Texans 16-34 Patriots, Final
New England kneel one more time, and that will do it.
That’s six straight AFC Championship games for New England as they get set for either KC or Pittsburgh next Sunday. When will this ever end?
Houston? They did a great job, we’re grateful for a semi-competitive game - they had their chances, this could have been more, but they just didn’t have enough and the kid at QB has some issues.
That’s all for now - join us tomorrow for much, much more live NFL football. Until then, good morning, good afternoon and good night.
Texans 16-34 Patriots, 1:19 4th quarter
New England take a knee. That’s one...
And I quote...
Well, at one time, you’ve got it, and then you lose it, and it’s gone forever.
-Sick Boy
INTERCEPTION! Texans 16-34 Patriots, 2:25 4th quarter
Osweiler back to pass - and he delivers, an interception, this time to Duron Harmon, and that’s the kids third INT this half!
I expect Mr Philip to be emailing in again any second now.
Texans 16-34 Patriots, 3:21 4th quarter
Fiedorowicz ( I spelled that without looking, is it right?) - he has a first down catch as we play out the string in gar-bage time. It’s a 17-yard gain on the near sideline.
Houston are actually driving here but this won’t help. Holding, no74 offense (Chris Clark), still first down. That pushes Houston to the 41 where it’s 1st & 20...
Grimes gets much of that down to the 26, 2nd & 5.
Email
Michael Philip is back:
“Frock Osweiller, money well spent...”
Surely that’s not a typo...
FIELD GOAL! Texans 16-34 Patriots, 6:37 4th quarter
It’s good, and the Pats are covering that spread.
If you’re scoring at home, the Pats did not call time, so they have all three and that’s actually irrelevant because this one is just about over.
Texans 16-31 Patriots, 6:49 4th quarter
Bennett is up and off the field under his own power - good news.
Brady is back to pass again - no idea why, and is running, running, and holds on to it a little too long and gets punished for it, pushed out of bounds by Mercilus.
Now Lewis fumbles again, but Joe Thuney pounces on the football and here comes New England trying to make it a three possession game with a 43-yard football. The Pats call time, their first.
Texans 16-31 Patriots, 7:58 4th quarter
So we’re getting into the kill the clock portion of our program.
Run run run. Edelman, a reverse goes for 13 yards after a shorter four-yard run from Blount.
Then Brady goes for Edelman downfield again, for some reason. Edleman nearly made an incredible sideline catch, but lost it right at the end as he bobbled it out of bounds.
Now here is more razzle dazzle! What? This time it is an Amendola double reverse and there’s Brady throwing a block!
What’s gotten into these guys?
New England are inside the Texans 30 as that clock burns away.
Bennett is down for New England - the TE is down after a leg injury. Stand by.
Updated
Texans 16-31 Patriots, 10:22 4th quarter
Malcolm Brown just helped himself to Osweiler’s leg, whipping him down for the Pats third sack and a nine-yard loss.
Hopkins then has a reception, about nine yards on third down - not enough. Houston punt and New England will start from their own 33.
Texans 16-31 Patriots, 11:50 4th quarter
So suddenly, New England are a pint or two from covering the spread, when not too long ago, they looked like possible victims in a historic upset.
Funny how that works, isn’t it?
So now Houston has some major work to do, and they start with Miller on the ground for a yard.
TOUCHDOWN! Texans 16-31 Patriots, 12:16 4th quarter
Lewis pushes into the endzone, and now he’s got a rushing TD, in addition to a TD catch, TD kickoff return, and made a key turnover as well.
That’s some line.
INTERCEPTION! Texans 16-24 Patriots, 12:44 4th quarter
Osweiler, all kinds of time, he fires looking for Hopkins, deflection, INTO THE HANDS OF RYAN!
He’s up and running, and takes the ball to the Texans siz-yard line. It’s 1st & goal for New England, who will move into the drivers seat if they can punch it in!
Texans 16-24 Patriots, 13:00 4th quarter
It’s 3rd & 7 for Tom Brady and the Pats. From the shotgun, Brady has time and Edelman open, but he can’t make the catch! A rare misfire from Brady and that forces a punt.
