[Official] Ravens @ Texans

[Castor27]

9-14 3:15 on CBS

[DonnyMost]

Texans 3
Ravens 24
Steelers 572398640523487y9821053970234703450234-utrihoj1`

[benchmoochie]

RB by committee this year isn't going to get it done. Thanks for passing on Adrian Peterson.

Texans 10
Ravens 31

[MadMax]

RB by committee this year isn't going to get it done. Thanks for passing on Adrian Peterson.

Texans 10
Ravens 31

wasn't peterson off the board when we drafted??

[JBIIRockets]

wasn't peterson off the board when we drafted??

Yes.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_NFL_Draft

[Ric]

Thanks for passing on Adrian Peterson.
i wonder how something like this happens in this day and age? it's not like it's 1982 and our resources to verify such things are limited. a quick search on google for the "2007 nfl draft" would have quelled such a posting in less than 15 seconds.

i guess it's just easier to spill misinformed venom because - hey, what are the consequences, right?....

[SuperBeeKay]

RB by committee this year isn't going to get it done. Thanks for passing on Adrian Peterson.

Texans 10
Ravens 31
Thanks for knowing nothing

[kupogrey]

should be an easy bet.


ravens are underdogs by 4 1/2 points lol

unfortunately I only have ten dollars to bet :mad:

[Landlord Landry]

I can't believe the Texans passed up Peyton Manning either.

[radapharoah]

damn those texans for passing up on tony romo :mad: but seriously we should have never passed up on calvin johnson

[radapharoah]

oh and the texans will take this game
texans 24
ravens 10
if they dont then the season is over

[gucci888]

Well the offense isn't going to get any breaks with Ravens D, but I think this is a good thing, they need to figure their $hit out.

But I think this is a big game for Richard Smith and our D. We need to pressure Flacco and force him to make mistakes, not sure what McGahee's status will be for Sunday.

[MadMax]

bet the under

[Jet Blast]

Well, the good news from last week is some of the big guns of the AFC lost as well, namely Jax, SD and Indy. With a Texans win on Sunday we're right back in it.

The question is which team will show up? Will it be the Texans of old that play medicore football or a newly energized team with a refuse to lose mentality? I'm thinking it will be the latter.

It should be a close game, but I don't see another Flacco victory come Sunday.

Texans 24
Ravens 20

Btw, Ian Eagle and Solomon Wilcots will call the game for CBS.

[Smacktle]

i wonder how something like this happens in this day and age? it's not like it's 1982 and our resources to verify such things are limited. a quick search on google for the "2007 nfl draft" would have quelled such a posting in less than 15 seconds.

i guess it's just easier to spill misinformed venom because - hey, what are the consequences, right?....

If you lie on the internet, someone is gonna catch you.

[rrj_gamz]

Alright, I can see us winning this game...

Texans: 27

Ravens: 20

[Uprising]

Here, a much better measuring stick for the Texans. Pitts is a damn good team, and they showed it pouncing on the shocked Texans.

they need to shed these jitters, and take it to he Ravens.

Go Texans!

[Uprising]

RB by committee this year isn't going to get it done. Thanks for passing on Adrian Peterson.

Texans 10
Ravens 31


http://web.mit.edu/mokang/Public/fail.jpg

[SamFisher]

Maybe he meant 2002 Adrian Peterson

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adrian_N._Peterson#NFL_career

[The Cat]

Texans 23, Ravens 10

I think some of you are in denial as to just how good the Steelers are, and the kind of suicide mission it is to go in there with a rookie LT against those schemes. This team will be fine.

[MadMax]

Texans 23, Ravens 10

I think some of you are in denial as to just how good the Steelers are, and the kind of suicide mission it is to go in there with a rookie LT against those schemes. This team will be fine.

I have no idea...I suspect the Steelers are really, really good.

Having said that, it's not the Texans offense that scares me most...it's their defense. I think they have the potential to make mediocre look good, and good look great.

But I think the Ravens likely have a pretty good defense, too....so I'm not sure what to think of how we'll do on the offensive end of the ball.

I heard a comment on the radio I agree with entirely....either we know exactly what the Texans are based on the cowboys preseason game and this game against the Steelers...or we have absolutely no idea what the Texans are. I'm hopeful it's the latter.

[Kim]

Thanks for passing on Matt Ryan.

[gucci888]

Texans 23, Ravens 10

I think some of you are in denial as to just how good the Steelers are, and the kind of suicide mission it is to go in there with a rookie LT against those schemes. This team will be fine.

I agree but the only thing about it is that we're not catching much of a break (if any) against the Ravens D. They completely dominated the Bengals, holding them to 154 yards (TOTAL!) and holding Palmer to 99 yards passing is pretty sick.

We do have a chance at rattling Flacco and their offense but with McGahee, Rice, and McClain, they have a very nice RB committee going for them.

[DonnyMost]

You have to wonder where this franchise might be today had this guy not entered the picture..

http://espn-i.starwave.com/media/nfl/2002/0218/photo/a_boselli_ht.jpg

(and no, I don't mean Bob)

[justtxyank]

Ravens 17 Texans 14

[msn]

I heard a comment on the radio I agree with entirely....either we know exactly what the Texans are based on the cowboys preseason game and this game against the Steelers...or we have absolutely no idea what the Texans are. I'm hopeful it's the latter.
LOL. "Either they absolutely suck, or we have no idea whether or not they suck."

I also hope it's the latter! :D

[MadMax]

LOL. "Either they absolutely suck, or we have no idea whether or not they suck."

I also hope it's the latter! :D

Yeah...it was so simple and so brilliant all at once. :)

[BigBenito]

Here's to Mario busting Flacco all game!

Houston 9
Baltimore 7

[leroy420]

Thanks for passing on Matt Ryan.

The Falcons had over 300 yards rushing. I'm guessing Ryan had little to do with their victory. He had a nice game, but has done nothing to prove that he was deserved of being the 3rd overall pick.

That and HOW THE F*** DID THEY PASS ON RYAN? He was the 3rd pick. The Texans were in the mid 20's. This is about as retarded as the poster that was pissed they apparently also passed on Adrian Peterson, even though they selected well after he was gone.

[The Cat]

I agree but the only thing about it is that we're not catching much of a break (if any) against the Ravens D. They completely dominated the Bengals, holding them to 154 yards (TOTAL!) and holding Palmer to 99 yards passing is pretty sick.

We do have a chance at rattling Flacco and their offense but with McGahee, Rice, and McClain, they have a very nice RB committee going for them.

