Patriots heavily favored over Texans in Saturday’s divisional playoff game

It’s a fair assessment when taking into account the disastrous game the Houston Texans played against the New England Patriots on the road 16 weeks ago. The 35-year-old revealed recently he’s contemplating retirement and said again this week that he was pondering hanging it up after this season. “Last week was only this organization’s third playoff win”.

“You’ve got to prepare like you’re playing a new team, which we pretty much are”.

“We’ve got a bunch of good guys in our locker room that are looking forward to the challenge”.

If the Texans are to upset the Patriots at Foxboro, it will be because of their defense and their ability to disrupt Tom Brady.

They’re also a warm weather team playing in the cold night air.

The Texans’ offense did just enough to win the game.

But if any defense is capable of slowing down these Patriots, it might be the Texans, despite Week 3’s 27-0 blowout loss earlier this season.

As expected, Lamar Miller got a crapload of touches against the Raiders, scampering for 73 yards and a touchdown on 31 carries, a career high.

According to NFL Network’s James Palmer, Hopkins was limited during the Texans’ practice Wednesday, but his status for Saturday’s game has not been revealed. On the way to a 14-2 record, Brady set an National Football League record for touchdown-to-interception ratio.

The Texans’ pass rush comes in hot, but Brady will neutralize it by spreading the field in a short-to-intermediate passing game.

“I view it as the biggest game that we’ve played all season against the best defense that we’ve played all season”. “That your players understand what their role in the game is and how they’re supposed to perform on every single play”. Hopkins has been hot of late, catching five passes for 67 yards and a touchdown against the Raiders. The Patriots hold a 7-1 advantage in these contests while holding a flawless 4-0 advantage at home, including a 41-28 playoff win over the Texans in 2012.

“We have confidence in Tyler Ervin”, O’Brien said. On Saturday, Houston returns to that very stadium, but how do they make it different this time? “You put that together with everything he does physically – eating right, body work, all those things – and it’s like this guy is a mutant”. They’ve used their rotation well with Rob Ninkovich, Jabaal Sheard and Vincent Valentine also contributing. You have a bunch of really tough, hard-nosed players that are very, very well-coached so their scheme presents a problem too. I think one of the big things for us is we have to play good, sound, fundamental football.

The Patriots have outscored their last three opponents, 92-20, over the last three games, with Brady and Co. always in high gear.

“You have to make sure that, No. 1, that you do your job”, Texans coach Bill O’Brien said. “We had him marked down in the teapot”.

McCourty said that approach rubs off on other players: “When your best player is doing more than everyone else, everyone else is trying to catch him”. He’s seen it all.

“Oh yeah, he’s very prepared”. He’s played against this scheme. “If the route isn’t open, he’s been able to tuck it and run, get a first down that way, and that’s how we play”.

MY PREDICTION: I think the majority of the nation is hoping Houston puts up a good fight and shock the world, but most are thinking “no way”.