Fuller calls for a fair catch with no one around him, for whatever reason, and they start from the 10, looking for eight on this drive to somehow tie this game up.
FIELD GOAL! Texans 16-24 Patriots, 14:51 4th quarter
We’re into the final frame as we try to figure out who will face the Chiefs or Steelers in the AFC Championship game next Sunday.
Osweiler goes deep and that’s nowhere near anyone - so here is Novak for a 46-yard attempt that is good!
So the Texans turn a turnover into three points - not enough. They really have had their opportunities in this game, which has been way WAY more than we ever could have asked for as neutrals.
INTERCEPTION! Texans 13-24 Patriots, end of 3rd quarter
New life for the Texans as their D forces a second pick from Tom Brady - doubling his interceptions this season. Hal made the play following yet another deflection!
Houston must turn this into seven.
When we return, it’s 3rd & 4 on the Pats 28
Texans 13-24 Patriots, 1:30 3rd quarter
Osweiler airs it out, way down field, over the middle, he throws a strike, but it’s through the hands of Fuller! Oh man! Oh my! That is a brutal play for Houston: this should be a four-point game.
Instead, New England receive a punt at the 10 after a fair catch.
That is the moment...or that was the moment.
Texans 13-24 Patriots, 2:07 3rd quarter
So, the rule is an incomplete pass, not a fumble, and there is no illegal substitution. So it’s 3rd & 8...
Texans 13-24 Patriots, 2:07 3rd quarter
Illegal hands to the face by Valentine costs New England five yards, pushing Houston across midfield.
Miller, pushes a head for a few yards.
Now, we have play-action - Osweiler hit as he throws, it’s McClellin.
Now Patrick Chung is running towards the endzone for New England - what is going on?
As it turns out, the Pats illegally substituted. But now they’re saying New England has it because the play was ruled a fumble.
I have no idea what’s going on. This is a good time for a commercial, and CBS here in the US obliges.
Please stand by.
Texans 13-24 Patriots, 3:22 3rd quarter
OK, here we go - five yards for a first down...Osweiler ducks pressure and takes off! He has room to roam, and when he finally gets out of bounds on the near sideline, he has 18 yards up to their 40!
Texans 13-24 Patriots, 3:51 3rd quarter
Osweiler has time, and finds Miller streaking underneath for five yards. It’s 3rd & 5:
The play clock is down to one second so the Houston QB calls for time and the Texans will talk it over.
Texans 13-24 Patriots, 5:10 3rd quarter
Fiedorowicz drops a sure first down over the middle on first down, which just can not happen here.
Then Osweiler comes back strong! A bullet to Hopkins who breaks free underneath for a first down and a gain of about 18!
Texans 13-24 Patriots, 5:56 3rd quarter
It’s 2nd & 20 at the Houston 40 after offensive pass interference. He has to throw it away, setting up a 3rd down - Amendola can’t make the catch over the middle, so New England have to punt, and it’s a good one!
Matthew Slater makes the catch on the two! That’s where Houston’s offense will have to start, a tremendous play by New England’s special teams after a big stop by Houston’s D.
Texans 13-24 Patriots, 6:19 3rd quarter
On 2nd & 10, Brady has time, runs to his right, but runs out of real estate and throws it away. So here is another third down:
Brady in the gun, pumps, fires, and there’s that man again - it’s Edelman, a run towards the flag and a pick up of 26. Edelman, the all-time Pats leader in playoff receiving yards, has 134 tonight.
Now Brady is taken down by Clowney after throwing the football and he’s not happy. He may have a case.
Ball on the Texans 30.
INTERCEPTION! Texans 13-24 Patriots, 7:19 3rd quarter
It’s 3rd & 4 - an important down coming up here. Osweiler, under center, then shifts to the shotgun, back to pass, throws...into the hands of McCourty (he plays for New England) and the Pats D have their first turnover of the game, in a huge spot for the home team. Osweiler really could not do that.
