The Game of the Season: Baltimore at Houston

[CorvusCorax]

If we were to beat Houston, this could have huge ramifications as to who would get 1st playoff seed. That is of course if we get that far.

I hope we get to 6-1 coming into the bye.

[CapoRocky]

I say beat both teams from Texas.

[hawkprey]

They just can't help themselves...

[img]http://i.imgur.com/KN8hZ.jpg[/img]

[beasy2487]

[quote name='Mr. Irrelevant' timestamp='1349838916' post='1183827']
Fear isn't in our vocab. The NFL does that to all good teams. To quote the first batman movie.
"What do you suppose that is"?
"Damn good televison". This will be a hell of a game, but after this week we won't let [b]anyone[/b] run on us like that again. We didnt lose our run D when we lost Suggs.
[/quote]

No, we lost our Run D slowly but surely when these things happened:

Bart Scott left, Dwan Edwards left, Justin Bannan left, Kelly Gregg declined then left, Corey Redding left, JJ left, and (underratedly) Brandon McKinney left.

Our run defense has honestly been slipping ever since we weren't able to replace Scott and now it's just reaching a tipping point without Suggs. Most of the backs we've faced have seen success and honestly, if it weren't for our reputation and our offense forcing teams to play catch up, I think we would've seen even more yards. Our run D isn't even going to be fixed when Suggs comes back, this is just going to be a down year in that regard. O's gotta score points to negate the running game or it could be a looong winter.

[Alexir]

The way we've been playing, this game will be very, very hard. We will need Suggs in this one

[jdynamite]

Houston's perfect record could down this weak vs the Packers, the Packers won't continue to struggle I'm sure, everyone loses sometime.

And JJ Watt is really impressive Flacco will need to get the ball out of hands quickly to avoid any strip sacks, and deliver the ball over the top because their entire front line does a great job of tipping passes. J.Joseph will probably cover Torrey most of the game, so I'm hoping that Torrey will be moved around a lot to force mismatches. With Cushing out now it will be interesting to see if Teams can attack the middle in passing game and run game.

[The Raven]

[quote name='jdynamite' timestamp='1350001226' post='1185135']
Houston's perfect record could down this weak vs the Packers, the Packers won't continue to struggle I'm sure, everyone loses sometime.

And JJ Watt is really impressive Flacco will need to get the ball out of hands quickly to avoid any strip sacks, and deliver the ball over the top because their entire front line does a great job of tipping passes. J.Joseph will probably cover Torrey most of the game, so I'm hoping that Torrey will be moved around a lot to force mismatches. With Cushing out now it will be interesting to see if Teams can attack the middle in passing game and run game.
[/quote]

I think the Texans could beat the Packers convincingly if they play their brand of football. Can the Pack stop Foster and Tate? Doubtful. Can their offensive line stop JJ Watt and company? Even more doubtful.

[PolishRifle]

[quote name='jdynamite' timestamp='1350001226' post='1185135']
Houston's perfect record could down this weak vs the Packers, the Packers won't continue to struggle I'm sure, everyone loses sometime.

And JJ Watt is really impressive Flacco will need to get the ball out of hands quickly to avoid any strip sacks, and deliver the ball over the top because their entire front line does a great job of tipping passes. J.Joseph will probably cover Torrey most of the game, so I'm hoping that Torrey will be moved around a lot to force mismatches. With Cushing out now it will be interesting to see if Teams can attack the middle in passing game and run game.
[/quote]

Flacco doesn't hold onto the ball long on purpose. The receivers need to get open. I would say quick short and intermediate passes and running the ball should do the trick. Especially get good use out of our TEs to avoid the pass rush.

