Nov 29, 2009

NFL Week 12

-Texans lose to Colts....again. You can't tell me that the Texans don't have a bit of an inferiority complex when it comes to the Colts. They have now 1-15 against the Colts in their history, and despite steadily improving the last few seasons, they have been able to convert that improvement into wins over their divisional rivals.

The truth is despite their fantastic start, a first possession touchdown drive and a 20-7 halftime lead, the Texans didn't look like they believed they could win the game. Their defense intercepted Peyton Manning twice and managed to slow down the Colts in the first half, but was unable to keep up the pressure in second half. (They were facing the best quarterback in the NFL after all.)

Perhaps more surprisingly, their offense that had scored a touchdown or field goal on every one of its possessions in the first half turned the ball over three times in the second, including two Matt Schaub interceptions and a fumble, and didn't score another point until garbage time.

Make no mistake, the Colts did a phenomenal job to get back into it, but this game was there to win for the Texans. While they still have a shot at the playoffs thanks to their weak remaining schedule, it won't matter if they don't back themselves to beat elite teams.

-Is T.O. back? Two games, two big touchdown plays from the mercurial receiver. Is T.O. just glad Dick Jauron is gone and Ryan Fitzpatrick rather than Trent Edwards is throwing him the ball right now? Are his eyes already on next season and increasing his market value? Either way the player everyone thought was done halfway through the season will be closely watched the next few weeks.

-Jake Delhomme has another one of his bad days. The guy is just too inconsistent to be starting for an above average NFL team right now. After it seemed like he had cut back on the mistakes, throwing only one pick in the last four games, he goes out and throws four interceptions against the slipping Jets.

Carolina have two good running backs in DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart but teams are stacking the line against them (the Jets held them to 75 yards on 25 carries) and taking their chances with Delhomme and he seems unable to make them pay.

Whether John Fox is there or not this off-season, the Panthers will in the market for a quarterback...big time.

-There might not be a lot of bright spots for the Seattle Seahawks this year, but the running of Justin Forsett is one of them. Forsett, a seventh round pick in 2008, has already been cut twice in his short professional career and he runs like a man who has had to fight for every NFL carry he has got. Two weeks ago, after starter Julius Jones got hurt against the Cardinals, Forsett came in and rushed for 123 yards and his first NFL touchdown. He was then shut down by the Vikings in the next game, but bounced back for 130 yards and two touchdowns against the Rams Sunday.

I'll tell you one thing, Jones is going to have a fight on his hands to win his job back.

-The Bears may have the worst offensive line in football. The more I watch Chicago (and I have the last two weeks), the more I think the root of their offensive problems is not the play Jay Cutler but rather that of their offensive lines. Sure the Vikings pass rush is above average (okay, it's one of the best in the league), but I don't remember Cutler having a good pocket to throw from too many times all game. Orlando Pace got exposed time after time by Jared Allen, who beat him continuously with both bull and speed rushes. Pace continues to be a huge bust and has one of the worst free agent signings of the season for the Bears.

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