Nerves are settling in New England. They have the ball at their own 44, with their offense drooling for more.
Texans 13-24 Patriots, 8:09 3rd quarter
So now what? Do the Texans throw all of their first-half performance away in a violent flame-out, or do they find a way to settle down and move the ball on offense?
Osweiler, off to a good start: play-action, complete to Hopkins in the middle for 15 yards.
TOUCHDOWN! Texans 13-24 Patriots, 9:09 3rd quarter
Big 3rd & 3 here for the Texans defense.
Crowd on their feet with Brady in the shotgun. He has time, throws over the shoulder of White and into his hands for the touchdown in the far side of the endzone!
It’s a 90-yard drive that has a business as usual look to it as New England unlock Houston’s defense, putting pressure on Osweiler and the Texans offense.
Updated
Texans 13-17 Patriots, 10:03 3rd quarter
After a holding call, Brady, play-action, finds Hogan on the near sideline - that’s 21 more yards, and suddenly, New England can move the ball.
Was it something Belichick said?
Now Lewis is on the ground, running left...no, right, it’s enough for a first down as the Pats quickly move to the Houston 30.
Texans 13-17 Patriots, 11:34 3rd quarter
Brady is destroyed, but gets it away to Edleman who makes another big catch downfield, a huge gain on the near sideline! That’s 26 yards.
They should run that play every down.
Now Edleman has it again after another Brady throw, this time it’s 14 yards, and suddenly New England are at midfield!
The Patriots' 2nd Half Keys To The Game: Stop this sh*t. @LengelDavid
— Hunter Felt (@HunterFelt) January 15, 2017
I imagine Hunter speaks for most of those folks in states north and east of New York.
Texans 13-17 Patriots, 12:30 3rd quarter
From the shotgun, Osweiler is once again hit as he throws,this time it’s deflected and...incomplete. Van Noy set it up with the penetration and the Texans punt.
So New England’s defense has some answers of their own - the Pats will start at their own 10 after a fair catch by Edelman.
Texans 13-17 Patriots, 12:58 3rd quarter
Flowers and Hightower hit Osweiler as he throws on first down. Then Miller has room again, this time for about seven, and it’s 3rd and 3 at the Pats 40.
Texans 13-17 Patriots, 13:31 3rd quarter
Here’s Miller up the middle, shakes, bakes, moves left and has room! That’s a 17 yard gain! It’s their biggest play of the night, say CBS TV here in the US.
Texans 13-17 Patriots, 14:07 3rd quarter
Bouye nearly has an interception on the first play from scrimmage in the second half! He really should have had that!
Blount, pushes ahead for two setting up a 3rd & 8 from the NE 27.
Brady, under pressure from Cushing and Clowney, fires incomplete - so the Houston D once again hold up their end of the bargain.
Houston start from their own 36 after a 55-yard punt.
And we're back...
How will it end?
Halftime
OK, I’ve downed a Thai dinner and am back for what could be a historic upset. Actually, the Texans, who for my money are one of the most generic, boring franchises in North America have a chance to finally make a name for themselves, and in the most dramatic of fashion.
But nevermid that for a moment, here’s a few stats. Osweiler is 13/20 for 83 yards, which is fine because he has a TD and no interceptions. Brady is 8/13 with 145 yards, most of which came on just two plays. Miller has been decent on the ground with 42 yards, while New England have combined for just 17 yards. The big stat is turnovers: Houston have taken two to NE’s none.
Texans 13-17 Patriots, halftime
Well, we all expected a dud and what we’ve seen is a Houston defense stand up to a dynasty, away from home in less than ideal conditions. It’s as impressive as it gets and sets the stage for an unlikely second half of gritty playoff football!
FIELD GOAL! Texans 13-17 Patriots, 0:07 2nd quarter
Gostkowski’s chip shot is good from 19, and New England settle for three.
Take away the special teams TD and New England are down. Actually, if Houston take their chances this half, the Texans are up big.
Texans 13-14 Patriots, 0:10 2nd quarter
Blount’s two efforts are both denied - Mercilus is there again! A tremendous stand before the end of the half, represents what they’ve been able to do this half to a tee!