Maybe, but the Bengals have been in a downward slide for years -- there are a lot of extremely ominous signs around that organization, like the Blazers a few years ago. Couple that with the game being played in Baltimore, which really helps an older, veteran defense -- and I'm not ready to say they're dominant defensively. Good, definitely, but not what they showed Sunday I don't think.

[msn]

The Falcons had over 300 yards rushing. I'm guessing Ryan had little to do with their victory. He had a nice game, but has done nothing to prove that he was deserved of being the 3rd overall pick.

That and HOW THE F*** DID THEY PASS ON RYAN? He was the 3rd pick. The Texans were in the mid 20's. This is about as retarded as the poster that was pissed they apparently also passed on Adrian Peterson, even though they selected well after he was gone.
Take your sarc meter to Radio Shack STATIM.

[BrooksBall]

Flacco looks like a doofus.

http://images.sportsline.com/u/photos/football/nfl/img10965820.jpg

[magman]

The Texans really need a win before they go play Jags, Titans and Colts

Texans 24
Ravens 17


The Falcons had over 300 yards rushing. I'm guessing Ryan had little to do with their victory. He had a nice game, but has done nothing to prove that he was deserved of being the 3rd overall pick.

That and HOW THE F*** DID THEY PASS ON RYAN? He was the 3rd pick. The Texans were in the mid 20's. This is about as retarded as the poster that was pissed they apparently also passed on Adrian Peterson, even though they selected well after he was gone.


wow, I guess it's hard to detect sarcasm online.

[leroy420]

wow, I guess it's hard to detect sarcasm online.

When there's no indication of it...yeah, you're right. There was a poster in another thread saying the Texans were wrong for passing on AP when they never had a shot at him. This looked exactly the same and equally as dumb.

[Ric]

Having said that, it's not the Texans offense that scares me most...it's their defense. I think they have the potential to make mediocre look good, and good look great.
the steelers offense was great last year with nary a texan on the schedule. roethlisberger was arguably (and statistically) the 2nd best QB in football and parker was the nfl's 4th leading rusher.

and just for good measure: their defense ranked 1st overall.

the steelers are among the nfl's very few elite teams...

I heard a comment on the radio I agree with entirely....either we know exactly what the Texans are based on the cowboys preseason game and this game against the Steelers...or we have absolutely no idea what the Texans are. I'm hopeful it's the latter.
... as are the cowboys.

look, pittsburgh and dallas have their sights set on the super bowl; we're hoping to finish with a winning record and maybe - if everything breaks just right - a playoff appearence. we’re worlds apart.

if anyone thought we were on either of their levels... they were deluding themselves. if they have a similar performance against the ravens, then yeah - it may be time to panic.

but if they win, they’re 1-1 and they then get jacksonville (likely missing 3/5 of its starting OL), tennessee (likely reeling from the suicide of their infallible QB/leader) and a colt team already dealing with some massive injury concerns.

if they’re 3-2, 2-3 after that…

[solid]

Frankly, the preseason and the first game give us no encouragement that this is the Texan's year. They got seriously pushed around in Pittsburg, and I fear the same thing will happen this week. No fire plus marginal talent is a bad combination. If this team were at least "scrappy," that would be something. "Crappy" is what comes to mind.

[MadMax]

the steelers offense was great last year with nary a texan on the schedule. roethlisberger was arguably (and statistically) the 2nd best QB in football and parker was the nfl's 4th leading rusher.

and just for good measure: their defense ranked 1st overall.

the steelers are among the nfl's very few elite teams...


... as are the cowboys.

look, pittsburgh and dallas have their sights set on the super bowl; we're hoping to finish with a winning record and maybe - if everything breaks just right - a playoff appearence. we’re worlds apart.

if anyone thought we were on either of their levels... they were deluding themselves. if they have a similar performance against the ravens, then yeah - it may be time to panic.

but if they win, they’re 1-1 and they then get jacksonville (likely missing 3/5 of its starting OL), tennessee (likely reeling from the suicide of their infallible QB/leader) and a colt team already dealing with some massive injury concerns.

if they’re 3-2, 2-3 after that…

Ric - it's one thing to lose to those teams if you think you're a team capable of a winning record and maybe even a playoff appearance. it's quite another to have it handed to you all day long and be completely unable to stop the other team....to look as pitiful as we looked.

i'm not saying it's NECESSARILY a trend. i'm not saying it's end-all, be-all. but i don't think you can make the flip side of the argument with that certainty either.

[Ric]

Ric - it's one thing to lose to those teams if you think you're a team capable of a winning record and maybe even a playoff appearance. it's quite another to have it handed to you all day long and be completely unable to stop the other team....to look as pitiful as we looked.
but to me, that's consistent with how far apart the two teams are: they're great and we're average. plus, they had 2-3 weeks to prepare for us and hosted the game in front of one of the nfl's greatest home field crowds. we walked into an ambush. replay that game 10 times, and i bet we lose 8 or 9 decisively.

but i'm not so sure they drum us like that in week 7.

i'm not saying it's NECESSARILY a trend. i'm not saying it's end-all, be-all.
but you kind of are because you're worried about a possible trend without qualifying the quality of the opponent. again, if baltimore pounds us, too - we might have a problem. if we had opened with baltimore and suffered the same loss - we might have a problem.

but getting too worked up over a loss to one of the 3 or 4 - if not, 1 or 2 best teams in the league, on the road in week 1, is a little premature, imo.

we'll have a MUCH better idea this time next week where they stand.

[MadMax]

but you kind of are because you're worried about a possible trend without qualifying the quality of the opponent. .

but i'm also kind of not because i'm saying i'm not. i recognize one game is one game...but recognize it COULD be a trend.

i was concerned about this team before the season started. i told refman on the phone friday night they'd get pounded by the Steelers..actually, i think i used the word, "hammered." i told him i thought they'd win about 6 games this season and everyone would be disappointed....but that i hated posting that here because i didn't wanna be, "that guy." looks like i'm that guy.

but i really really really hope to be wrong...and i really really really hope you're right...because that would be lots of fun.

[BigBenito]

Pittsburgh 34 Cleveland 7

First game last year for Pittsburgh. Both teams ended up 10-6.


(whine: of course steelers lost multiple offensive and defensive linemen + the nfl rushing leader at the time, but somehow jacksonville beating us in the playoffs was a big accomplishment, even though the nfl came out and said the winning play was a hold on their linemen.)

