Divisional Game: Patriots vs. Texans
Win or go home!
We are no longer playing with house money. We have an opportunity in front of us that we haven't had in a very long time. It's time for the defense to prove they're a championship defense and it's time for Drake to show he's ready for a shot at a Lombardi in his second season!
LFG!
Thoughts from the board
Ricomandog
My predictions aren't coming true. I need to bring in the big dogs and ask Oscar AND Jim to predict the Pats will win! This is the week the Pats come crashing back down to earth. They play a strong Houston defense that will make Drake Maye look like a dime-a-dozen QB! Houston's offense is terrible so they will score off their defense.
Texans win 17-6
Bold Prediction: Houston brings their letterman jackets back out and finally finish the drill. Defense scores 14 points to advance to the AFCCG
Mr Roger Badell
Similar to the Chargers game but Pats clean-up a few issues & pull out the win. 0 Pats turnovers but Stroud throws 2 picks and is lucky to retain a fumble.Maye moves the ball well through the air but all 4 TDs come on the ground - Mondre, Mondre, Hendersen & Maye..
Patriots win 28-13
Bold Prediction: After causing the games only fumble, killing a drive - Tonga gives Vrable another fat, bloddy-lip
DNOM
The Kuhr-led defense's showing against the Chargers has me confident they can stifle Houston's offense, while I still trust Maye et al to put up points against the Texans defense despite its deserved accolades.
Patriots win 36-12
Bold Prediction: Thayer Munford Jr. catches a TD pass as an eligible 6th OL
Blight
A lot of similarities matchup-wise to last week. Look for the Pats defense and special teams to carry the team early in the game while the offense decodes the coverages.
Patriots win 26-13
Bold Prediction: Special teams gets a blocked punt.
Zoo
On paper these teams match up well. A top zone defense vs. the #1 QB against zone defenses. One of the worst QBs against zone vs. a defense that mostly runs zone. There's too much fire in this team to lose at home when they have a chance at the AFC Championship. JMD will draw up a plan and MayeVP will execute it. The defense will smother Stroud and be too much for him.
Patriots win 30-20
Bold Prediction: Boutte has his biggest game since Week 6 (against the Saints) and scores 2 TDs on 6 receptions and over 100 yards.
Oscar
How Houston manages to put three touchdowns, I have no idea. But they do somehow. Stingley will probably be involved somehow. Maye could afford to be not-so-sharp against the Chargers. Not so much against the top defense in the league. (It's getting harder to come up with these, btw...)
Texans win 22-16
Bold Prediction: The Pats get a safety when Stroud intentionally grounds the ball in the end zone. In the second quarter. 6:46 remaining. How's that for specific?
PPB
The Patriots will force a turnover that leads to a touchdown. Drake Maye plays the cleanest game of his career but only throws one touchdown, which will be to Diggs. Rhamondre takes one to the house. The game will be tied 10-10 at halftime, so the Pats break away in the second half.
Patriots win 24-13
Bold Prediction:
RKing
Feels like it will be another defensive struggle, but I think our offense does more against their defense than their offense does against ours. I can see Mondre being effective and Drake making some timely runs to get past the fearsome texans D-line. Houston has also been vulnerable to the explosive play, and this offense has had a lot of those this year, so i think we'll get another one or two, either from a hendo breakaway or a maye ICBM downfield
Patriots win 23-17
Bold Prediction: Pop douglas and diggs feast in the gaps in the zone and combine for 15 catches for 150+
rondo723
Pats will prioritize protecting the ball, playing field position, and letting opportunities come to them. The Patriots defense will have something to prove. Home crowd will be lubed up. Playoff football, baby.
Patriots win 24-11
Bold Prediction: Tonga passing TD
Dino
Another dome team comes to chilly/snowy Foxboro. The Pats will rely on running the ball and tossing screen passes, which is not a strong feature of Drake Maye's game. The Tejanos will rely on their defense giving their offense great field position and maybe scoring one themselves.
Patriots win 20-13
Bold Prediction: The Drake will run for over 50 yards.
MAC
2 defenses fighting it out. Each one will score a TD. Borregalas scores the winning FG with 22 secs to go.
Patriots win 23-20
Bold Prediction: TD for Chism.
