W2W4: New England Patriots vs Houston Texans
By Hal Bent
Summary & Game Score Prediction:
Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
The Texans have J.J. Watt on defense and DeAndre Hopkins on offense but are still building their team on both sides of the ball. Houston has done well to stop the running game but can be vulnerable through the air. On offense, they have struggled to run the ball much of the season and are maddeningly inconsistent through the air.
New England is coming off a tough overtime loss on the road to Denver followed by a bizarre loss to the Eagles. The Patriots had a bizarre dropkick kickoff bite them followed by a terrible two-minute offense ending in a blocked punt. Add in a goal line interception returned 99 yards and an 82 yard punt return for a touchdown and it was the sloppiest and most poorly coached game seen in New England in a long time.
The Patriots did not win ten straight games by continuing to make the same mistakes and Bill O’Brien and the Texans are in line to take the brunt of a team that was embarrassed last week. IN 2014 it was the Bengals with the misfortune of facing the Patriots after a terrible loss to Kansas City, this time it will be the Texans.
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It may not be a high scoring affair but New England’s strong defense should keep the Texans out of the end zone much of the game. Look for Tom Brady to do enough to get the Patriots back to their winning ways.
Next: Week 14 AFC Power Rankings: Pats fall to No. 3