[jdynamite]

[quote name='The Raven' timestamp='1350014819' post='1185744']
I think the Texans could beat the Packers convincingly if they play their brand of football. Can the Pack stop Foster and Tate? Doubtful. Can their offensive line stop JJ Watt and company? Even more doubtful.
[/quote]

packers still have quick strike potential and still create turnovers on defense. Houston may run the ball well, but fail to score tds in the redzone for this game. The Packers won't play flat like they did in second half vs colts whom were running purely on Chuckstrong energy and Reggie Wayne superhuman performance. Packers are the best Team Houston will face thus far whatever dominance they may have shown it should be noted what their competition level was.

[Dudeman]

Hey I dunno about the rest of you but as a fan we have the luxury of taking a peek ahead in the schedule. Honestly I think the players do this as well.

What I think is funny is that no-one really mentioned WHY the Houston game is big. Sure beating them would leapfrog them in the Power Rankings and give us some serious street cred. Sure it's a great test for us to beat another strong opponent and a balanced team on the road. But the big reason this game is important is for play-off seeding.....

(In my best Jim Mora) PLAY-OFFS???

Well yeah, we're spoiled here in Baltimore. We can start thinking play-offs because our team is 4-1, and sorry Dallas but it's all but a given 5-1. We're also the only ones to really be a good challenge for the Texans.

So what do I think of our chances? Well I am a glass is half full guy (though Confuscious would tell you it's actually both half empty and half full.) I don't think anyone can really hang with us if we play our A-game. Plus Houston hasn't really had to beat anyone. Yeah they beat the Broncos and their arch-rival in Peyton Manning, but he isn't himself yet. We can beat these Texans, just like we beat last years Texans (twice) just like we beat them the year before on MNF in their stadium.

EDIT/Correction>>CorvusCorax at leaast mentioned seeding, and I apolgize if I glossed over any other mentionings. Just thought I would mention that

[BMORElegacy]

[quote name='Dudeman' timestamp='1350170893' post='1186636']
Hey I dunno about the rest of you but as a fan we have the luxury of taking a peek ahead in the schedule. Honestly I think the players do this as well.

What I think is funny is that no-one really mentioned WHY the Houston game is big. Sure beating them would leapfrog them in the Power Rankings and give us some serious street cred. Sure it's a great test for us to beat another strong opponent and a balanced team on the road. But the big reason this game is important is for play-off seeding.....

(In my best Jim Mora) PLAY-OFFS???

Well yeah, we're spoiled here in Baltimore. We can start thinking play-offs because our team is 4-1, and sorry Dallas but it's all but a given 5-1. We're also the only ones to really be a good challenge for the Texans.

So what do I think of our chances? Well I am a glass is half full guy (though Confuscious would tell you it's actually both half empty and half full.) I don't think anyone can really hang with us if we play our A-game. Plus Houston hasn't really had to beat anyone. Yeah they beat the Broncos and their arch-rival in Peyton Manning, but he isn't himself yet. We can beat these Texans, just like we beat last years Texans (twice) just like we beat them the year before on MNF in their stadium.

[b]EDIT/Correction>>CorvusCorax at leaast mentioned seeding, and I apolgize if I glossed over any other mentionings. Just thought I would mention that [/b]
[/quote]I mentioned it in the OP bud

[Dudeman]

[quote name='BMORElegacy' timestamp='1350171763' post='1186653']
I mentioned it in the OP bud
[/quote]

LOL nooooooo! I thought I read the whole frackin thread, haha.

Sorry again, I had the after thought that maybe I wasn't the first and I went back and re-read most of the thread AGAIN, hehehe

[Tank 92]

[quote name='BMORElegacy' timestamp='1350171763' post='1186653']
I mentioned it in the OP bud
[/quote]



Cmon' man! That's not Bud, that's Dude!

[Ravenseconbeast]

Texans team is slowly but surely copying what Ravens use to be. A run-first, defense stout team. Andre Johnson is slowly fading away for them. Johnson is being used more as a opportunistic receiver more than a every-down receiver. Arian Foster & his new stout FB James Casey is leading for them in offense.