[Ric]

i recognize one game is one game...but recognize it COULD be a trend.
right........ agreed - if they play the steelers every week, in pittsburgh, with tomlin and his coaches having weeks to prepare for the game... but not necessarily when they play, roughly, 95% of the other teams in the league who aren't in pittsburgh's class.

i put 0.0 stock in sunday's game. i don't anticipate they'll play a better team this year under such one-sided circumstances.

i told him i thought they'd win about 6 games this season and everyone would be disappointed....but that i hated posting that here because i didn't wanna be, "that guy." looks like i'm that guy.
i've said the same thing - 6-8 wins; i've never understood the playoff talk. i mean, it's possible, but they have too many glaring holes, imo; not to mention too many teams in their own division to pass. who regresses among IND, JAX, TEN?

[Roc Paint]

"Just Win Baby" - VL

[MadMax]

i put 0.0 stock in sunday's game. i don't anticipate they'll play a better team this year under such one-sided circumstances.


How can you put 0 stock in the game? I understand assuming they'd lose...but did you really believe they'd look THAT AWFUL?? They'd be that dominated?

Be honest now...if they had somehow won this game, would you still be saying "i put 0.0 stock in sunday's game."???

[Grandpappy]

Texans cannot win anything unless they get a true NFL caliber QB. Both the guys they have had so far in their existence have been pathetic. Matt Schaub looked like he was throwing to steelers players instead of his own receivers. In other words he might be mediocre at best. You cannot win in the NFL without a solid QB (especially with a nonexistent run game) and Matt Schaub is not it.
Ravens-24
Texans- 14 (two touchdowns when Ravens have pulled out all their starters)
I hope I have to stick my foot in my mouth but in all likelihood I wont have to.

[marks0223]

Ravens - 13

Texans - 27

[Ric]

How can you put 0 stock in the game?
because i don't think you can glean too much from playing a vastly superior team in a hostile environment in your opening week. i think they'd lose that game, in similiar fashion, 8 or 9 out of 10 times. i think the ravens game will be far more telling.

did you really believe they'd look THAT AWFUL?? They'd be that dominated?
i'll say this: i wasn't the least bit surprised - were you? didn't you predict they'd get "hammered"? do you generally look anything but awful when getting "hammered"?

the steelers are a really, really, really good football team, and pittsburgh is a tough place to play.

Be honest now...if they had somehow won this game, would you still be saying "i put 0.0 stock in sunday's game."???
probably. i mean, if they had won 24-3 with 47 yards of offense and 3 defensive TDs, i doubt i'd be too impressed.

it's opening week; you're working in new players, learning a new system, shaking off the rust - and you have to do in pittsburgh, one of the nfl's toughest venues.

i rarely put much, if any, stock in what happens in week 1. as someone noted, the browns were throughly trashed by pittsburgh last year; their season turned out OK.

[MadMax]

i'll say this: i wasn't the least bit surprised - were you? didn't you predict they'd get "hammered"? do you generally look anything but awful when getting "hammered"?

the steelers are a really, really, really good football team, and pittsburgh is a tough place to play.

.

ok...i suppose i misunderstood your position earlier. when you say, "they'll be fine" your premise is, "this team is going to win about 6 games, and that's fine."

my premise is, "this team is going to win about 6 games, and that won't be fine with most people."

so no...i wasn't the least bit surprised they'd get hammered...but i'm surprised that someone who thought this was a 9 game winning team this season would be anything but surprised.

[Ric]

ok...i suppose i misunderstood your position earlier. when you say, "they'll be fine" your premise is, "this team is going to win about 6 games, and that's fine."
i never said, "they'll be fine." i just think sunday's terrible performance will likely be, more or less, an anomaly.

[MadMax]

i never said, "they'll be fine." i just think sunday's terrible performance will likely be, more or less, an anomaly.

i'm mixing up your posts with another, then..sorry.

[ROXRAN]

Let's just win and shut MadMax up!...Go Texans~!...

(MadMax, no disrepect...)

[ima_drummer2k]

I hope Sunday was an anomaly because I saw some things that really concerned me.

I saw our offensive linemen getting pushed so far off the line of scrimmage that they actually tackled our running back on a couple of plays. Kind of hard to find a gap to run through when the guys that are supposed to be blocking for you are instead getting pushed into you.

I saw our D-line getting smothered by the Steelers O-line. Mario had a good game, but the other 3 guys looked like boys playing against men. I saw Weaver get quark screwed into the turf so hard that I thought they were going to have to dig him out with a shovel.

I saw our LB’s trying to cover the Steelers receivers. WTF? Who decided that was a good idea?

I mean, I knew we would lose this game, but I thought we could at least hang until the 2nd quarter. This game was over after about 5 minutes. After that, the Steelers were just toying with us and that is very troubling, no matter how good they are. This is the NFL, not college football. I know the Browns did the same thing last year, but let’s be real. The Steelers could have scored 60 on us if they had wanted to. There shouldn’t be that large a gap between the Steelers and a team expecting to go at least 8-8 this year.

[MadMax]

Let's just win and shut MadMax up!...Go Texans~!...

(MadMax, no disrepect...)

none taken! go texans!!!

[tinman]

Should I start Ray Rice against that Texan's D that gave up 3 TDs to Willie Parker?

[MadMax]

I hope Sunday was an anomaly because I saw some things that really concerned me.

I saw our offensive linemen getting pushed so far off the line of scrimmage that they actually tackled our running back on a couple of plays. Kind of hard to find a gap to run through when the guys that are supposed to be blocking for you are instead getting pushed into you.

I saw our D-line getting smothered by the Steelers O-line. Mario had a good game, but the other 3 guys looked like boys playing against men. I saw Weaver get quark screwed into the turf so hard that I thought they were going to have to dig him out with a shovel.

I saw our LB’s trying to cover the Steelers receivers. WTF? Who decided that was a good idea?

I mean, I knew we would lose this game, but I thought we could at least hang until the 2nd quarter. This game was over after about 5 minutes. After that, the Steelers were just toying with us and that is very troubling, no matter how good they are. This is the NFL, not college football. I know the Browns did the same thing last year, but let’s be real. The Steelers could have scored 60 on us if they had wanted to. There shouldn’t be that large a gap between the Steelers and a team expecting to go at least 8-8 this year.

That was my feeling, too....but again...let's hope it's an anomaly.

