Pats look to end skid vs. Texans

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Well, that has to make the Patriots feel good, given the number of other injuries they’ve had to deal with this season.

But will this be a December to remember for the Patriots? “Nobody likes to lose games”. There’s a reason he ranks third in the National Football League in both yards (1,169) and touchdowns (10) this season, but there are also a couple numbers that suggest he could be contained if the Patriots play him properly.

Still, with all of the injuries, no one has much sympathy for the Pats (or any other team) and Hightower knows it’s just part of the job. The Patriots would prefer to pass (they’re first in yards), but the Texans can handle that (they’re No. 3 in yards allowed). The Patriots will walk away from Texas with an improved record of 11-2.

Another week, another tough test for the New England Patriots.

“I’m looking forward to this game”.

New England is coming off back-to-back losses to Denver (30-24, OT) and Philadelphia (35-28).

Bill Wippert Houston nose tackle Vince Wilfork is grabbed by Buffalo guard Richie Incognito during the second half of the Texans’ loss last Sunday.

The task for the Texans sounds easy: Score early and keep the heat on Brady. It should be important. You don’t see that a lot from coaches, especially, you don’t see coaches blaming themselves or saying anything of that nature. JJ Watt did break his hand in practice; however, he is good enough to get around lineman with the club. We just have to execute better. “Whatever he decides to do out there, we follow it and we try to make the play for him”, said tight end Michael Williams. And then, hopefully, that results in wins. Little-used TE Ryan Griffin has scored a TD in each of the past two weeks.

Everyone has jumped off the Patriots bandwagon and that’s always nice, but that person-less bandwagon is probably still going to roll over the Texans. That was so long ago that I remember writing during that slide that Belichick really ought to send a message to the team by cutting fumble-prone bust Kevin Faulk. Houston was forced to punt on its next possession, but Martin fumbled the return and the Texans recovered on the New England 21.

When a coach who spent the 1980s in NY as a defensive assistant with the Giants puts an opposing player on the level of Lawrence Taylor – as Bill Belichick did with J.J. Watt this week – the offensive game plan becomes pretty obvious. J.J. Watt played despite breaking his left hand in practice on Wednesday. Now they face a disruptive Texans defense, led by J.J. Watt, who has a league-leading 13½ sacks and 42 quarterback hits. He has passed for 2,202 yards with just five interceptions. RB James White is also contributing more with career highs 10 catches for 115 receiving yards last week.

A busy weekend of live blogs continues for me with Sunday Night Football on NBC.

That changed Sunday against the Eagles when Brady caught a pass from Danny Amendola for a 36-yard gain. Brady has completed 64.6 percent of his passes with 13 touchdowns against the Texans.