They shouldn't but the Raiders are scaring me. They will definitely test the Texans' run defense and their WRs speed is a bit scary. Not having AJ obviously keeps them less honest in the passing game so that line of scrimmage is going to be seeing a lot of congestion. The fact that the Pats shredded them on the ground is a good sign, but i'm sure the raiders were more concerned with stopping the pass. If Jacoby doesnt have a good game now, then ...then hell, time to spend a 1st or 2nd round pick on a WR
I want to see tons of play action passes to Daniels and lots of screen passes to Foster and Casey. I think they're gonna stack the box with Andre out, and that's the way to beat them. Their secondary is trash, I wouldn't mind running Arian on routes downfield too. Time for Jacoby to step up.
While the pass rush has come around, I'm still not confident in the Texans ability to stop the run. I expect McFadden to get consistent yardage. I just hope we can stop him from breaking any huge runs, and Foster breaks a couple of them himself. If that happens, we can force the Raiders into field goal attempts and that would win the game. I'm pretty excited about this game, though. It's a pass-happy league now, but you have two teams that like to line up and run the ball down your throat (and do a pretty good job of it). If you're a fan of offensive linemen and blocking schemes, this is your game.
I don't know how scheduling works, but doesn't it feel like we play the Raiders every year? I know we've played them at least 4 years in a row...
They've both been finishing in the same place in their respective divisions. When a team finishes in 1st place, then the next year they have to play the other AFC teams that finished in first place, etc.
This is the 6th straight year we've played the Raiders. We're 5-1 all time against them. Other than the '08 debacle, IIRC the score has always been closer than the game really went. We usually control the game pretty well against these guys, and I expect this to be no different. They are a decent football team but there is no excuse for losing to them.
Umm, the Raiders haven't run a 3-4 since the 90s. Tidbits: The Raiders Run Defense is not as bad as the stats make it look, basically they're Jeckyl and Hyde. They can shut down a very good running back one week, then get gashed left and right by mediocre backs the next. The defensive line is stout, but if the LBs can't fill gaps and make tackles, they'll stand no chance. If Foster makes one cut and Rolando McClain still has his head up his ass, then it'll be a long day. They are a talented but very, very poorly disciplined defense, they will commit stupid penalties, not be in their correct gaps to make tackles, and flat out miss tackles and blow coverages. The Secondary is ripe for the picking right now, Stanford Routt is a good cover corner and has basically assumed the Asomugha role in the defense, but the other corners are rookies and practice squad fodder. Offensively they are a very different team from the years past. They will throw in a mix of run and pass. Loads of play action. The Offensive line isn't very celebrated by any means, but they've been able to protect Campbell very well so far this season. They will try and run McFadden early and often, and throw in some reverses to either Denarius Moore or Jacoby Ford to keep the defense guessing. None of the receivers are consistent, but usually one out of the 3-4 guys they have will receive a majority of targets. Last week it was Heyward-Bey, against the Bills it was Denarius Moore. Derek Hagan is a possession receiver who they'll look for on 3rd downs to convert. FB Marcel Reece (If he's healthy) is a dangerous weapon in the passing game because he's a converted WR. If he plays, they will use him off play action in the red zone and try and get him isolated against a slower LB, a matchup he usually wins. The Raiders rarely look to throw it at all in the Red Zone. After last week where Jason Campbell throw a perfect pass right to Patrick Chung you probably understand why. None of their Receivers are red zone targets and even when they had Zach Miller they never looked for him in the red zone. Kevin Boss has a good Red Zone history with the Giants. Usually in the redzone they will just try to run it down your throat with Bush. Healthy dose of McFadden between the 20s, then Bush the goalline back. I think the Raiders will not be able to stop Arian Foster all day, and continue to self-destruct all over the field. They were 2-8 vs teams outside their division last year and don't play well on the road. Texans will probably win comfortably.
Texans control the game with Foster beasting. Foster: Australian for **** YOU MOES! Run DMC: 0 Foster: OVER 9,000!!!!
Stop the running game. And we win. We have a good defense and for the first time this year, our team will focus on stopping the run. There run defense is awful and secondary is just as bad. We should win this game if our defense comes to play.
If you're right, this is promising to me (for the Texans). It sounds like they can stop good backs if they can get penetration with the D-Line, but their linebackers can't make up the difference if they can't. I'm starting to agree with the growing sentiment that the Texans have the best O-Line in the game, especially for run blocking. I think they can get Foster to the second-level on anyone. If Oakland can't stop him with their linebackers and safeties, he could go for 200.
If the Texans "let up" they will lose and lose big; if they "come to play," stay focused, and go all out (blah, blah...) they will win and win big. This is not an open date! The home team is in the "snooze you lose" part of the schedule. Next week is war. Can't afford to lose this one. MUST go into Baltimore 4-1, have to.
Thanks, Moes. I hope the Texans can handle "success" and not let off the gas. Losing Andre hurts, but we've beaten them with him in the past. Buena suerte, Tejanos!
This game should be a win for the Texans. This should be the game where the offense finally puts it all together. Should be the game where Schaub and company put their foot on the gas and don't let up. But for some reason, I feel like it's a classic Texans set up for disappointment. Let's hope I'm wrong and something is different this year. Raiders 24 Texans 17
Stat to keep an eye on... Most Yards Gained Rushing, Both Teams, Game 595 Yards Los Angeles Rams (371) vs. New York Yanks (224) Nov. 18, 1951 If any game is going to have this broken, this could be it.
Hopefully Al Davis will be callin the plays again from the sky box.... This Raiders rushing assault wont last too much longer... Al losin it watchin all that runnin... I think this is the week, Campbell attempts 50 passes
This week has the makings of a trap game: big win at home, Raiders a little better than they "should be", easy to look forward to Baltimore and have the W penciled in prematurely.... Hopefully, a silver lining of Andre's hamstring is that the team will be looking to step up in his absence. I'm hopeful we'll get Tate back and be able to get the dynamic duo going. Defense will get its toughest test against the run. I'm more impressed with them each week, and hopefully the front 7 put McFadden on the pain train. I'm cautiously optimistic that Casey and OD (and Foster) pave the way with a short passing game. I think we're looking at another low scoring one, which means winning the turnover battle will be critical. I'll say 23-16, good guys.