WOW!
Texans 13-14 Patriots, 0:19 2nd quarter
Brady, back to pass, settles in, has a cup of tea, cooks a steak, then decides to run to about the one.
Now Brady fires complete to Develin who pushes towards the endzone but is denied by Dent and Pleasant - tremendous play by Houston’s defense. Timeout New England.
Texans 13-14 Patriots, 1:21 2nd quarter
Under center is Brady, he has Hogan who is streaking towards the far sideline - it’s a first down to the Texans two!
Texans 13-14 Patriots, 1:30 2nd quarter
Lewis, outside to the far sideline, down to the 10, setting up a 3rd & 2.
WARNING! Texans 13-14 Patriots, 2:00 2nd quarter
Time ticks away in the half..
...first down, Brady is hit as he throws! Houston’s defense is establishing themselves in a major way and we all know Brady does NOT like to get hit (does anyone).
But now Brady bounces back, he has time and is firing deep for Edelman, who turns around, totally pushes off, and makes the catch!
That’s a much-needed (illegal) 48-yard gain, pushing New England to the Houston 18. Lewis then runs for two yards as we hit the two-minute warning.
Updated
Texans 13-14 Patriots, 3:54 2nd quarter
Ninkovich steps up and nearly picks off the Houston QB!
The Texans have to punt - and on the kick there’s a penalty for an illegal block in the back, it’s Matthew Slater who is guilty. So New England and their rusty offense start at their own 33.
Texans 13-14 Patriots, 4:23 2nd quarter
The Texans are looking for a little bit of room and Miller pushes ahead up the middle for four yards.
Then Osweiler under center, and it’s Miller again, this time he gets just two, setting up a 3rd & 3.
Texans 13-14 Patriots, 5:30 2nd quarter
It’s 3rd & 6. Brady, in the shotgun - Mercilus breaks with a spin and Brady has nowhere to go except the turf!
The Pats turn down the 55-yard field goal and elect to back up Houston’s offense - the pooch punt puts the Texans on the five, where they will begin.
Texans 13-14 Patriots, 6:43, 2nd quarter
Brady has a pass broken up by Andre Hal, intended for Lewis on first down. Now he’s in the shotgun and looking for Lewis again, this time down the near sideline - but he is double teamed and Mercilus, a linebacker, is downfield to break it up!
On 3rd & 10 now - Brady chucks it up - it’s short of the receiver, but Hogan comes back and gets under it and makes the catch! That’s a huge play on a blitz and a gain of 45 yards down to the Houston 37!
Texans 13-14 Patriots, 7:48, 2nd quarter
Osweiler fires incomplete over the middle - it was short, heading towards Hopkins and Ryan almost scooped it off the ground.
The Pats weathered defense holds, and after the punt, New England will start at the 17.
Texans 13-14 Patriots, 8:08, 2nd quarter
Fake hand off to Miller, who shakes out of the backfield and is open - Osweiler misfires badly on first down. Now Miller pushes ahead for five, it sets up a big 3rd & 5.
Texans 13-14 Patriots, 8:43, 2nd quarter
Bennett is streaking across the middle towards the near sideline for a short reception - it’s 3rd & 5 and BRADY IS SACKED!
Total turn of events in Foxborough! Cushing and Mercilus sandwich Brady and the Pats have to punt as the crowd sit in stunned silence.
Solid return from Fuller and the Texans start at the New England 49!
New England have just nine plays from scrimmage, and the time of possession battle is 16:02 to 5:15. Wild!
Texans 13-14 Patriots, 10:43, 2nd quarter
Lewis is chased out of bounds on the kickoff and here comes Tom Brady for what will be just his seventh snap in the ballgame, a ridiculous stat.
New England start on the 17.
TOUCHDOWN! Texans 13-14 Patriots, 10:54, 2nd quarter
Yes they can! Here’s some razzle dazzle from the Texans! A fake reverse - Osweiler finds Fiedorowicz wide open in the endzone and this is a one-point game!
