I did a 6 point teaser with 4 games: Browns -0.5 at home against Bengals. Texans -3 at home against Colts. Cardinals -1 at home against Panthers. Patriots -1 at Dolphins. $25 pays off $75.
When you're facing your biggest division rival without their best player at home, that's a must win. I don't care what week it is.
So if what if they lose tomorrow, but go on to win 9-10 games and the AFC South? Still a must win? That's a perfectly realistic scenario. That said, they absolutely SHOULD win, but if they don't, it doesn't mean the season is lost.
What ifs? What if they lose tomorrow, Schaub gets hurt, Kubiak pulls a stagger lee, and nobody shows up for the next game? Really? If they lose tomorrow at home and do not play well against this team without one of the best players in the league, it doesn't speak well for the rest of the season.
I'm sure everyone hasn't forgotten the Jets' game??? Whether it's week 1, 6 or 16 conference/divisional rivalry games are huge. Make no mistake, playoffs or bust so this would be a huge step in that direction. Won't dedicate how the season will go, or it might, but might be the game will look at back and smile or shake our heads...the Jets' game should be a constant reminder of how important these games can be.
Colts lost their first two division games last year against inferior teams. Ended up 10-6 and winning the AFC South. Point is, as long as your record is good enough at the end of the season, it makes absolutely zero difference where and when you got your wins. In 2009, if you turn ANY of our losses into a win, we make the playoffs. Not just the Jets game.
I would caution comparing the Texans to the Colts even in a down year for those guys. They have the pedigree to do something like that but just look up the number of teams who have rallied after an 0-2 start. I rather not depend on having to do something like that to make the playoffs. IMHO, conference/division games are vastly more important then out of conference games due to tiebreakers. Which is why 2009 is a good point of reference. Okay, so if you want to flip a loss into a win for any game besides the Jets game then it would only be fair to do the same for the Jets,what ifs work that way...we still looking from outside in. Lets say we flip the Jets game only and give them any other win on their schedule that was a loss....we make the playoffs and they don't. Not going to say this is a must win but a loss gives us a conference/division loss and a home loss which puts us behind the eight ball. Not all 10-6 records are created equally...if we lose let it be to the NFC.
the only way the sky wont be falling on monday is if we win by 2+ TDs. the texans are a more talented team than the colts this year with or without a healty peyton. it remains to be seen whether kubiak holds this team back or not. I think its too late in his tenure to give him the benefit of the doubt, so I caan't blame fans for waiting until kubiak proves them wrong until they jump on the bandwagon. but with all of the positives on the defensive side of the ball this preseason I can't help but be optimistic. I am equally excited to see how efficient this offensive bunch is. after listening to some of LZs analysis of the confusion it causes for defenses when you have casey line up as a FB I am going to be keeping a keen eye on the different formations he is a part of tomorrow. I am going to go on the record and say 34-13 Texans.
I say: Texans 31 Colts 17 Foster doesn't play. Tate has 120 yards, Ward has 95 yards. Schaub with 305 passing yards.
Game ones can have enormous consequences. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_Houston_Texans_season#Week_1:_vs._New_York_Jets
