AFC Divisional Preview: Houston Texans at New England Patriots

And it does make you wonder what the New England Patriots’ crusty head coach Bill Belichick thinks about that.

The Patriots shut out the Texans in a nationally-televised Thursday Night Football game on September 22, a 27-0 final. He’s just in a different jersey.

This overtime classic set many NFL Playoff records: most points scored (79), total yards (1,036), and most passing yards (809). I’d much rather have him on our team, but that’s not the way it works out, or worked out past year.

After playing with him for 11 years in New England, Saturday night will be the second time Tom Brady has gone against Vince Wilfork on the other side of the ball. Sources confirmed that a visibly frustrated Brady later stormed out of the press conference after refusing to answer yet another question about facing Texans quarterback Brock Osweiler. By doing that, the Pats would nearly guarantee he won’t sustain enough long drives to keep pace with Tom Brady. For the first time all season, he played with the confidence a $72 million quarterback. Le’Veon Bell returned from suspension to jumpstart the ground game.The Chiefs did everything wrong that day. Indeed, when the Patriots struggle in the postseason, it often occurs when the opposing defense is applying consistent and persistent pressure upon quarterback Tom Brady. Safety Quinten Demps is a good all-around player and Andre Hal may be inconsistent but he is capable of making a game-changing play.

When All-Pro tight end Rob Gronkowski was placed on injured reserve with a season ending back injury on December 3rd, many pundits were skeptical the Patriots could make up for his production. Houston allowed a league-low 301.3 yards per game and 20.5 points a contest, and was the best first-down defense in the league, allowing the fewest by far. He has had just a small sample size at quarterback this season – less than nine quarters over three games – but he did not do enough, or have enough time to prove, that he should be the starter next season.

When the Patriots (14-2) have secured home field advantage in the playoffs, they are a near-lock to advance to the Super Bowl. Location may be the primary difference in the rematch.

With the three top dogs of the Steelers offense healthy in Ben Roethlisberger, Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown, they made a mockery out of the Dolphins’ defense.

Following the NFL’s most lopsided opening playoff weekend since 1981, America on Saturday night will get the Patriots’ anticipated stomping of the Texans in a prime-time AFC divisional round game. But New England’s defense isn’t that strong against the pass, ranking as the 23rd-best unit in the National Football League this season.

Prediction: Packers 28 – Cowboys 24. He also faced a Green Bay secondary that featured several rookies. He had started only seven games at the beginning of this season.

Defensive linemen Tyrone Crawford, a Windsor product, DeMarcus Lawrence and Terrell McClain will also be back to give the defence a boost, but Claiborne’s cover skills are the biggest addition. Jordy Nelson might not play with some fractured ribs, but I don’t think that will slow the Pack down. The Texans pose a legit threat to the AFC favorites and should be able to keep things interesting well into the fourth quarter for these four reasons…