AJ not playing hurts and texans will more than likely lose. however my homerism and optimism for the year (until the first lost) will not allow me to make that my final answer. Green will have a helluva day rushing the ball and the texans will eat up the clock. the defense will hold strong...bend but not break. 24-17
With AJ most likely out (Kubiak didn't say for sure), I'd settle for a good game and getting a few good licks on Peyton. Even if we lose, we'll be 3-1 after we beat Atlanta the next week. Will this be the game of the week for CBS?
I got a good feeling about this game...Well, with the exception of AJ not being around... Texans: 24 Colts: 21
Can you kick a football a quarter mile? Owen Daniels will need a huge game. If we can pound the ball and keep the colt's offense off the field, I think we have a shot. Texans 27 Colts 24
The Texans can beat the Colts without Andre Johnson but a lot of things are going to have to fall in place. First, we absolutely CANNOT fall behind early like we did against Carolina, because the only way to beat the Colts is to keep Peyton Manning off the field. In order to do that, you have to go with a run-heavy offense, and when you are behind, running the ball simply isn't an option. Ahman Green and Ron Dayne are going to have to shoulder a heavy load, but I think they are up for the challenge. Second, our defensive line is going to have to continue getting pressure on the QB and force him to move around in the pocket. If you give Peyton time to go through his reads, he will burn you. Third, Jacoby Jones and Owen Daniels are going to have to catch anything and everything that comes remotely near them, because we have to move the ball against their defense. Bob Sanders is going to wreak a LOT of havoc on us since we won't have Andre out there to stretch the field. In a perfect world, Jacoby will use this spotlight to slide his way into a breakout game, and hopefully force the Colts to play an earnest pass defense. Fouth, we have to do our part. Those of us fortunate enough to be able to go to this game HAVE TO BE LOUD! If you have your voice after this game is over, you did not do your job. WEAR STEEL BLUE, BE LOUD, AND BE THE 12TH MAN! GO TEXANS!!!!
The Titans gave the Colts all they could handle last weekend. That said, the Titans are a completely different team than the Texans, in that Tennessee is a running team and the Colts can't defend the run. I *KNOW* Ahman can move the chains and hit the holes for 5-7 yards like he has the last couple of weeks. The wildcard to me (especially with AJ out) is if Dayne can rise to the challenge. If they can be thunder and lightning this week, they can open up the passing game, and more importantly keep the Colts offense off the field. If this can happen and Jacoby & Kevin Walter can stick to their routes for Schaub (how impressive is HE so far??), this game is ours for the taking. Is it too much to ask that all of this go perfect??
Evidently it wasn't too much to ask last Christmas--with half the running backs (from a talent perspective) and half the quarterback, no less. The Texans are better now than they were then, especially on D. But the Colts may have been looking past the Texans to the postseason. Now we'll get a focused Colts team with some paybacks on their mind. I hope it will be a good game. I hope the Texans win.
I just want to see them continue to do damn near everything right. I realize they are probably over-matched talent-wise, but as long as they continue to play good, I can rest easy knowing that they are for real. A win *is* possible and I expect one....but will be ok with a loss as long as they do like I said above.
If you are able to force Peyton out of the pocket and get him to move around out there, then your defense will have the most success against the Colts. The problem that most teams have with him is that they give him too much time to get the ball out and like someone else wrote earlier he will beat you every time like that. If I were the Texans, I would use the same defensive strategy that the Steelers used on him in the 2005 playoffs, which was not lining up on the line of scrimmage and standing around each other so that Peyton could not read the defense and make any pre snap adjustments. Then once the ball is snapped go into my defense. Whatever defensive plan the Texans have in mind, I do know that some kind of way the Texans front seven are going to have to collaspe the pocket in order for the Texans to pull out a win. In any event lets have a good football game and GO TEXANS!!
I don't know, the way our front 4 has looked in the first 2 games, we might not even need any gimmicks like that to get to Peyton. Is it true the Colts have a rookie starting on their O-line? Put Mario on him the whole game! Is TJ coming back this game?
I'll be very interested to see who CBS puts in the booth for the game...it's a widely known fact that it will be the best game on the schedule this weekend.
