Looks like most HC openings in the NFL are filled. So we probably won't lose both at the same time. Maybe McD even thinks its better to ride the Brady train all the way to the final station.

Just the 49ers left...hopefully Seattle beats Atlanta & they jump on the chance to hire Shanny.

Never understand why all these teams panic hire bad coordinators instead of just waiting a few weeks, but it's a wonderful thing for us. It's not like the coach needs to start recruiting or anything.

Weird half.

on to CG

Patriots covered a near historical high spread and today Borges, Volin and Shaughnessy are writing columns about how they were lucky to survive.

They're not wrong. I expect the pats DVOA for that game to be barely above zero, at best. I'm obviously no expert but that looked more like sheer incompetence by Houston than good play by NE.

Offensively anyways. I know Houston has a good defense but Brady was definitely off.

In that sense I agree. Will definately have to be better in the AFCCG if they want to make it to the Superbowl.

I always tell myself not to let the contrarians get to me but i fall for it everytime.

From another forum:

Brady passed for 2nd most yards (Carr, 1) and Pats scored 2nd most points (Colts, 1) against that Texans D all year.

Fumbles and interceptions deep in your own territory along with stupid (and at least one phantom) penalty tend to keep games closer than they should be.

Ugly win, but as always **** Borges and Shank.

7.6 Y/A against the Texans I would guess is one of the highest they've given up all year. yes, it was bc of a couple long throws but it feels like their D was susceptible to a couple of those, so shrug. don't know how DVOA grades the INT that bounced off of Floyd's hands. it was really only that, the Lewis fumble, and the Rowe 15 yarder that kept the game close. a lot of the "playing bad" is really those 3 plays. if not for those it's a 2 TD game at the half and the narrative is different

yeah HOU had some success defensively but that's maybe the top defense in the league. that's gonna happen

on the other side, Osweiler was held to nothing, the defense really played well

You can't toss out the bad and include the return TD.

And yeah, I'm assuming that 7.6 ypa at 50% is graded far worse than 7.6 at 70%.

Definitely looked like Houston was trying to take all the short stuff away and force Brady to go over the top.

Logan Ryan gave up 3 catches on 7 targets for 9 yards. He's gonna get paid somewhere.

i am the only degen who looks at this as having been our "bad game" and now we will roll?

Sportscenter showing mcdaniels staying with pats.

That HOU defense was terrifying in the first half. Mercilus, Clowney, Bouyee (sp?) all look like they're on their way to the HOF. Cushing had his best game in years.

Then Pats adjusted. It's what we do. You gotta play 60 mins to beat these Pats. Seattle is the only team I've seen this year that could hang with them for more than 30-45 mins.

As an aside, I'm not buying Bennett's excuses about playing bad because he was pressing in his first playoff game. He looked old, hurt, and slow to me. Love the guy, love what his personality brings to the team, but my expectations from him are zero from here on out. Would love to be wrong about this.

Final note on HOU: DeAndre Hopkins makes Eric Dickerson look like Christian Okoye. At least Dickerson would duck for the sidelines to avoid contact at all costs. Hopkins will simply fall down and give himself up. I wouldn't want him on my team.

Looks like I was wrong about pats DVOA this week. They don't give an exact number but they ultimately say that it was a legit blowout.

I know I'm gushing, BUT...

I *love* watching the punt team! When have you ever heard that before? this unit is a real weapon. We stick them behind the 8-ball WAY more often than they do it to us.

The one big thing that sucks about being a pats fan is injuries. Not that they get more injuries or anything, just the fact you have no idea what is going on with injuries because they give out no info.

I really hope Mitchell is good to go tomorrow. I think he could be really important

Thinking waaay ahead: The Patriots could be playing on the Thursday Night Football opener next season.

The Pats play a home game next season against the Atlanta Falcons. We play a road game at the Pittsburgh Steelers.

lets do this

Let's go boys

This season has seemed too easy.

Here we go again. I fully expect another loss of 10 years of my life if the SB ends up in a shootout and we have to rely on something like against Seattle or that last drive against the Saints few years ago. Always better to watch great comebacks or heartbeat finishes when the games are over but not when I am watching live.

Pats -6 was the easiest money in a long time. We're kryptonite to that team.

Sick beatdown.