blog started in 2007 know that while I am a huge fan of the team, and certainly a homer – I’m also a realist. I don’t make silly predictions based on emotion, good or bad.

Texans 24
Dolphins 0

It’s finally here. It’s finally time. Let’s GO.