Updated
FUMBLE! Texans 6-14 Patriots, 11:29, 2nd quarter
Akeem Dent pokes the ball out of the hands of the hands of Lewis and Eddie Pleasant hops on it for Houston! That’s a huge play on special teams, and the second takeaway for the Texans!
They’re on the 12 - can they get into the endzone?
FIELD GOAL! Texans 6-14 Patriots, 11:36, 2nd quarter
Novak is good from 27.
Twice Houston have been downfield against a strong New England defense, and both times they’ve settled for three.
Not enough, obviously.
Texans 3-14 Patriots, 11:53, 2nd quarter
Hunt is running the ball, after a quick out - he makes a few miss, and he’s close to the first down but just short - nice run but the drive is stalled.
Here comes the field goal unit.
Texans 3-14 Patriots, 12:25, 2nd quarter
McCourty almost picks off Osweiler in the near corner of the endzone - he was looking for Fiedorowicz! On the play a holding penalty pushes back Houston.
From the 22, it’s 2nd & 16 - Osweiler from the shotgun, goes to the endzone and throws beyond the reach of Fuller.
So now it’s 3rd & long, with Houston needing another big play, this time on offense.
INTERCEPTION! Texans 3-14 Patriots, 14:32, 2nd quarter
Bouye picks off Brady for just the third time this season after the ball bounces off of Floyd!
Now that IS a worthy response. Can Houston capitalize? They have it at the Pats 20!
Texans 3-14 Patriots, 14:32, 2nd quarter
Here’s another short pass, this time to Miller. This one is good for minus one yard - Houston are going the wrong way - they gotta punt it away, which is not the defiant response their fans were looking for. New England start from their 20.
Texans 3-14 Patriots, end of 1st quarter
So how do the Texans respond? That’s what we’re here to find out.
Another super short, quick pass, this time to Fuller for all of two yards.
Now Osweiler hits Mumphry on the far sideline for about seven. So, if you do the math, when we return, it’s 3rd & 1 for Houston from their own 35.
TOUCHDOWN! Texans 3-14 Patriots, 1:00, 1st quarter
Lewis has the kick, he beats a tackle, moves right, turns on the jets and he has room - there is NO ONE IN FRONT OF LEWIS - he leaves Peters in the dust, and 98 yards later, the Pats have a kickoff return for a touchdown!
Wow!
That is not going to help New England catch up in the time of possession battle.
Updated
FIELD GOAL Texans 3-7 Patriots, 1:15, 1st quarter
They can not. Hunt is stood up after a catch on the far sideline. Nick Novak comes on and converts a 33-yard field goal.
Good drive, with four first downs, 14 plays, but really, Houston has to take their chances when they get them. That’s a missed opportunity.
Interestingly, Houston is up in time of possession, 11:06 to 2:39.
Updated
Texans 0-7 Patriots, 2:31, 1st quarter
Two more first downs for Houston - Osweiler looks like he has a clue. He’s in the shotgun now, going for the endzone and it’s just off the hands of Fiedorowicz!
That was nearly there for Houston.
But suddenly it’s 3rd & 6 - an they keep this drive alive?
Updated
Texans 0-7 Patriots, 4:08, 1st quarter
So new life for Houston, and they have a little something going now: a five-yard run by Miller, a six-yard reception, also by Miller, then it’s, guess who, Miller again, this time for seven!
Nice little sequence - and they’re across midfield.
Now on a big 3rd & 3 - Osweiler, a quick toss - that’s complete to Grimes for a first down! Texas down to the 42!
Updated
Texans 0-7 Patriots, 7:08, 1st quarter
Now Osweiler is sacked for a second time! This time it’s Ryan who attacks from the left and hurls the kid QB into the ground.
Ruthless.
It’s 3rd & 18.
Quick toss underneath to Hopkins - that’s well short of a first down. There’s a little football fight afterwards though: that is the worst kind of fight, folks with pads and helmets fighting: ridiculous.
But this ends well for Houston: Eric Rowe is called for unnecessary roughness for just throwing players out of the pile like they are potato chips, and Houston have an unlikely first down! How about that?
