New England Patriots vs Houston Texans: Game Three Preview and Prediction
By Hal Bent
HOW THE PATRIOTS COULD LOSE
The Texans had the gameplan in place last year in the AFC Divisional Round playoff game: even without Watt the Texans got pressure in Brady’s face. The Texans are looking back at that game plan to try and duplicate it.
Tom Brady struggled and was frustrated against the Texans last January. He completed just 18 of 38 passes and threw two interceptions–and A.J. Bouye had a third interception bounce off his chest early in the third quarter when it was still a three point game. Despite all that strong play by the Texans defense, the Patriots still won the game by 18 points.
However, early during that Divisional Round playoff game, the Texans had Brady rattled with stunts and pressure up the middle with a four-man rush. Brady completed less than 50% of his passes and he was hit eight times and sacked twice.
Houston has to feel more confident with Deshaun Watson at quarterback rather than Brock Osweiler. Add in JJ Watt on defense and Houston has to believe–if not for injuries on offense and the secondary–that this “Patriots Southwest” (head coach Bill O’Brien was offensive coordinator in New England, three time Super Bowl winner and former linebacker Mike Vrabel is the defensive coordinator and former wide receiver Wes Welker is an assistant coach on offense) team could have won and have a chance to knock off the champs.