[HillBoy]

again, if baltimore pounds us, too - we might have a problem. if we had opened with baltimore and suffered the same loss - we might have a problem.

but getting too worked up over a loss to one of the 3 or 4 - if not, 1 or 2 best teams in the league, on the road in week 1, is a little premature, imo.

we'll have a MUCH better idea this time next week where they stand.
Here's what concerns me about this attitude about the Texans being better than they looked on Sunday and during preseason: On what evidence are you, John McClain and all the rest basing this on? Exactly what have they shown you that leads to believe they are capable of beating Baltimore or anyone else? Is it their dynamic running game? Stellar QB play by Matt Schaub? Their bone crushing, QB devouring defensive line? Their headhunter secondary? I'm not trying to be nasty here because I really don't see where anyone can dismiss the Ravens so easily especially based on what I've seen from the Texans so far.

Let's forget the talent disparity for a moment because as you pointed out, Pittsburgh & Dallas are legit contenders for the NFL title. What concerns me is the lack of competitiveness that I'm seeing. This is something that shouldn't be happening - not with this team that's been rebuilt and certainly not with this coaching staff that's been overhauled. And yet, I'm seeing the same type of futility out there that I saw during the Dom's regime. Worse, Kubiak sounded very Dom-like on Monday with his admission that he was at a loss as to what came down on Sunday. Now they can be expected to lose to the better teams like the Steelers and such but this type of lame performance and this befuddlement from the coaching staff is completely unacceptable. I fully understand the magnitude of the hole they are trying to crawl out from but it's not too much to expect that this team had left these types of performances in the past. The time period for those old stale excuses has expired for the Texans.

Until I see some concrete evidence to the contrary, I going to accept what I'm seeing out there as reality and that reality thus far says that this team should not be favored to win this Sunday or any other Sunday until they prove that what they are doing actually works in a game setting.

[benchmoochie]

Ok, I was wrong on Adrian Peterson. Nevertheless the Texans will not beat the Ravens. As long as Reeves is on our team, our secondary will get torn up. Also, our RB situation sucks.

[DieHard Rocket]

Here's what concerns me about this attitude about the Texans being better than they looked on Sunday and during preseason: On what evidence are you, John McClain and all the rest basing this on? Exactly what have they shown you that leads to believe they are capable of beating Baltimore or anyone else? Is it their dynamic running game? Stellar QB play by Matt Schaub? Their bone crushing, QB devouring defensive line? Their headhunter secondary? I'm not trying to be nasty here because I really don't see where anyone can dismiss the Ravens so easily especially based on what I've seen from the Texans so far.



You have to look at last season too. It's not like we're coming off a 4-12 season and claiming that we are good enough to make the playoffs. They were 8-8 last year, and were knocking on the door to the playoffs for a while until they lost a tough game in Cleveland. Based on last season and the acquisitions we made (and having healthy bodies again), the expecatations are that we can beat a team like Baltimore, especially at home.

I fully expect them to come out and win Sunday. They were a far superior team at home last year than on the road, and unforunately it looks like it may be the same this year based on last week's performance. One bad break on the road and they lose their composure, whereas at home they tend to keep their confidence throughout the game.

[Ric]

On what evidence are you, John McClain and all the rest basing this on? Exactly what have they shown you that leads to believe they are capable of beating Baltimore or anyone else?
for starters, they won't be playing pittsburgh again. in fact, i don't think they'll play a better team this year.

they weren't competitive against good teams last year, either, btw. to me, that's ALWAYS the tell-tale sign of where a team is. and the texans last year were firmly in the middle.

they played 8 eventual playoff teams and went 2-6 with one of those victories coming against jacksonville's second and third teams. otherwise, the colts battered them in two meetings; jacksonville did, too, in their lone meeting that counted; tenessee built a 30-something point lead in one of their games and swept the series; san diego beat 'em up every bit as thoroughly as pittsburgh did sunday.... so again - last weekend shouldn't have been a giant shock.

they're also breaking in a rookie LT and learning a new system on offense. this takes time; i suspect both will get better as the year progresses. i think schaub will, too - keep in mind: sunday was his... 10th(?) career start. if he stays healthy, if johnson stays healthy - the offesne will settle in and get better.

Let's forget the talent disparity for a moment because as you pointed out, Pittsburgh & Dallas are legit contenders for the NFL title.
i think that may be yours and/or a lot of other people's problem, though, HillBoy: they're not just lagging behind the nfl's elite: they're lagging behind most of the nfl, period. they were far and away the worst franchise in football with a barren roster and an unstable cap situation when kubiak was hired. he had to more or less build from scratch. as far as i'm concerned, this is year 3 of an expansion franchise, only one without any built-in advantages like extra draft choices and a clean cap.

it takes YEARS to truly rebuild in the NFL. i think the texans are probably two years away from being where too many people thought they were this year. that could accelerate; hell, they may be catching an early break with all the injuries to jacksonville, tennessee and indianapolis and if they squeeze out of that 3-2, their schedule gets incredibly easier down the stretch.

i'm just not ready to put any stock in an ass-kicking on the road from a team as good as pittsburgh. if baltimore kicks them around the same way - then yeah, i think your concerns are legitimate. but pittsburgh is gonna do that to a lot of teams this year.

[Kim]

When there's no indication of it...yeah, you're right. There was a poster in another thread saying the Texans were wrong for passing on AP when they never had a shot at him. This looked exactly the same and equally as dumb.

It was this thread page 1, and that's why I wrote it. :p

Go Texans. I'm tired of getting punked by fans of other teams around here (mid Atlantic area).

[MadMax]

they played 8 eventual playoff teams and went 2-6 with one of those victories coming against jacksonville's second and third teams. .

i'm kinda relieved someone else said this. i loved watching us beat the jags. but i'm not sure 8-8 means 8-8 when a team isn't playing their starters...and i think people wouldn't have been thrilled at all with 7-9.

[ima_drummer2k]

i'm kinda relieved someone else said this. i loved watching us beat the jags. but i'm not sure 8-8 means 8-8 when a team isn't playing their starters...and i think people wouldn't have been thrilled at all with 7-9.
It bugs me that much of the local media keep hyping this up. As if we should be proud of being 8-8. And forgetting about the fact that the 8th win came against J-ville's 2nd and 3rd stringers.

[MadMax]

It bugs me that much of the local media keep hyping this up. As if we should be proud of being 8-8. And forgetting about the fact that the 8th win came against J-ville's 2nd and 3rd stringers.

whew!! where were you guys??? :) i thought i was ebenezer scrooge thinking that way.

[ima_drummer2k]

whew!! where were you guys??? :) i thought i was ebenezer scrooge thinking that way.
Of course the flip side is that half of our starters went out with season ending injuries last year.

I think the last time this team was truly at 100% was the Carolina game last year. And we know how that went. That was arguably the most encouraging game in the history of the franchise.

