I think we have the potential for letdown games against Tennessee, Minnesota and/or one of the Indy games. I also think we have the potential for an upset against Chicago or NE but am going to predict losses here. The Detroit game is a complete wild card for me. If they get their act together, it will be a tough one. I think 12-4 or 11-5 when all is said and done.
W 11/4 - vs. Buffalo (3-4) W 11/11 - @ Chicago (4-1) W 11/18 - vs. Jacksonville (1-5) W 11/22 - @ Detroit (2-3) L 12/2 - @ Tennessee (3-4) L 12/10 - @ New England (4-3) W 12/16 - vs. Indianapolis (3-3) L 12/23 - vs. Minnesota (5-2) L 12/30 - @ Indianapolis (3-3)
Beating Chicago isn't an upset. The Texans might be slight underdogs in that game, but the Bears are not a great (read: consistent) team. I wouldn't be surprised to see us favored.
If we were 11-4 going into the last week with a loss against NE, it's very possible that NE could be 10-5 or 11-4 themselves which would make the last week matter for playoff positioning, in which case we probably wouldn't rest our starters against Indy in week 17. I can't see us losing 4 out of 5 to end the season.
I just can't predict wins and losses because it all depends on how soon we (hopefully) have the AFC wrapped up. It's not out of the question to think that when we beat NE, we have everything wrapped up. Which means the next 3 games are totally meaningless, so who knows how the team approaches them.
I'd love to be 15-1, but if they have the AFC clinched after the Week 14 game against NE, I wouldn't be against slowing down. I still want the starters to play in those games, but at a much reduced role. Don't want anyone to get rusty, especially when they'd have a week off after Week 17.
The Texans are pretty good too. We will probably be 7-1 when we play the Bears. A 7-1 team winning a game is not an upset.
Bears could just as easily be 7-1 and have home field advantage. Soldier Field ain't no joke. It wouldn't be a major upset but I definitely expect the Texans to be getting points in that game.
