AFC Divisional Playoff
Texans (13-4) at Patriots (12-4)
Texans: We’ve talked about them being the best team in the AFC and when they had the chance to prove that to us, they didn’t show up. The Texans obviously aren’t the team we saw in the earlier portions of the season. Matt Schaub is making too many mistakes with the football and that’s hurting this offense. He tries to get the ball downfield when the play isn’t fully developed. The Texans defense hasn’t looked as strong as it once was minus JJ Watt who’s had a stellar year this year. All these struggles started on a Monday night when they faced the Patriots and for the first time since that big loss, the Texans will travel back to Foxboro to face a Patriots team who had their number last time they played.
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Patriots: All you’ve heard about this year is the Texans this, Ravens that, Peyton’s back on the AFC’s side of things. The Patriots did come out the AFC last season so technically if you want to get to the Super Bowl, it’ll take being the Patriots to get to New Orleans on February 3rd. For the third straight season, New England has that first round bye in the playoffs. Brady has been Brady as usual having another MVP like season tossing 34 TD passes. In this game on Sunday, he’ll have his go to guy who didn’t play in the first meeting due to an injury, Gronk will be back and please believe Brady will be looking his way quite often. With a win on Sunday, New England will be in their second straight AFC Title game and sixth appearance under Bill Belichick.
Prediction: The Texans must come out and establish Arian Foster early and keep that prolific Patriots offense on the sideline. Schaub must take care of the football. The one thing you never want to do is turn the ball over when playing the Patriots because they will take full advantage of that opportunity and turn it into 6 points quickly. The Patriots need to make Schaub beat them. Bill Belichick is great at taking away what a team loves to do and makes them one dimensional. I like the Patriots to advance. Patriots 38 Texans 24