We need to start with Cowboys to find our identity back on defense, or it will be hell for us on covering Arian & getting beat by James Casey

[BMORElegacy]

[quote name='Dudeman' timestamp='1350172003' post='1186657']
LOL nooooooo! I thought I read the whole frackin thread, haha.

Sorry again, I had the after thought that maybe I wasn't the first and I went back and re-read most of the thread AGAIN, hehehe
[/quote]hahaha I had to re-read my own words because I thought I just imagined writing that this game had playoff implications and tiebreaker potential. Thanks for making feel senile!

[BMORElegacy]

[quote name='awholelottahaloti' timestamp='1350172099' post='1186660']
Cmon' man! That's not Bud, that's Dude!
[/quote]THE Dude to be exact.
[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Be7Og9Gc_KY"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Be7Og9Gc_KY[/url]

[Dudeman]

[quote name='BMORElegacy' timestamp='1350172757' post='1186673']
THE Dude to be exact.
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Be7Og9Gc_KY[/media]
[/quote]

Love it! "Nobody calls me Lebowski, I am The Dude man!"

[BMORElegacy]

[quote name='Dudeman' timestamp='1350185268' post='1186756']
Love it! "Nobody calls me Lebowski, I am The Dude man!"
[/quote]Great great movie. I hadn't heard of it until I saw my college roommate's poster of Walter with the .45 haha

[cobrajet]

We really need to not overlook Dallas, because if we can beat the boys and get to 5-1, we will be looking good. The Texans game could be huge for the home field advantage tiebreaker, like the win against the Pats.

[BMORElegacy]

Ngata with a sprained knee. Ray with a triceps injury. And Webb with a potential season ending ACL tear.

This game just got exponentially more difficult.

[jimmypowder]

[quote name='BMORElegacy' timestamp='1350248689' post='1189130']
Ngata with a sprained knee. Ray with a triceps injury. And Webb with a potential season ending ACL tear.

This game just got exponentially more difficult.
[/quote]

Yeah I give the odds of us beating Houston right now as about 10 percent .

If we beat them, Joe is gonna have to put up some crazy numbers .

We will have to get the run game going or we will be finished in this game .

[raybaby]

Lord help us

[raybaby]

This is the defense that called our offensive scheme simple. Hopefully we make it a lot more difficult on them than we did in the playoffs otherwise this will be very ugly.

[K-Dog]

Not having the warm fuzzies on this game.
BUT Any Given Sunday right?

Likely another nail bighter.

My blood pressure meds really arent strong enough for games like this....

[JO_75]

We are not winning next week. That is for sure, too many injuries and it's in Houston.

[jimmypowder]

[quote name='JO_75' timestamp='1350252809' post='1189425']
We are not winning next week. That is for sure, too many injuries and it's in Houston.
[/quote]

Yeah I think Joe will have to play the game of his career for us to beat Houston.

Way too many injuries on a awful defense. Thank our lucky stars that we have a bye after Houston.

[PuRock]

If the Texans lose tonight. Next week's game will be a battle for 1st place in the AFC. Crazy to think about.

[EnVy_CaLiBeR]

The offense will have to bring it in order for us to even have a shot. I have very little faith in our defense especially after losing Webb. Here's to hoping somebody steps up in a huge way.

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='JO_75' timestamp='1350252809' post='1189425']
We are not winning next week. That is for sure, too many injuries and it's in Houston.
[/quote]

Way to keep the faith.

The Jets gave Houston a game on MNF and there isn't a facet on offense they're better than the Ravens at. A hard-fought win isn't impossible.

[SideStep77]

It'll be a tough game no doubt. The Texans are an all around great team. They have offense and defense. Run game and pass game. Arian Foster is going to give us problems. The number one thing has to be stopping the run. We couldn't do it when we played Dallas and we almost paid the price. I hope the D corrects some things this week and everyone rests up because we are going to need everyone at 100% for this game.