Thanksgiving Day Football- Texans vs. Lions

Houston Texans (9-1) vs. Detroit Lions (4-6)

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

The best part of Thanksgiving, besides the food, is sitting around the TV with your friends and family watching some NFL football. While this looks like a mismatch on paper, it truly isn't. While the Lions are, what I'd say, the biggest disappointment this season, they are still very capable of pulling the upset. The odds makers seem to agree, as they have only favored Houston by a mere 3 points. 

The Houston Texans have yet to lose on the road this season and have looked like the AFC favorite all year. Last week against the Jaguars though, they almost slipped up. The most dominating AFC defense, besides the Steelers, allowed 37 points last week to Chad Henne. Yes, Chad Henne. This week they'll be facing a much better offense with the likes of Calvin Johnson and major disappointment, Matthew Stafford. Houston, because of their schedule, looks like they are going to coast to the 1 seed in the AFC. The Patriots still have a chance because of the weakness of their division, but I predict the AFC top 3 finishes as follows.

Houston Texans (Have tiebreaker over Baltimore)
Baltimore Ravens (Have tiebreaker over New England)
New England Patriots

Even if the Texans do finish Number 1 in the AFC, I don't think they will make the trip to New Orleans for the Super Bowl. They lack the playoff experience and I don't think they would be able to beat Peyton Manning or Tom Brady in January. If Houston does clinch the Number 1 it furthers their chances but I still remain in doubt.

On to the Detroit Lions. I don't want to keep repeating myself about how disappointed I am in the LIons but I'm disappointed. The Lions made the playoffs last year for the first time in a decade. Matthew Stafford threw for an unbelievable 5,000 yards and Calvin Johnson was the best WR, by far, in the league. What has happened this year? Besides Megatron appearing on the cover of Madden, The Lions defense has been poor and as a matter of a fact, the Lions offense does not look that good. Defenses have adjusted to Johnson and game planned saying, we won't let him beat us. Unfortunately for Lions fans. No other players on the team have stepped up. 

Detroit's playoff hopes are not out of the picture but they need to get hot and today is a great day to start. A loss today pushes them to 4-7 and I'd say that could be the end but if they pull off the upset, which I think they will (yeah I said it), they are right back in it. Detroit has to get back on track and between Stafford and Calvin there is too much talent not to be dominant. I think after Detroit figures out how Chad Henne and Cecil Shorts/Justin Blackmon scored 37 on Houston, they will be able to have a dominating offensive performance.

Prediction: Lions-31 Texans-27

Sunday Night Football Recap- Texans vs. Bears

Final Score: Texans-13 Bears-6

Wow, that was ugly. One of the sloppiest NFL games I have ever seen played in prime time. In the windy city, Chicago and Houston could not fight the torrential downpour which led to a 13-6 Texan's victory. 

This did not look like a game between two 7-1 football clubs who are fighting for the #1 seed in their respective conferences. Starting QB Jay Cutler was knocked out of the game with a concussion on a play that could have led to a Bears touchdown. Called back by a penalty, Cutler finished the first half and then was reexamined in the locker room. Apparently his head injury was effecting him but that was not the reason for his poor play. 

The Bears first two offensive possessions were fumbles by tight end Kellen Davis and Michael Bush respectively. After two strong holds by the Bears superb defense, Cutler threw two interceptions in the first half. One eventually leading to an Arian Foster receiving touchdown. 

Even though Cutler threw for a mere 40 yards in the first half, the Bears were somewhat moving the ball. They had worked it near the red zone multiple times but the 4 turnovers killed them in the first half.  

The lone offensive bright spot for Chicago was Brandon Marshall. He didn't care who was under center but whoever it was he was going to make catches. Recording 8 catches for 107 yards, the Bears only threw for 134 total yards. Jason Campbell outplayed Cutler but still only put up the same 3 points. Chicago's defense was pretty good even though Arian Foster thrashed them in the first half for 87 yards rushing. 

Houston is playing winning football. A road win over a 7-1 team in sloppy conditions. That is how you win in the playoffs. Matt Schaub played as bad as the Cutler/Campbell tandem but the Texans got it done. In the playoffs, it is not about how pretty it looks. If you get it done you are moving on if not you will be watching the gritty teams like Houston. If I'm anyone in the AFC I do not want to play at Reliant Stadium in January.