Week 7 GDT Ravens @ Texans

amazingandre · Joined: 16 Dec 2007 Posts: 13384 Location: Elkhorn, WI

BATTLE RED SUNDAY and I will be in town. I am super excited for this game and even more pumped to be doing the game day thread.

I am beginning to think the Ravens/Texans match up is becoming a big time rivalry of two tough teams duking it out each season. This is always a hard nose game that comes down to the end and I imagine this weekend will be no different.

The beloved Texans are still trying to overcome the loss of their emotional leader and best player on defense, Brian Cushing. This past week they did not do this well and got out played in every phase of the game. Hopefully our coaches can regroup and get them back on track, the offense especially.

The Raves meanwhile, were hit hard on defense this past week with their leader Ray Lewis as well as, Ladairus Webb and Haloti Ngata getting injured How will their defense respond to such adversity?

Keys to the victory

1. Pound the rock and control the game. Without our great running attack we seem to falter into submission. Schaub is CLEARLY a game manager and nothing more. This offense is led by Arian and Arian alone. He needs help up front and hopefully this week they get back on track.

2. Stop Ray Rice. The Ravens are also led by their dominant tailback. He is just as deadly as Foster is. He can beat you on the ground, through the air and is a solid blocker. The defense must contain him and force Flacco to beat tight coverage. We are at our best when we shut down the run and get after the quarterback.

3. ATTACK Flacco and never let up. We need to pound him into the ground and show the world we just had a bad game vs the Packers. Once Rice is stopped, Flacco will be forced to throw and we will need to pressure him like crazy. Our OLB's have been producing nothing at this point, but they need to step up NOW and earn their keep. We cannot let their offense get going or it could be a long day. JJ Watt hopefully continues to terrorize the league with another great performance.

Overall this game will come to those 3 tasks. I am looking forward to seeing our boys in live action for the FIRST TIME EVER. I hope they do me (us) proud and pound the Ravens for their FIRST TIME EVER. This past week should be humbling and should re-motivate them. Wade and Gary should take long looks in the mirror and ask themselves, "why the hell did I change my game plan last week? Well, this week I will go back to our bread and butter and we will destroy the Ravens!!!!!!!!!!!" Bring this one home boys, TEXANSNATION NEEDS IT!
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Adopt a Texan :Trindon Holliday
15.7 per attempt KR / 14 per attempt PR

Texansfan713 · Joined: 24 Dec 2009 Posts: 23925 Location: Houston

This game is even more huge than the Packers game. We HAVE to win this, especially if we want a 1st (or even 2nd) seed. Ravens are beaten up by injuries to the defensive side of the ball. Ray Lewis isn't playing, Webb isn't playing, Ngata isn't going to play and I think Suggs won't make his season debut this week. I am worried more about them on the offensive side of the ball. Ray Rice could have a productive day, and if Joseph don't get his act straight Bolden could go off on him like he did last season. Kareem on Torrey Smith could be a disaster too, and Jacoby will be motivated this week since he is playing his old team.
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2011 and 2012 AFC South Champs

wackywabbit · Joined: 20 Dec 2009 Posts: 3873

1. Cushing was your best defender? Not Watt? Confused

2. We are going to come out passing. We haven't been forcing the run, when it hasn't been working, and I feel it won't be working early on against your front 7.

3. Good chance Ngata plays, although he likely won't be 100%.

4. Line up Watt on anyone except Marshal Yanda and he will have a field day.

5. We are going to completely sell out to stop the run. Should be lots of opportunities for big plays with play-action. Then again, we may not be able to slow the run even with 8-9 man fronts, if recent trends continue.

6. Good luck, not for the game, but for us both making it through the week with no (more) injuries.

P.S.: Thanks, for the cast-offs. I don't know why but all the signings we make of your ex-players seem to be working out really well.

texandominance · Joined: 22 Sep 2007 Posts: 4521 Location: U of M

lumberjackchris · Joined: 14 Apr 2011 Posts: 3205

lumberjackchris · Joined: 14 Apr 2011 Posts: 3205

We HAVE to come out throwing, and do it for the first 5 plays atleast. That's the only way we can back them out of an 8 man front. But I doubt we will, Kub is to stubborn and wants to establish the run when it's hard since our OL is under achieving.

