9/13 vs. New York Jets – Win 9/20 at Tennessee Titans (CBS) – Loss 9/27 vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (CBS) – Win 10/4 vs. Oakland Raiders (CBS) – Win 10/11 at Arizona Cardinals (CBS) – Loss 10/18 at Cincinnati Bengals (CBS) – Win 10/25 vs. San Francisco 49ers (FOX) – Win 11/1 at Buffalo Bills (CBS) – Win 11/8 at Indianapolis Colts (CBS) – Win 11/15 BYE 11/23 vs. Tennessee Titans (ESPN)# – Win 11/29 vs. Indianapolis Colts (CBS) – Win 12/6 at Jacksonville Jaguars (CBS) – Win 12/13 vs. Seattle Seahawks (FOX) – Win 12/20 at St. Louis Rams (CBS) – Win 12/27 at Miami Dolphins (CBS) – Win 1/3 vs. New England Patriots (CBS) – Loss Final Record: 13-3 (Yeah, baby!) Division Record: 4-1 (Yeah, baby! Part 2!) Offense MVP: Andre Johnson Defense MVP: Mario Williams Most Improved: Amobi Okoye Defensive rookie of the year: Clay Matthews
Well, at least we won't be starting 1-4 this year and spending the rest of the season trying to catch up. Agree about that NE game. That's the first thing I thought of when I heard it this morning. Hopefully Brady and Co. will have everything wrapped up by then and will be resting their starters. I would say 11-5, but we usually lay an egg somewhere in there, so I'll go with 10-6 and a wildcard berth. We all know this, but come on...this is what you're SUPPOSED to do when the schedule is released. Every fan of every team is doing the same thing.
With the Texans playing the cowboys next year, I wonder if the league would make it on Thanksgiving day.
9/13 vs. New York Jets – Win 9/20 at Tennessee Titans (CBS) – Loss 9/27 vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (CBS) – Win 10/4 vs. Oakland Raiders (CBS) – Win 10/11 at Arizona Cardinals (CBS) – Win 10/18 at Cincinnati Bengals (CBS) – Win 10/25 vs. San Francisco 49ers (FOX) – Win 11/1 at Buffalo Bills (CBS) – Loss 11/8 at Indianapolis Colts (CBS) – Loss 11/15 BYE 11/23 vs. Tennessee Titans (ESPN)# – Win 11/29 vs. Indianapolis Colts (CBS) – Loss 12/6 at Jacksonville Jaguars (CBS) – Win 12/13 vs. Seattle Seahawks (FOX) – Win 12/20 at St. Louis Rams (CBS) – Win 12/27 at Miami Dolphins (CBS) – Win 1/3 vs. New England Patriots (CBS) – Loss Final Record: 11-5 I think this is the year we finally learn how to win on the road. Tough losses at home to Indy and New England, though the latter is tough to call because the Pats could very well be set and have nothing to play for. I don't think Arizona will be as tough as many think...seeing as how they really weren't great in the regular season last year. On the contrary, Cincinnati could be a trap game...they shouldn't be as bad as last year.
My thought process: Split the division games - they're always something of a coin flip anyway since the teams know each other like brothers. (3-3) Take care of business at home - we should be able to handle the following without worry: Jets, Raiders, 49ers, Seahawks (7-3) Take care of business on the road - despite being away, the Rams and Bengals should be pathetic. (9-3) Coin Flip games - we *could* win these games, but no sense in thinking we won't drop some: At Arizona, Buffalo, Miami, home versus the Pats (10-6) * - I'd otherwise say the Pats game is a sure loss, but last game of the season could mean we're playing for something and they're resting their starters. 10 and 6 is where I think we'll end up, assuming health and focus. I don't think there's much of an excuse for not getting at least 9 wins. 9/13 vs. New York Jets – Win 9/20 at Tennessee Titans (CBS) – Loss 9/27 vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (CBS) – Win 10/4 vs. Oakland Raiders (CBS) – Win 10/11 at Arizona Cardinals (CBS) – Loss 10/18 at Cincinnati Bengals (CBS) – Win 10/25 vs. San Francisco 49ers (FOX) – Win 11/1 at Buffalo Bills (CBS) – Loss 11/8 at Indianapolis Colts (CBS) – Loss 11/15 BYE 11/23 vs. Tennessee Titans (ESPN)# – Win 11/29 vs. Indianapolis Colts (CBS) – Win 12/6 at Jacksonville Jaguars (CBS) – Loss 12/13 vs. Seattle Seahawks (FOX) – Win 12/20 at St. Louis Rams (CBS) – Win 12/27 at Miami Dolphins (CBS) – Win 1/3 vs. New England Patriots (CBS) – Loss Final Record: 10-6
I know I addressed this on the previous page, but I'm surprised everyone is penciling in the New England game as a loss. If they're as good as most people think they will be (with Brady), the odds are that they'll have everything wrapped up by the final weekend and will rest starters. If they're still playing for something, it most likely means they're a good but not great team -- i.e. the type of opponent the Texans should beat in a home game. Aside from that, I love that of the three biggest non-Patriots games (Titans on 9/20, Titans on 11/23, Colts on 11/29, two of them have clearly lesser opponents in the following week (Jags at home on 9/27, Jags 12/6). The reason being, young teams experiencing success for the first time tend to get a little too high after big, statement wins (see performance at Oakland in December after beating Titans) and I want opponents to be as easy as possible after those games, in case there's a letdown. Likewise, if you lose a big statement game, it's always nice to have an easier opponent the next week to halt the downward momentum. I'm not so much worried about any letdown after the New England game -- if there are any games after then, they would be playoffs, and I think we'll be plenty motivated then.
Switch the Arizona and Buffalo W-L and thats how I'd draw it up. Or they drop a game against the Jaguars or Dolphins that last stretch. And me being being even less generous and guessing a 9-7 finish. Hoping this team can have consistent 3-1/2-1 W-L stretches, no having to rely on 6 game win streaks and all that.
12-4...I really believe that. Everything from the schedule seemingly much more favorable...to no richard smith...to more focus on defense(DRAFT, FREE AGENCY)...to Slaton having the 1 year experience behind him...to players such as Dunta realizing his performance NOW equals long term big money here or there...to Mario getting a little more help...and no richard smith, etc. translates to this being an expectation!