Updated
Texans-0-7 Patriots, 8:37, 1st quarter
Hunt runs it out to the 24 which is where Houston will start off. Really, they need some points on this drive because that Brady train isn’t going to slow down anytime soon.
Osweiler now, a quick screen left to is complete to Hunt, but that little four-yard gain is immediately vaporized by an offensive pass interference call on Hopkins.
Gulp.
TOUCHDOWN! Texans 0-7 Patriots, 9:27, 1st quarter
Two plays later, Brady hits Dion Lewis on the near side, he has room and explodes into the endzone! That was easy! New England on top...and here we go.
Updated
Texans 0-0 Patriots, 10:04, 1st quarter
Brady,in the shotgun - he goes deep down the near sideline - incomplete but here come the flags! AJ Bouye gets done for pushing and shoving Chris Hogan, which is illegal. That means a 30-yard gain! Here come New England!
Updated
Texans 0-0 Patriots, 10:10, 1st quarter
Lamar Miller, on the ground, ahead for two.
Then Osweiler is wild on the throw from the shotgun - Will Fuller was all by his lonesome but the kid threw it in the turf, well wide.
Now the kid rolling, rolling, rolling and finally releasing and looking for Keith Mumphry, but he’s covered well by Logan Ryan. So that’s another three downs and another one of those kicks.
Edelman calls for a fair catch at the 35. Brady’s up - can he break through?
Updated
Texans 0-0 Patriots, 11:05, 1st quarter
New England are moving quickly to the line on 3rd & 1 - no huddle, and a hand off to Dion Lewis who gets stood up for a loss!
Now it’s Houston’s turn to force a three-and-out and they do just that! New England punt, and Ervin calls for a fair catch at the 19.
That settling defensive presence is exactly what Houston needed early on.
Updated
Texans 0-0 Patriots, 14:28, 1st quarter
On 3rd & 4, Osweiler buys some time but not enough - Rob Ninkovich sticks out his arm and brings down the Texans QB for a drive ending sack!
Houston are three and out and punt it away. New England start at their 39 after a 14 yard return by Julian Edelman.
Updated
Kickoff!
And away we go!
Stephen Gostkowski kicks the ball out of the endzone and Houston begin from their 25.
Osweiler, his first play from scrimmage, hits DeAndre Hopkins with a short little route on the far side, gain of four starts it out for the Texans.
It’s almost that time...
For Houston, the Guardian live blogger Paul Doyle’s three word preamble before the Republic of Ireland faced Germany in a 2014 World Cup Qualifier seems entirely applicable here:
“let us pray.”
Then there’s this off-color tweet:
— Sean Kilcoyne (@SeanT_Kilcoyne) January 14, 2017
The Patriots have run onto the field, the band is moving off - that means kickoff is just moments away.
Stand by.
More problems for Houston
They are a warm weather team that likes to play at home (7-1 v 2-6 away) playing in frosty New England conditions: 28F / -2C.
The line against them is 15.5 or 16, which is quite a polite number.
Yes, the Texans have won four of their last five games, but none of their opponents, Oakland, Tennessee, Cincinnati, Jacksonville and Indianapolis are any good.
Meanwhile, New England have outscored their previous three opponents 92-20.
Having said all that, here’s an opportunity for their once-benched QB Brock Osweiler and his Houston team to make a Texas sized piece of NFL history, and so, if you’re on Houston’s roster, just being on that field has gotta be better than watching it all on your 65” TV.
Right?
CBS
The Tiffany Network, which is broadcasting the game here in the United States, have rolled out a mighty little video featuring NFL playoff upsets from seasons past. That means they’re in desperation sell mode before we even begin - and I’m right there with them!
Upset special tonight - Houston 23, New England 13! Get on the bus, baby!
Updated
Email!
Michael Philip writes:
“Wishful thinking possibly, but Texans looked quite impressive last week on offence. I suspect Brady will go down often and early… It’s a nasty D too, and pretty darned good. Brock looked useful last week against a useful Raider D - this could be the UPSET none expect.”
