It was ugly from the start.
I had the Texans losing this game, but never thought it would be this bad. Good lord.
The good news is, that for all the overreaction this game will cause by Texans fans and NFL media, it really is just one game. In all likelihood the Texans and Patriots will cross paths again if the Texans are going to make a deep playoff run. Let’s hope that old NFL adage that “it’s tough to beat a good team twice in one year” holds up.
Not feeling especially well tonight (not related to the game tonight, no) so I’m going to have to leave it at that. Go ahead and react here if you like.
This was a crushing loss, yes. The Texans were out-everything’d, obviously outplayed. So, so overwhelmingly outcoached. More later in the week when I’m feeling up to it.
Dec 11, 2012 at 09:18:51
I hate to say it–but I am. I think we are a good team, but this loss proves it to me that we are NOT a superbowl contender. We were lacking in every area last night. Unfortunately, it was a reality check-no-a bad report card-no-it was just downright ugly.
Dec 11, 2012 at 10:38:37
Well, I figured this might happen. Hopefully it wasn’t the A-game game plan and the Texans win the next three (or two if NE loses another). They’re definitely still super bowl contenders.
Dec 11, 2012 at 11:25:53
I don’t mind that the Texans lost, I just wish it was competitive. Man they looked pathetic on offense, defense and special teams. Schaub was horrible, making awful decisions. Kubiak was predictable…I was calling the plays from my couch. The defense was confused and couldn’t pressure or cover anyone. It’s going to be a long week. The Texans need to destroy the Colts so I can regain my sanity.
Dec 11, 2012 at 12:04:10
Conspiracy Theory time!
What would have happened if the Texans won?
The Texans are anointed the undisputed champs of the AFC (having had wins over the #2, #3, #4, and #5 seeds this season) and relaxingly stroll Colts-with-Manning-style into the playoffs, where they easily dispatch the RavBronSteelColts, then face New England in the Conference Championship…
…where a pissed off Pats team due to all the himmin’ and hawwin’ about the Texans lights up the scoreboard and wins 63-28.
What happens now that we lost?
The entire media blitz falls back in love with the Patriots (normally sane Gregg Easterbrook has already written a love letter to them in this week’s TMQ) and the Texans are the AFC-Falcons.
Walterfootball.com has shown that fading (going against) the media blitz proves beneficial when predicting games.
The Texans, scorned by the loss and media dump, go on to still clinch #1 seed. The Patriots, satiated by being anointed the undisputed champions of the AFC, get lackadaisical. Patriots at Texans in Reliant, and a feisty crowd and vengeful BoP squad gets to the Pats before they know it: 24-7 at the half, 37-31 final.
So, onto the conspiracy theory:
Geniuses Kubi-Wade know that if they playcall their way to a gruesome defeat, their young players will be motivated instead of demoralized, while the Pats coaches will have arrogance and a dearth of film to study.
So, the coaches purposefully threw the game.
Dec 11, 2012 at 16:14:14
It bothers me that the two losses this year were 1) blowouts and 2) to the two best QBs we faced all year. We’re not going to get very far if they play like that with the Patriots and Broncos (and potentially Packers or Giants?) to go through in January. I am wondering if Wade needs to change his defensive game plans for the top tier QBs to give them more complex coverages.
The coaches definitely gave up at some point and kept calling conservative play calls when we were down 3+ TDs. I am wondering when they decided to phone it in. I think there is some merit to the argument that they get it vanilla to have some advantage of surprise come playoff time but I don’t think that was the gameplan going into the game and we still got whooped on national tv.
All that said, every team has bad games. The Pats lost to the lowly Cardinals in week 3.
Dec 11, 2012 at 18:05:44
Okay,fellas, it’s time for a little girl talk too! Schaub is good-lookin’ but he sure was ugly last night! Could he have been any worse? JJWatt was sacking all over the place, but even that was not enough. We love Monday night football at our house, so can we give the game a little more Texan win? Go Texans!
Dec 13, 2012 at 10:38:38
History repeats itself…..
2010- Week 12- Patriots beat the Jets on Monday night football 42-3….
Six weeks later in the Divisional Round of the playoffs, the Jets beat the Patriots 28-21 to advance to the AFC Championship game.
It can happen, and the Bulls on Parade are gonna be pissed off the next time we meet, just need to beat the teams we should beat over the next 3 weeks.