Looking forward to the game. It's hard to believe this is the first NFL playoff game in Houston since '94. Scheduled Kickoff: 3:35 Game Release Flip Card Preliminary Roof Report: Closed Uniform: Blue Jersey / White Pants Go Texans!
Except for the fact that they have beat them this year, in their house, without AJ, who will be starting for us Saturday.
Dang Blue Jersey / White pants! In our 8 home games, we're undefeated at home in wearing any other combination other than the one they're going with on Saturday and have a losing record in this combo. White Jersye / White pants - beat the Colts in the home opener Red Jersey / White pants - beat the Jags Blue Jersey / Blue pants - beat the Falcons Blue Jersey / White pants: 2-3 Pittsburgh - W Oakland - L Cleveland - W Carolina - L Tennessee - L
It's possible (and quite likely) the NFL won't allow teams to use alternate uniforms in the playoffs.
Thoughts on the roof being closed last week, and likely this week, with picture-perfect weather outside?
http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/scou...der.espn.go.com/nfl/scouting?gameId=320107034 can someone with insider please post this online. Thanks
I have a feeling it will be closed no matter what, but that place can be plenty loud with the roof open. I remember MNF two or three years ago, can't remember if it was against Jax or Tennessee, but it was plenty loud in there with the roof open. I think it actually gives the building a little more energy...something our fans could definitely use.
If Seattle's stadium can be loud with all that open air, so can Reliant... but at this point, I think we may be tempting some crazy (astrodome-like) karma by keeping the roof shut simply to try and gain a homefield advantage. They started straying from the 50-80 rule with the Carolina game, which was the game after the Atlanta game where the stadium was the loudest its been since the very first game, with the roof closed due to rain... I think they were trying to re-capture that magic by keeping the roof shut, but all its done is cause them to go winless in games where the roof "should" be open, but isn't.
Bengals-Texans: 10 observations By Matt Williamson Scouts Inc. After breaking down film of both teams, Scouts Inc. offers 10 things to watch in the wild-card matchup between the Bengals and Texans. 1. Beat an upper-tier team: The Bengals were 5-3 on the road in 2011, but they have not proved they can beat the better franchises. The Texans were 5-3 at home, but Houston rested Arian Foster, Owen Daniels and Johnathan Joseph in Week 17 against the Titans to help them stay fresh for the playoffs. In the first quarter, QB T.J. Yates left the game with a shoulder injury and was replaced by Jake Delhomme. It does appear Yates will start in this game, though. The Texans did get defensive coordinator Wade Phillips back from medical leave, which is big from a play-calling and adjustment standpoint. These teams met in Week 14 in Cincinnati, a game Houston won 20-19 despite turning the ball over four times. The Texans have turned the ball over nine times in their final four regular-season games. This could be a very low-scoring game, and special teams could play a major role. That favors Cincinnati, although kicker Mike Nugent hasn't been very good lately. 2. Slow down a great running game: Foster should be fresh for this game, but the Texans will still rotate Ben Tate into the backfield. That makes defending Houston's zone-blocking rushing attack very difficult. The Texans might have the best run-blocking offensive line in the NFL, and their skill players are also very effective blockers in the run game, which can be essential in the breaking off of long runs. The Bengals' defense has struggled against the run in the red zone, and Baltimore rushed for 228 against this defense in Week 17. Ray Rice controlled the game, and much of his production came between the tackles. 3. Get to Yates: It is imperative for the Bengals to make Houston's rookie quarterback uncomfortable within the pocket. The Texans' pass blocking has been excellent this year, and they are especially strong at tackle. They are not household names, but Carlos Dunlap and Geno Atkins are difference-makers rushing the passer for Cincinnati. The Bengals did sack Yates five times in Week 14. 4. Get Benson rolling: The Bengals are a run-based offense and have eclipsed 100 yards on the ground in nine consecutive games, but running backs are putting up miniscule numbers against this Texans defense, which is particularly difficult to run against in the red zone. The Bengals' offense is much better passing in the red zone than running. Overall, this is an average run-blocking offensive line. Fumbling has been an issue lately for Cedric Benson, but he is the type of back who needs a heavy workload to be most effective. Bernard Scott also will factor in as a change-of-pace back with big-play ability. 5. Matchup to watch: Bengals WR A.J. Green vs. Texans CB Johnathan Joseph: Green is battling a shoulder injury, but the Bengals absolutely must do a better job of getting him the ball than they did in the final game of the regular season. Jerome Simpson also has fantastic athletic tools, but Green is the big-play guy whom defenses fear. Houston's overall pass coverage is excellent, but Joseph is the Texans' best cover man and had a fantastic season. They most likely will align him on Green more often than not. Joseph also is an excellent tackler and rarely allows a lot of yardage after the catch. 