[HillBoy]

You have to look at last season too. It's not like we're coming off a 4-12 season and claiming that we are good enough to make the playoffs. They were 8-8 last year, and were knocking on the door to the playoffs for a while until they lost a tough game in Cleveland. Based on last season and the acquisitions we made (and having healthy bodies again), the expecatations are that we can beat a team like Baltimore, especially at home.
Now you're starting to sound like all of the Cowsheep fans up here who keep pointing to that 13-3 record last year that ultimately went for nothing. They use that record plus the 13 Pro Bowl players to obscure the fact that this franchise hasn't won a playoff game in 12 years. So last year the Texans went 8-8 right? And that's supposed to be some sort of predictor for this season? Well, I'm not buying into that line of thought until I can see it happening on the field and so far I don't see them performing at the level of an 8-8 team or even a 4-12 team. Sure it was only one game - a game they were supposed to lose but there is simply no excuse for them turning tail and quitting like that. Have expectations sunk so low around here that it's too much to ask them to compete?

I fully expect them to come out and win Sunday. They were a far superior team at home last year than on the road, and unforunately it looks like it may be the same this year based on last week's performance. One bad break on the road and they lose their composure, whereas at home they tend to keep their confidence throughout the game.
Again, so far they have shown that: they cannot run the ball consistently which invites the opposing team to go after the QB with gusto. Once that happens, said QB starts to morph into David Carr right before our eyes. And I would never have believed that the pathetic play of the other defensive players would pretty much render the stellar play of Mario Williams moot but it does. Now in Baltimore, they may not be facing the Steelers or Patriots but what they ARE facing is the kind of defense that will keep Schaub doing his best DC impersonation. Yes, the Ravens start a big sloooow rookie at QB but unlike the Texans with Carr, they actually try to protect him and give him the opportunity to succeed. The key to their success will be if they can run the ball. If the Texans come out and do their impersonation of bowling pins (again) it will be welcome to 0 & 2 at Reliant.

[HillBoy]

for starters, they won't be playing pittsburgh again. in fact, i don't think they'll play a better team this year.

they weren't competitive against good teams last year, either, btw. to me, that's ALWAYS the tell-tale sign of where a team is. and the texans last year were firmly in the middle.

they played 8 eventual playoff teams and went 2-6 with one of those victories coming against jacksonville's second and third teams. otherwise, the colts battered them in two meetings; jacksonville did, too, in their lone meeting that counted; tenessee built a 30-something point lead in one of their games and swept the series; san diego beat 'em up every bit as thoroughly as pittsburgh did sunday.... so again - last weekend shouldn't have been a giant shock.
The outcome came as no surprise to me at all as I expected a loss. After all, as you have pointed out, this was Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh. But that does not excuse the fact that they went out and got punked. By this point in time, they may not be good enough to win on the road against teams like the Steelers but there is no F'ing way they should be rolling out crap like this unless they plan on selling themselves as the Raiders South.

they're also breaking in a rookie LT and learning a new system on offense. this takes time; i suspect both will get better as the year progresses. i think schaub will, too - keep in mind: sunday was his... 10th(?) career start. if he stays healthy, if johnson stays healthy - the offesne will settle in and get better.
Again good points about Brown. I expect him to struggle early. But Schaub has run out excuses. He wanted to be the man well now he IS the man. And being the man means that ultimately, you have to produce (someone should explain that to VY's mom). It's past time for him to show it. Right now, he and Sage look interchangeable and he wasn't brought in here to be marginally better than a 28 year old backup QB.

i think that may be yours and/or a lot of other people's problem, though, HillBoy: they're not just lagging behind the nfl's elite: they're lagging behind most of the nfl, period. they were far and away the worst franchise in football with a barren roster and an unstable cap situation when kubiak was hired. he had to more or less build from scratch. as far as i'm concerned, this is year 3 of an expansion franchise, only one without any built-in advantages like extra draft choices and a clean cap.
C'mon Ric you should know that we agree on the mess that Bumbling Bob, Clueless Casserly and Dum Capers left stinking on the side of the road for Kubiak to scoop up and try competing with in the NFL. That's not the issue here. The issue is not necessarily wins and losses against the elite but with continued demonstrable improvement in play and attitude. That's what is missing IMO - that's what I want to see: a doormat team that starts to gain an identity that will transform them into a winning team. Is that too much too ask of these player and coaching staff?

i'm just not ready to put any stock in an ass-kicking on the road from a team as good as pittsburgh. if baltimore kicks them around the same way - then yeah, i think your concerns are legitimate. but pittsburgh is gonna do that to a lot of teams this year.
And that's where we differ because I think that you are far too accomodating to Kubiak and Co.. It wasn't just that they lost to a strong team on the road - it was the humiliating WAY they lost that gives me great pause. I just don't see them being good enough to flip a switch, find a pass rush and a running game, actually show up to play and beat anybody.

[Astro101]

I love being a homer. I'm gonna put my blinders on and cheer. Go Texans!

[gucci888]

The Texans are now looking at a new threesome at running back with Steve Slaton expected to start and Chris Taylor and Darius Walker likely backing him up.

Taylor hasn't played since the season finale in 2006. He was ready last week, but never saw the field. Darius Walker remains on the practice squad but he is expected to be called up.

Ahman Green, meanwhile, wore a black boot that went from his toes almost up to his knee. Coach Gary Kubiak reconfirmed that it is an ankle sprain that currently has a lot of swelling. That doesn't bode well for the team. Sometimes broken bones will actually heal quicker than a sprain. I'm sure they'll try to run him out there again soon and see how he handles it, but it definitely won't be this week.

On another note, who wants to see more of André Davis this week? With as well as he played last season — finishing third in the league with a 17.7 yards per catch average — it only seems to make sense that he was a reason the passing game was so strong.

Last week, he didn't see the field because of David Anderson though. Coach Gary Kubiak said Anderson earned the time in the preseason to be their slot receiver. But the regular season is different from the preseason, and Kevin Walter is a very capable slot receiver. He played extremely well there last season when Davis would line up on the outside.

Anderson had just one catch for two yards last week - in a game in which he saw a lot of playing time and the team passed a lot.

Would you tweak that game plan against the Ravens?

http://blogs.chron.com/gamedaytexans/2008/09/texans_start_preparations_for.html

Hopefully this will be Slaton's coming out party. I thought he was gonna be starting at some point this season but week 2? Green is done. If its not his knee, its his groin, now its his ankle. A bad sprain can take a long time to heal.

