The Houston Texans come to Foxborough as the 4th seed in the AFC playoff picture.
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“Arf”, says Buddy, and again, that’s right on the money, you may see some first-quarter rust but by halftime, everything should be under control.
It is also true that New England bounced the Texans 27-0 in week three of the National Football League season with No.3 quarterback Jacoby Brissett at the controls.
“I view it as the biggest game that we’ve played all season against the best defense that we’ve played all season”. I got to know him very well when he took over as offensive coordinator. The last time the two teams met, in week three, the Texans were embarrassed in a 27-0 shutout even with the Patriots starting third-string rookie Jacoby Brissett. They finished off the regular season by beating the Miami Dolphins 35-14 to finish the season with a ideal 8-0 road record. Osweiler completed 14 of 25 passes for one touchdown, and ran for another score.
For his part, Patriots head coach (and sweatshirt artist) Bill Belichick isn’t taking anything for granted. O’Brien praised Brady’s preparation and mindset. He’s seen it all.
“You’re still dealing with a defense ranked No. 1 but I think a lot of other teams are as good as they are defensively”. Neither were reaching the rousing level of success that they’re capable of at their peaks, while Brady was tossing up 3-and-outs like he was Brock Osweiler during the regular season. Even though he has been with the Texans for just two seasons, he has made a similar community impact in Houston.
“I’m not thinking about anything but what it’s going to take to go to Foxborough and win a ballgame”, Wilfork said. They’re a playoff team with a great defense, and anything’s possible in the postseason.
“You have an understanding of [if] you lose, you go home, and there’s a buzz in the air of the stadium”, wide receiver Danny Amendola said.
O’Brien said they’ll work on getting better in that area this week, but that he’s been happy with Ervin’s performance overall.
And after going three straight weeks in the middle of the season without forcing a turnover, 14 of the Patriots’ 23 total takeaways came in their final six games. As the season went along we’d just fill that teapot up more and more.
“I think it’s more about execution”, O’Brien said of the task at hand. With him, there is good chance it will surpass that production. He just stays calm back there.
“They have a damn good defense”, Brady said Monday morning on WEEI, via ESPN.com’s Mike Reiss. The Texans are 0-2 all-time in the divisional round, losing 20-13 at Baltimore following the 2011 season and 41-28 at New England following the 2012 campaign. Obviously, the challenge is going to be greater against Brady, and Houston is relishing the opportunity. “He did several things on that play to really change the game at that point”. That said, when you turn the ball over 3 times and allowed 185 rushing yards on the ground, you’re bound to lose. His eyes are set on the Super Bowl and I have a hard time doubting him.
“That kind of boosts us up a little (like), OK we gonna show them”, he said. Clowney, he’s been doing what he’s been doing all year: “being disruptive, being a game-wrecker”.
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“I think having confidence and believing in yourself and your teammates is huge in any game”. He’s very well-prepared. He’s played against a lot of these players. He’s played against this scheme. A win is a win, and the Texans simply played the team on their schedule.