6. What can we expect from Andre Johnson? Johnson caught just two passes for 21 yards in Week 17, and it is probably too much to expect for him to be at 100 percent for this matchup. But when he's right, there are very few players like him. The Texans have struggled throwing the ball in the red zone, but Houston's receivers have been extremely sure-handed in 2011. Cincinnati lacks depth in the secondary, and the coverage ability on the back end is the weakest component of its defense. Yates threw for 300 yards when these teams met during the regular season, and the Bengals' secondary had a rough day in that matchup. 7. Take some risks: This isn't to suggest Houston should change its approach, which is to play superb defense and run the ball very effectively. But Houston's play calling was extremely conservative at the end of the season. That might not cut it in the playoffs. This team is on a three-game losing streak. 8. Hit Dalton: Houston is excellent at pressuring opposing quarterbacks. The Texans get ample production from their interior pass-rushers, J.J. Watt and Antonio Smith, and edge rushers Connor Barwin and Brooks Reed. Given their excellent secondary, Phillips isn't bashful about bringing added pressure. Phillips will throw a lot at Cincinnati's rookie quarterback, but Andy Dalton is clearly ahead of the game from an intellectual level. Dalton had a very rough first half in Week 17 against the Ravens, and his numbers have suffered in the final quarter of the regular season. But he remains very poised for a rookie and shows excellent anticipation. The Texans are also very adept at batting passes down at the line of scrimmage, which could pose problems for Dalton, who has just average size. 9. Keep using the tight ends: The Texans' tight ends are very important aspects of their offense. Houston will employ a lot of multiple-tight end sets, and it use the TEs in many ways and alignments. Daniels caught seven passes for 100 yards in Week 14 and James Casey had nearly 100 yards receiving in Week 17. Both could cause problems for Cincinnati. 10. Matchup to watch: Texans RB Arian Foster vs. Bengals MLB Rey Maualuga: The Texans obviously have a fantastic system for rushing the football, but don't discount just how great Foster truly is. He fits this system perfectly, will excel inside or out, can be physical with the ball in his hands or run away from defenders in the open field. Foster also has superb patience, vision and cutback ability. He is sure to receive plenty of targets in the passing game as well and has an advantage one-on-one against any of Cincinnati's linebackers in coverage. Maualuga is a big, physical interior presence but also is quite inconsistent. He and the rest of Cincinnati's run defense must show great gap integrity against Foster. Prediction: Cincinnati 14 Houston 17
I knew this already, and I'm sure many others did as well, but it has to do with importance of the Passer Rating Differential stat. Anyway they had a piece on NFL Total Access last night about peaking but it had info on PRD as well. http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-videos/09000d5d8258639f/Football-Freakonomics-Peaking Something like 40 of the last 71 NFL/Super Bowl champions were ranked first or second in this stat (it was introduced in 2009). The notable aberration was the 2007 Giants but Eli was hot during that playoff run. 2010 Packers #1 vs. Steelers #4 2009 Saints #1 vs. Colts #5 The Texans finished the season 3rd right behind second place New Orleans and well behind the ungodly Packers, meaning the Texans lead the AFC in this stat going into the playoffs. And you cannot write it all off to Matt Schaub either. Week 12 @ JAX: Leinart 110.1/ Yates 66 vs. Gabbert 44.6/ McCown 78.6 Week 13 vs. ATL: Yates 86.8 vs. Ryan 50.6 Week 14 @ CIN: Yates 85.4 vs. Dalton 89.7 Week 15 vs. CAR: Yates 56.5 vs. Newton 105.2 Week 16 @ IND: Yates 101 vs. Orlovsky 81.8 Week 17 vs. TEN: Yates 115.6/ Delhomme 99 vs. Hasselbeck 108.9 Of note is the fact that Hasselbeck faced a lot 2nd and 3rd stringers and AJ has not played since the Atlanta game, I think some are forgetting just how much of a difference he can make; and the Wade Phillips situation. The only really bad game was the Carolina game. Here are the final 2011 rankings. You will notice Cincinnati at 18th. This stat is not just about QB play it also measures the strength of a team's defense. http://instantreplay1.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/passer-rusher-rating-week-17.jpg I know this cannot take into account the intangible things like playoff experience and home field advantage and random things like officiating, though it is mentioned in another football freakonomics video that home teams do get penalized less on average, and of course turnovers. I think what this does show is the Texans are not the long shots some talking heads are making them out to be and that includes going well past this weekend.
I think playing without Schaub and Johnson is having a bigger impact than the state of the freaking roof.
Sure... but without them, they need all the help they can get. I don't think they're doing the right thing... and they're not going to admit that they're doing it solely for home field advantage.
Noise. That place will be ear drum busting loud with the roof closed and when the pressure is on and Dalton forgets to look up at the clock that may be the penalty that saves us the game.
The place is gonna be crazy this Saturday I cant wait. I think the noise will give the Bungholes problems. Gonna have some fajitas on the grill, vodka in the freezer, and some dank ready to roll...