Could is most definitely the operative word here...
Falcons 36-20 Seahawks, Final
It’s over in Atlanta - the Falcons will face the Green Bay Packers or the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Championship next Sunday for a place in Super Bowl LI.
Updated
And I quote...
We’ve got a bunch of good guys in our locker room that are looking forward to the challenge. We know that the Patriots are a great football team. We feel like if we go up there and we practice well -- we have a good week of practice -- we go up there and show up and play hard for 60 minutes, you know, we’ll see what happens.
That’s the inspiring former Patriots offensive coordinator and current Houston Texans head coach, Bill O’Brien.
1979
Yes, it’s a Smashing Pumpkins song, but it’s also the year Houston made a bit of underdog playoff magic.
If you’ve been reading about this game, chances are you’ve run into a blurb or two about the time that the dearly departed Houston Oilers, playing without their starting quarterback, Dan Pastorini, and their powerhouse running back Earl Campbell, managed to pick off San Diego’s Dan Fouts five times en-route to a surprising 17-14 win over the Chargers.
It’s a nice little story, and sure, it’s going to have to be the Texans no1 ranked defense battering Brady to have a shot at coming up with a similar result.
But really, it’s just a nice little story for Houston folks to think about while gripping their rosary beads.
Updated
Elsewhere
The bird battle is still on in Atlanta with the Falcons holding a 36-20 lead over the Seattle Seahawks in the first of two NFC Divisional playoff games. After Russell Wilson throws a long TD pass to Doug Baldwin, they attempt an onside kick, which is easily recovered by Atlanta.
So with 3:20 left, this one is basically over, and that means that the NFL’s dream Super Bowl match-up of the Falcons and Texans is still very much alive.
Hola!
Hello, and welcome to our coverage of the AFC Divisional Playoffs. In about 50 minutes or so, a widely expected battering of the Houston Texans will begin in Foxboro(ugh) when an angry Tom Brady takes the field and starts throwing darts.
Almost nobody thought that Detroit had a chance last week against the Seattle Seahawks: if you look back at those odds against what we’re about to see (or read about, or listen to), those Lions look like 50 point favorites. Houston’s chances are more in line with a measuring stick I’ve come up with called “barely zero chance” of winning. I mean, not to state the obvious, but we’re talking about a team that lost 27-0 to NE, and that was before Brady rattled off 28 TD’s in just 12 games, posting his best QB rating since 2007.
Still, we have to have these games, because the NFL’s post-season directives are crystal clear: teams that win wild card games must play in the next round, even if they have barely zero chance of winning. So even if it seems a bit old fashioned to go through with such a silly exercise, well, here we are. We have a stadium, fans, food, players, benches, live blogs and plenty of Microsoft surface tablets: we may as well just play this thing.
Do you think Houston have a better than zero chance of winning? I’d love to hear about it. Send your deepest, most sincere thoughts to david.lengel.freelance@theguardian.com or tweet them to @lengeldavid
Updated
David will be here shortly. In the meantime, read how Aaron Rodgers and the Packers perfected the Hail Mary:
Following Sunday’s victory over the Giants both Rodgers and receiver Randall Cobb, who caught the half-time Hail Mary, used an interesting word. Watching Rodgers pass fall toward the end zone it seemed as if New York’s players had misjudged the ball, they said. The slight error in predicting where it would land had allowed Cobb to slip undetected into the back of the end zone where he caught the ball so easily it looked as if he had been waiting for it all along.
“He’s throwing it and [opponents] are misjudging it,” Cobb said.
But it might be the very way Rodgers throws his Hail Marys that is causing confusion among other team’s defensive backs. In all three of his Hail Marys – the Detroit game, the end-of-regulation pass at Arizona in last year’s playoffs and on Sunday – the opposing players looked slightly off in their leaps for the ball. Rodgers said Sunday he throws his Hail Mary passes higher than other quarterbacks. The Ford Field heave is a great example. The balls go so high in the air they are more like punts than passes and catching a punt is hard enough without having to jostle with other players for position in the end zone.