I wonder why we weren't seeing much of Davis last week. Bad move by Kubiak, we needed anything we could get against Pitt.

[Kam]

i didnt look yet, but have they made an announcement about the game sunday if it was going to be relocated or anything like that?

[TexasFight]

i didnt look yet, but have they made an announcement about the game sunday if it was going to be relocated or anything like that?

Sportscenter just announced the game has been moved to 7:30pm on Monday...

[the futants]

How is this going to affect television (I'm especially concerned in Austin)?

What happens to the CBS contractual obligations? Anyone?

[tmactoyao]

monday cbs 7:30 pm is when the texans and ravens game is rescheduled

[tmactoyao]

oops sorry just checked and found out someone posted

[redefined]

I will be so pissed if they black out the Cowboys game because of this.

[A.J.]

I will be so pissed if they black out the Cowboys game because of this.

Dont worry, they wont.

[Breaker]

How is this going to affect television (I'm especially concerned in Austin)?

What happens to the CBS contractual obligations? Anyone?
Does CBS have a popular show that they show on Mondays evening? I know the last game of the Texans pre-season wasn't picked up because CW54 had to show Smallville/Supernatural that day.

[Ric]

After all, as you have pointed out, this was Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh. But that does not excuse the fact that they went out and got punked.
i just don't believe the results would have been the same under different circumstances, like meeting them at home in week 7 or something.

i think we walked into a buzzsaw; like cleveland did last year when they opened in pittsburgh and were thorougly bounced.

But Schaub has run out excuses. He wanted to be the man well now he IS the man. And being the man means that ultimately, you have to produce (someone should explain that to VY's mom). It's past time for him to show it.
HillBoy, sunday's was schaub's 13th career start - how many players are past time to show it in just their 13th start?! two of those starts (or maybe 1 - can't remember) were in ATl, and then how many last year were without andre johnson? 3? 4?...

in terms of game-time, schaub is still VERY raw; he doesn't even have 16 career starts, let alone 16 in a season. i think he and kubiak deserve a little more time. neither had anything to do with 2002-2005.

Is that too much too ask of these player and coaching staff?
which of the 32 NFL teams have better overall talent that the texans? think about it...

off the top of my head: NE, PIT, CLE, IND, JAX, probably TEN (based on results, at least), SD, NYG, DAL, PHI, GB, MIN, NO and SEA. all pretty definite.

that's 14 teams and i'd bet DEN, CHI, NYJ, BAL and WAS fans could make decent cases that their rosters are better.

so talent-wise, the texans are 15th-ish, if not a little lower... and sure - some of that is kubiak's fault. i think he gave up WAY too much for schaub and most of his larger FA signings have been busts. but he's done well in the draft and filling the back half of the roster so far.

if he's given two more offseasons, i think (hope) he'll have everyone in place. i mean, HillBoy - outside of johnson and robinson, they had to *literally* upgrade every other starting position and build depth behind it.

let's have a little patience.

[redefined]

Dont worry, they wont.

How are you so sure? Sports Radio reported that it would be blacked out.

[HillBoy]

i just don't believe the results would have been the same under different circumstances, like meeting them at home in week 7 or something.

i think we walked into a buzzsaw; like cleveland did last year when they opened in pittsburgh and were thorougly bounced.
I think they walked into a buzzsaw in Dallas. The Texans were under the mistaken impression that it was a meaningless preseason game while the Cowboys were out to prove something after getting publicly roasted for their less-than-stellar showing in the previous two preseason games. It appears that someone forgot to send Kubiak that memo. No matter. As I said before, getting bounced is one thing. Getting out and out punked is quite another. Now the official line (spin) coming from the Texans is that this was some sort of "fluke" and that we are going to pretend it never happened. Which, of course, is why I'm not dismissing the Ravens as a possible win because as long as they engage in this line of thought, they will continue to refuse to address the flaws that get exposed when something like this happens. To me, that is the biggest impediment to this team making real progress.

HillBoy, sunday's was schaub's 13th career start - how many players are past time to show it in just their 13th start?! two of those starts (or maybe 1 - can't remember) were in ATl, and then how many last year were without andre johnson? 3? 4?...

in terms of game-time, schaub is still VERY raw; he doesn't even have 16 career starts, let alone 16 in a season. i think he and kubiak deserve a little more time. neither had anything to do with 2002-2005.
Your points are valid. However, Schaub was sold to us as being ready to start because as a veteran QB, he possessed more experience than a rookie QB in his 1st year or, had they drafted a QB in 2006, a 2nd year QB. He was not brought in here at a great cost not to merely be marginally better than the guy they already had (Sage). That is NOT the way he was sold by Kubiak so either Kubiak was being fundamentally dishonest here or Schaub isn't what he was initially made out to be. So now we're hearing the "he's really inexperienced" argument which leads me to then ask: So exactly what is it that makes him a better choice than say a Cutler, Leinart or even a rookie QB if they are all inexperienced and raw?

which of the 32 NFL teams have better overall talent that the texans? think about it...

off the top of my head: NE, PIT, CLE, IND, JAX, probably TEN (based on results, at least), SD, NYG, DAL, PHI, GB, MIN, NO and SEA. all pretty definite.

that's 14 teams and i'd bet DEN, CHI, NYJ, BAL and WAS fans could make decent cases that their rosters are better.
Actually, I'd add DEN, CHI, BAL and NYJ to that list.

so talent-wise, the texans are 15th-ish, if not a little lower... and sure - some of that is kubiak's fault. i think he gave up WAY too much for schaub and most of his larger FA signings have been busts. but he's done well in the draft and filling the back half of the roster so far.
He has indeed proven that he can fill the back half of the roster but his FA signings have been very spotty at best. He has made numerous mistakes that I would consider avoidable but when you are digging yourself out of a chasm like the one he inherited, you have to gamble and his gambles simply haven't worked out. It happens. But I still feel that by now, he should have infused more of an identity into this team by now - preferably one that has zero tolerance for what went down on Sunday. Instead, I'm seeing the same old meek acceptance of mediocrity that I've seen since the Dom days - from the owner on down. Say what you will about Jerry Jones and the Cowboys (and there's an awful lot that can be said) but if the Cowboys puked up a game like Sunday's, it would have NEVER been as meekly accepted nor quickly dismissed as a fluke up here as it was down there.

if he's given two more offseasons, i think (hope) he'll have everyone in place. i mean, HillBoy - outside of johnson and robinson, they had to *literally* upgrade every other starting position and build depth behind it.

let's have a little patience.
Having grew up living (but mostly dying) with the Oilers, I am the epitome of patience. However, as I have posted in the past, as far as the Texans are concerned, their past arrogance and consistant ineptitude has just about exhausted what little patience that was still available when Kubiak took over. At this point in time, I can see Kubiak being given this season and the next to make things happen but that's about it.

