The Houston Texans take on the New England Patriots in an AFC Semi-Final showdown game Sunday, Jan. 13 at 4:30 p.m. EST on CBS.
Sunday's match-up between Houston and New England may be the most talked about game of the divisional playoffs. Of course, that's mainly because of the polarizing debate of whether or not the AFC Semi-Final will be an utter blowout by Patriots. One Boston Globe sports columnist even went so far as to call Houston " pure frauds," and "the worst 11-1 team in the history of the NFL."
Houston and its fans likely respectfully disagree with that highly nuanced and researched assessment, but they clearly understand what's riding on Sunday. This is a key game for the Texans as a franchise, and the team knows that. Houston has long been lauded for their offensive weapons and stout defensive attack, but if the team really wants to be considered in the same breath as top-tier franchises like Pittsburgh, and New England, now is the time prove it and win.
"They have a great coach and a great quarterback and they have great role players on their team," Texans running back Arian Foster said of the Patriots. "I have a lot of respect for them, but we can play ball, too."
Houston might have lost 42-14 the last time the two teams met, but everyone seems to agree that game has no bearing on Sunday's contest.
"We didn't play our best football up there and we hurt ourselves with penalties and mistakes," said Foster of the first match-up with the Patriots. "Anytime you give (the Patriots) opportunities, they'll take advantage of them. But we'll play our best up there."
Even Patriots coach Bill Belichick concedes the Patriots are likely to meet an entirely new team when they step on the field Sunday.
"When you play a team twice during the season, the games are totally different. They never go the same way," Belichick said. "We'll be able to certainly look at some of the matchups individually, guys that faced each (other) in the game. As far as plays and calls and things like that matching up, I'm sure they'll have some new wrinkles. I'm sure we'll have some, too. It will be totally different."
Houston's best strategy to keeping up with star quarterback Tom Brady and Patriots Sunday is slowing down the pace of the game, and tightly controlling both the clock and ball. Vaunted Texans running back Foster, and the primal intuition of defensive lineman J.J. Watt are critical to keeping New England guessing and honest.
If Foster can establish his rushing game early and maintain the effort throughout, that should give QB Matt Schaub ample opportunity to run play-action and open up those passing lanes deep downfield, which could create some huge play opportunities.
Houston needs Watt to be at his best Sunday, Brady has proven time and time again he can make even the best defenses look like they're two steps behind if he has enough time in the pocket. Watt needs to constantly be in Brady's face, knocking down passes, forcing him to scramble, and disrupting his rhythm and time with ball in general in order to force the kind of impulse decisions that lead to bad and/or short passes. Watt's proven he's capable all season long, racking up a league-leading 20.5 sacks, finishing second on the team with 81 tackles, and batting down 16 passes during the regular season.
Will the Patriots feel energized enough to steamroll the Texans as many predict? Or will Houston make everyone reassess the vitality of the franchise? Only Sunday will tell.
Live score is provided at NFL.com.
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