PATRIOTS vs TEXANS

VS

Bring it on: Patriots coach Bill Belichick has been coy about whether he'll play Tom Brady, Randy Moss, Wes Welker and other key players this week with the AFC East title already wrapped up.

Most Texans players said it doesn't matter since the decision is out of their control. But Pro Bowl linebacker DeMeco Ryans emphatically said that he wants to see the Patriots' starters on the field.

"I want a team at their best," Ryans said. "I don't have a wish list that their starters wouldn't play. I want all their guys to play and play the entire game, because as a competitor, a true competitor, you want to go against the best and see how you match up against the best when it's crunch time and you have to get a win."

After every Texans' win, before he approaches the podium for a postgame press conference, Andre Johnson is introduced as an "All World Wide Receiver."

So it's only natural that Johnson can also add "2009 Pro Bowler" to his title.In what comes as no surprise, Johnson was selected to his fourth Pro Bowl.

Atop the NFL in receiving yardage with 1,504 through 15 games, Johnson has nine touchdown catches and is averaging 15.8 yards per reception. Both marks are career bests. His presence on the field is one of the big reasons the Texans are second in the league with 291 yards passing per game and poised to complete the franchise's first winning season if the Texans can beat New England on Sunday.

Johnson's partnership with Matt Schaub, the league's leading passer with 4,467 yards, was enhanced by the quarterback staying healthy in 2009. Johnson was thankful for that good fortune, as well as his own.

"Me and Matt, when we're out there playing, we're pretty much on the same page," Johnson said. "Hopefully, it's something that's going to get better and better. I really think Matt deserves to be in the Pro Bowl this year. If not, hopefully we can both come out and both stay healthy and both make it next year."

Mario Williams' pass rush: The Texans face a Patriots team that has already locked up a playoff spot, and does not have much to play for at this point. Williams' ability to apply constant pressure on Tom Brady and hit him hard a few times early might convince the Patriots to plant their star quarterback on the bench, thus improving Houston's chances to win.

Matt Schaub's effectiveness: Though New England ranks an impressive eighth in overall defense, it has struggled some against elite passing teams. The top-ranked Colts passing attack and the third-ranked Saints each torched the Patriots, and the Texans are sandwiched between those two units with the second overall pass ranking. Schaub will challenge New England's young secondary early and often.

The Texans can secure the first winning season in franchise history with a victory. ... Houston's Matt Schaub leads the league in passing yards with 4,467.

if the pats don't play their starters this game won't be that interesting i hope they will play their starters.

my predictions.

the leagues leading passer matt schaub will have a huge game like always even if the pats play their starters schaub will put up 300+yards and 3 TD's.

the leagues leading receiver in reception yards ANDRE JOHNSON will have a dozen catches 100+yards receiving and a pair of TD's.

mario williams will have a real big game with 3 sacks.

i really do hope the pats have brady,moss,welker. on the feild.

fact of the matter is, we have to win no matter who plays.

if the pats don't play their starters it will be an easy win for the texans.

the pats have nothing to play for anymore with their fate already sealed but they're NOT that team in Indiana so i believe they will play their starters because the starters need to see every possible coverage scheme and blitz package possible to be ready for the playoffs. I believe the Patriots will start their starters for the whole game but be very lax in the passing

Texans 32 Patriots 24

Edge: Texans have something to play for, Patriots don't

this game will depend on 2 things....wether the pats play the starters, which i hope they do, and if they do, will the texans defense step up. the texans are undoubted on the offensive side of the ball but we need good coverage on moss by dunta robinson and the lb's to stuff maroney, faulk, taylor ,morris and all those backs they use to throw the opponent off...go texans!!

The Patriots have nobody to cover Andre Johnson. If you add the resting starters fact, it'll be a solid victory for Houston.

35-21 Texans


Dre gets 120 yards.

even with the starters the pats D has struggled against the really powerful offenses so i will still expect a good performance from the texans offensive squad and depending on how the texans D plays against moss and welker it could be a good game if the pats play their starters.

Texans will fall behind in the first half
The Pats will then rest their starters halfway through the third
But it will be too late for the Texans

Texans lose

i see the patriots secondary struggling trying to contain the big play from schaub 2 DRE all game.

CapnCrunch wrote:

Texans will fall behind in the first half
The Pats will then rest their starters halfway through the third
But it will be too late for the Texans

Texans lose

You sir = fail.

might want to pay attention of the cowgirls getting blown out.

That makes more sense then any of your recent posts.

texans offense is better than the pats offense and the texan O ain't even healthy missing two very exsplosive playmakers RB steve slaton,TE Owen Daniels.

can you imagine if they were still healthy they would really be killing teams literally.

idk, Foster is showing what he can do recently.

so who knows.

schaub and jacoby jones were incredible.

one of the pats TD'S came from a tip pass right off the finger tips of jacoby jones and was ran back for a pick six but since then schaub and jacoby were hooking up for some big plays.

OH yeah....f*ck the BEN-GALS lol

Biggest game of the year
Texans continue to turn the ball over
Dre was a no show

CapnCrunch wrote:

Biggest game of the year
Texans continue to turn the ball over
Dre was a no show

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT

continue to turn the ball over the int was a tipped pass off of wr jacoby jones hands.

DRE made some clutch catches when we needed a fisrt down when it was third and long he delivered a nice play.

super_mario90 wrote:

CapnCrunch wrote:

Biggest game of the year
Texans continue to turn the ball over
Dre was a no show

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT

continue to turn the ball over the int was a tipped pass off of wr jacoby jones hands.

DRE made some clutch catches when we needed a fisrt down when it was third and long he delivered a nice play.

Told you this dude makes no sense when he posts..

he should get banned lol

nah, kids like this amuse me.

Tipped ball off Jacoby Jones hand. Both you guys think this is some kind of fluke or something. No, if Jacoby had made a better play on the ball, or schaub had made a better pass, it would not have happened. And the Texans had two fumbles, they got lucky that they did not turn the ball over.

It is these types of problems that have plagued the Texans all year. You were lucky to get the victory. But it is why you did not make the playoffs. Turnovers.

How does that tickle you.

SiCK WiTH SKiLL wrote:

CapnCrunch wrote:

Texans will fall behind in the first half
The Pats will then rest their starters halfway through the third
But it will be too late for the Texans

Texans lose

You sir = fail.

might want to pay attention of the cowgirls getting blown out.

That makes more sense then any of your recent posts.

Lol Cowgirls getting blown out.

CapnCrunch wrote:

Tipped ball off Jacoby Jones hand. Both you guys think this is some kind of fluke or something. No, if Jacoby had made a better play on the ball, or schaub had made a better pass, it would not have happened. And the Texans had two fumbles, they got lucky that they did not turn the ball over.

It is these types of problems that have plagued the Texans all year. You were lucky to get the victory. But it is why you did not make the playoffs. Turnovers.

How does that tickle you.

the pass from schaub 2 jacoby was right on the money right to the hands of jacoby he's a wr so he's supposed to catch it.

it's alright though he made up for it with a couple of clutch catches and a TD in double coveredge.