[Ric]

Schaub was sold to us as being ready to start because as a veteran QB, he possessed more experience than a rookie QB in his 1st year or, had they drafted a QB in 2006, a 2nd year QB.
yes, kubiak thought he'd have a smaller learning curve and fewer growing pains...

So exactly what is it that makes him a better choice than say a Cutler, Leinart or even a rookie QB if they are all inexperienced and raw?
well, cutler - easily the best QB from the '06 class - didn't make his first start until the 12th game of his rookie year. leinart and young both started early as rookies and posted a 74 and 66.7 rating as rookies.

(none of them can rush the passer, either, btw - would you really deal schaub and williams for any of the three and two 2's?)

meanwhile, schaub posted an above-average 87.2 in his "rookie" season, a mere .9 behind cutler in year 2. and if he and johnson had stayed healthy, he would have posted even better #s.

in the 4 - and only 4 - games that he and johnson both started and finished last year, schaub posted ratings of 101.5, 119.2, 112.3, 78, and finished 3-1.

it is WAY too early to be giving up on schaub.

Actually, I'd add DEN, CHI, BAL and NYJ to that list.
so you're upset the 19th-best team in football, by your own admission, is getting kicked around by one of the best teams in football?.....

But I still feel that by now, he should have infused more of an identity into this team by now - preferably one that has zero tolerance for what went down on Sunday. Instead, I'm seeing the same old meek acceptance of mediocrity that I've seen since the Dom days
HillBoy, how many current starters would kubiak replace right now if he could wave his magic wand?

RB, DT, DE, at least one OLB, at least one CB and both safeties - sound about right? so you think a team that needs to still replace 30% of its starters should have an identity?

Say what you will about Jerry Jones and the Cowboys (and there's an awful lot that can be said) but if the Cowboys puked up a game like Sunday's, it would have NEVER been as meekly accepted nor quickly dismissed as a fluke up here as it was down there.
the cowboys, who haven't won a playoff game since 1998 and hired chan gailey, dave campo and wade phillips?

and HillBoy, don't you think it's maybe a tad unfair to rip the team for its response to a butt-kicking before... you know, they've had a chance to actually respond to said butt-kicking?......

[rrj_gamz]

I'm just happy to be seeing the game on TV..My first MNF game is the Texans...nice...

[HillBoy]

yes, kubiak thought he'd have a smaller learning curve and fewer growing pains...
Well maybe so but Schaub was Kubiak's call so he'll have to live or die with him.

well, cutler - easily the best QB from the '06 class - didn't make his first start until the 12th game of his rookie year. leinart and young both started early as rookies and posted a 74 and 66.7 rating as rookies.
Coming up to that draft, the two young QBs I liked were Cutler & Leinart with the edge at that time towards Leinart. I just was never really sold on VY because of (a) the system he played in at UT and (b) his weird throwing motion and lack of accuracy so I never got involved in all of the VY vs. MW hype. I do feel that he has been mishandled at Tennessee from the start but that's just routine for any team owned by someone named Bud Adams. After all, he does have a history of butchering promising young QBs.

(none of them can rush the passer, either, btw - would you really deal schaub and williams for any of the three and two 2's?)
Now THAT's a really great sports bar question. I suppose it would all depend on which position you would consider to be the most important. In that respect, I would lean toward the QB since his position is the most vital one to the entire offense. But I can also see the value of having a disruptive DE. However, at this point in time, I am so unimpressed with Schaub that were Denver to offer us Cutler for Schaub in a straight up exchange, I'd do it in a heart beat.

meanwhile, schaub posted an above-average 87.2 in his "rookie" season, a mere .9 behind cutler in year 2. and if he and johnson had stayed healthy, he would have posted even better #s.

in the 4 - and only 4 - games that he and johnson both started and finished last year, schaub posted ratings of 101.5, 119.2, 112.3, 78, and finished 3-1.

it is WAY too early to be giving up on schaub.
Maybe so, but from where I'm sitting, the clock is most definitely ticking on him and the one thing he simply cannot afford to do is to continue to evoke comparisons with his predecessor.

so you're upset the 19th-best team in football, by your own admission, is getting kicked around by one of the best teams in football?...
Oh, I don't put much stock in that '19th best team in football" talk because it strikes me as some sort of consolation to excuse away the dismal fortunes of this team thus far. But at any rate, by this point in time, they shouldn't look like a complete doormat while losing to anybody. I can accept their losing games because they aren't good enough to be considered elite but there is no way I can accept them losing in the manner that they did last Sunday.

HillBoy, how many current starters would kubiak replace right now if he could wave his magic wand?

RB, DT, DE, at least one OLB, at least one CB and both safeties - sound about right? so you think a team that needs to still replace 30% of its starters should have an identity?
Hmm, another very good question. I think you are spot on here as well. About the only think we would disagree on here is the matter of trust in Kubiak's judgement to make the right call on personnel. You appear to have far more trust in that ability than do I at this point in time but that's OK because we both want this team to succeed.

the cowboys, who haven't won a playoff game since 1998 and hired chan gailey, dave campo and wade phillips?
Yeah, that's exactly what I meant by "and there are an awful lot of things you can say about the Cowboys". But what you may not be aware of was something that happened after the Cowboys looked clueless in the 1st preseason game. When talking to the press after the game, ol' JJ was just about livid at the performance of his team especially on special teams. He ripped them good saying at one point that they (Cowboys) had too much talent on this team to come out looking he way they did. Now JJ may indeed be full of himself or may have had one face lift too many but he was spot on when he said that. In fact, I'd love to see McNair get Po'ed and finally say enough is enough and start laying down some concrete expectations for his organization and team but that's a discussion for another day. That statement should also apply to these Texans because after the overhaul job Smith & Kubiak have done on this roster, there is simply no way they should come out and look that inept anymore.

and HillBoy, don't you think it's maybe a tad unfair to rip the team for its response to a butt-kicking before... you know, they've had a chance to actually respond to said butt-kicking?......
No because it was the same old tired-ass response they've been serving up for the last 5 years. By now, they all have it memorized so well they can recite it in their sleep. This defeatist attitude has become institutionalized with this franchise and it's well past time it was gone. That is up to Kubiak to change it but he'd better do it fast or he may just find himself scanning the want ads for open coordinator positions. Like I said before, I see him with this season and the next to turn things around but that's about it. It may not be fair but that's the business he signed up for and as someone once remarked: NFL stands for "Not For Long".