When do yall think Harris takes over at RT?
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^Kempes on the sick sig^

GaTechRavens · Joined: 25 Nov 2006 Posts: 15694 Location: Knoxville, TN

Oh hi guys

Which one of you sniped all of our players?
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Apollo Stallion · Joined: 06 Feb 2008 Posts: 5105 Location: Battle Red State

For the first time in years, I didn't see a snap of the Texans game and it sounds like I picked a good one to miss. Didn't even record it on TiVo (dang NBC) but not sure if I wouldn't just delete it (like I did with the Baylor game I also missed). Sadly, the Red Hot Chili Peppers at the ACL Festival in Austin disappointed Sunday a bit as well (but rest of festival was great).

Honestly, the result didn't surprise me in the least. The Packers were in a desperate situation and I've been talking about this defense's vulnerability to pass oriented teams since the pre-season and how an injury to Johnathan Joseph would be the great equalizer to the pass rush. Frankly, it may be time to bite the bullet and sit him down this week to give him almost 3 full weeks to recover for the final 9 after the bye. We used to make this mistake with Mario all the time where we thought 80% of him was better than 100% of his replacement, but when it comes to secondary play, I'd almost rather know that we have to double up Torrey Smith than to keep thinking an injured Joseph can hang with him.

I also remember the weeks after losing DeMeco in 2010 and how the defense seemed to lose its soul when he went down (reminder that we lost 4 in a row) and make no mistake, Cushing was still the soul of this defense. We're going to hear all about Ray Lewis this week, but the simple fact is that Cushing has been a better inside linebacker than Ray Ray for several years now and the two weren't even close in talent this year, leadership aside. Additionally, a healthy Joseph is better than Webb, so I'm shedding no tears for the Ravens today (although I sympathize). I have much more confidence in Wade's ability to adapt than Bush and avoid another 4 game free fall, but Kubiak needs to adjust his gameplan as well as he can't rely on the defense to win games and we are so much better when playing with a lead. He needs to tighten the hell up and I suspect he'll have everyone's full attention with a national TV blowout. Did I not mention multiple times that DeVier Posey needed to get the hell off our football field and it sure looked like his presence burned us yet again. The leaks in our game have been evident to many of us for weeks now, and losing ugly has a way of restoring the power to fix things as there is no "if it ain't broke" pressure on coaches.

I think this week sets up rather well for us. The Ravens come into this in the same situation as the Texans last week. They have found money in winning a game they had no right to last week and this week is their week to feel sorry for themselves and get roasted. The Texans need to come out and punch them in the nose early and often and I suspect they will happily leave early mentally and regroup over the bye week for the Browns and Raiders. We can't allow ourselves to be the victims of a "Win one for Ray" rally as we have plenty to rally over ourselves. The Ravens injuries still have us well within the conversation for best team in the AFC (although despite their record, the Patriots to my eye to have their best team in years starting to come together).
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Ten Year Texans Season Ticket Holder
Adopt a Texan 2012
Derek Newton - RT - #75 - Arkansas State
Antoine Caldwell - RG - #62 - Alabama

biggio7 · Joined: 18 Feb 2007 Posts: 6816

wackywabbit · Joined: 20 Dec 2009 Posts: 3873

lumberjackchris · Joined: 14 Apr 2011 Posts: 3205

bmore4life815 · Joined: 22 Nov 2010 Posts: 3427 Location: Climbing up M&T

Don't have a good feeling at all about this game. You guys are going to be fired up after the Sunday Night debacle, and I don't see a team of Houston's caliber losing two straight at home. Realistically, they should be able to do whatever they want, whenever they want, against our D. I have a feeling Andre, in particular, is going to be a gamebreaker and post ridiculous numbers.

Texans 34, Ravens 17
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Bernard "Crush Boy" Pollard- Forever a Raven

El Ramster on the sig that isn't going anywhere

TexansFan80 · Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2012 1:15 pm Post subject:

kenney · Joined: 24 Dec 2006 Posts: 11393

I feel fairly positive about this game. Nearly as positive going into this game as I was negative going into the last. Nearly.
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JROD82891 · Joined: 15 Aug 2011 Posts: 255 Location: Virginia Beach

Our Defense cant stop water from running. Sad

With that being said, Give me Joe Cool.

30-27 Ravens.
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