[Ric]

I am so unimpressed with Schaub that were Denver to offer us Cutler for Schaub in a straight up exchange, I'd do it in a heart beat.
HillBoy, i'm pretty sure kubiak would do that, too - cutler is younger and (i'm guessing) cheaper. but that's not the question nor was it an option - unless you're willing to pass on mario williams.

Maybe so, but from where I'm sitting, the clock is most definitely ticking on him and the one thing he simply cannot afford to do is to continue to evoke comparisons with his predecessor.
schaub was markedly better last year than carr was in his last two years here. i'm not schaub's biggest fan (his red zone awareness bothers me and i don't believe he'll ever justify his cost), but he HAS upgraded the position.

Oh, I don't put much stock in that '19th best team in football" talk because it strikes me as some sort of consolation to excuse away the dismal fortunes of this team thus far.
dismal fortunes?... it's one game!

But at any rate, by this point in time, they shouldn't look like a complete doormat while losing to anybody. I can accept their losing games because they aren't good enough to be considered elite but there is no way I can accept them losing in the manner that they did last Sunday.
again, you can't discount the circumstances: an infinitely better team hosting you on opening weekend. that's a receipe for disaster.

You appear to have far more trust in that ability than do I at this point in time but that's OK because we both want this team to succeed.
his drafts have been exceptional.

When talking to the press after the game, ol' JJ was just about livid at the performance of his team especially on special teams. He ripped them good saying at one point that they (Cowboys) had too much talent on this team to come out looking he way they did. Now JJ may indeed be full of himself or may have had one face lift too many but he was spot on when he said that. In fact, I'd love to see McNair get Po'ed and finally say enough is enough and start laying down some concrete expectations for his organization and team but that's a discussion for another day.
is he not doing this behind closed doors?...

it's typical JJ would air that publically; he craves the limelight. mcnair doesn't and we're all better for it.

No because it was the same old tired-ass response they've been serving up for the last 5 years. By now, they all have it memorized so well they can recite it in their sleep. This defeatist attitude has become institutionalized with this franchise and it's well past time it was gone.
eh; all-new group - few of these players and coaches were here from 2002-2005. i doubt this was scripted, it just had a familiar ring to it.

they'll be OK.

[rhino17]

anyone know where i can watch this game online?

[ima_drummer2k]

anyone know where i can watch this game online?
Well, you're going to have to wait a few more weeks.

[rhino17]

Well, you're going to have to wait a few more weeks.
......why?

[rhino17]

damn, i realized i didnt post this in the titans thread, by bad

[TMac#1]

Is anybody else getting the Cincinnati-New York game???

[Egghead]

Is anybody else getting the Cincinnati-New York game???

I am, whats going on?

[arkoe]

It's on the SD channel for some reason but not the HD channel. This sucks.

[RedRaiderRocket]

Shaub looking lost though he did throw a good pass to AJ in the endzone which AJ dropped.

[RedRaiderRocket]

3-0 Texans.

[TMac#1]

Interception and the offense goes backwards. It looks like the 2-14 Texans out there. They look terrible out there.

[arkoe]

BTW, this is the Ravens game thread. The Titans game isn't stickied.

[RedRaiderRocket]

4th and 1 big play for texans.

[RedRaiderRocket]

Td Titans.

[RedRaiderRocket]

Interception Titans time for Sage.

[jojobabbu]

Td Titans.
GOD THIS TEAM SUX!

[RedRaiderRocket]

Kubiak challenging it looked like he had it when I saw.

[TMac#1]

It looks like the 2-14 Texans out there. They look terrible out there.

And I repeat - this is a bad football team.

[RedRaiderRocket]

Kubiak loses another challenge.

[JunkyardDwg]

I'm confused, when did the Texans re-sign David Carr?

[jojobabbu]

DWAYNE BROWN LOOKS HORRIBLE....

[TMac#1]

Sure there is talent deficiencies, but the defensive schemes are pathetic. The defensive coordiantor should proabably be fired tomorrow if we get blown out.

[KingCheetah]

Texans are looking stellar today.

[jojobabbu]

jesus the defense sux....I just don't get it...why is this team soooo bad??? past three drafts haven't been that bad....ugh

[LonghornFan]

Why did we not challenge that catch???

[jojobabbu]

Why did we not challenge that catch???
sometimes i feel like its more the coaching staff and not the players...this entire team just sux

[jojobabbu]

another loss in the books....not as pathetic as the steelers loss though...kubiak should step down..and whomever is in charge of challenging plays....

[DaDakota]

another loss in the books....not as pathetic as the steelers loss though...kubiak should step down..and whomever is in charge of challenging plays....

Matt Schaub is horrible.....simply horrible.

Haynesworth is right.

DD

[Bobblehead]

Kubiak stinks.

Not throwing the red flag when the Titan was obviously out of bounds.
Not kicking a FG with 5:00 to go in the 3rd.
If you kicked that FG, then you can kick a FG in the 4th when they were in the redzone twice.
Not bringing in Sage.
Keeping Smith around as the worst Def Cord in the NFL.

BTW - Shaub stinks also. He IS DAVID CARR!!!!

[Ottomaton]

There is absoultely no excuse for the defense to suck as it has. But given the two defenses that the offense has faced, it is not unreasonable that they will do better. There are quite a few QB's who will have pathetic games against the Titan's defense this year. Carson Palmer looked pretty craptastic against Tennessee last week.

[solid]

The Texans are not a very good professional football team. What else can you say? They certainly don't appear to be on the verge of a "break out" season. Shaub looks so ordinary. Both offensive and defensive lines look ordinary to below average. The defensive backfield, well, do the Texans have a defensive backfield? The rookie running back looked pretty good. Unfortunately, the team as a whole doesn't. The only people excited about the Texans are players on the next team that is going to play them.

[leroy420]

What pisses me off the most is that the Texans SHOULD have won this game. I was defending Schaub until today. The defense played a fantastic 2nd half to give the offense every chance to win this game. Schaub did nothing but give up. Maybe Haynesworth was right. Maybe Schaub is scared. He sure as hell looked like it. Sage Rosenfels should be named the starter next week.

On a positive note, Steve Slaton is the real deal. That was a fantastic game he had. Also, the defense had a great 2nd half, forcing punt after punt and only giving up the 1 field goal.