Houston Texans Vs. San Diego Chargers: Week 12: THREE Bold Predictions
Despite all of the challenges the Houston Texans have faced this season whether it be injuries, lack of execution of the game plan or just plain brain farts, this team is still standing at the top of the AFC South with a 6-4 record.
Despite all of the challenges the Houston Texans have faced this season whether it be injuries, lack of execution of the game plan or just plain brain farts, this team is still standing at the top of the AFC South with a 6-4 record.
This team is quite talented from top to bottom and you better believe Bill O’Brien is going to have these guys prepared to reach their full potential.
Hopefully.
There are a lot of new moving parts to this roster that have to integrate with the existing ones so it’s going to take some time to see that cohesiveness that we want.
Until then, let’s sit back, relax and enjoy watching this Houston Texans team do work.
The Houston Texans will be facing a San Diego Chargers team that has underachieved to say the least.
They’ve had a lot of injuries to their main core but just by watching them this season, they’ve let games that they easily could’ve won slip out of their hands.
It kind of reminds of the former aforementioned team.
The Texans were in a similar situation last week and they found a way to lose their match up against the Oakland Raiders.
Sure, the officiating was terrible but a team must overcome that keep their on the ultimate objective of winning the football game.
The Chargers’ defense is ranked 21st in terms of yards allowed (361.9 yards per game). They are ranked 27th against the pass (274.5 YPG) and 5th against the run (87.4 YPG).
Their potent offense is ranked 8th (378.1 YPG).
Here’s everything you need to know about today’s game:
Game Information:
Time: Noon CST
TV: CBS
Radio: 610 AM, 100.3 FM, ESPN Deportes 1180 AM (Spanish), Sirius 81/XM/SiriusXM 225 and Internet 812.
Weather: Dome (NRG Stadium)
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Bold Predictions:
1.) This will be the best game of the season in terms of takeaways for the Texans.
The Houston Texans have some talent all over their defensive line and we know they’re quite good at the pass rush as I mentioned.
Jadeveon Clowney, Whitney Mercilus, Vince Wilfork and Brian Cushing are all going to be feasting on this opportunity and it’s going to happen.
With the Chargers’ offensive line being ranked near the bottom, according to Football Outsiders, the Texans’ defensive-line should be able to punch through to force Philip Rivers to make bad decisions.
This will also open up the opportunities for our guys in the secondary to contribute to this as well.
The Texans have only nine takeaways — good for 27th in the NFL — on the season but it’s going to be Sunday where they’ll get into the double-digits for good.
2.) Brock Osweiler will pass for 200 yards and be the leading rusher.
The Texans have morphed Brock Osweiler to a game manager were they keep him on tight leash and run a specific package of plays to get the team downfield.
So yes, it’s possible he won’t throw a pick.
At this point, we know what he is and the coaching staff will to do the utmost to utilize his strengths which can be hard to find at times.
I know Brock is hopefully committed to ensure that he makes better decisions and that starts with taking care of the football.
He’ll be cautious.
I’ll just have to cover my eyes when that happens.
Oh, the humanity!
Osweiler has thrown at least one pick over the past 11 weeks for a total of 10 on the season.
Those rare exceptions were against the New England Patriots and the Denver Broncos.
The Chargers can’t defend the pass all that well, leaving the opportunity for Brock to make some things happen.
We also know that he can escape out of a collapsing pocket if need be and he might have to do that when there’s just not anything there.
He could easily be the leading rusher with 35 yards to his credit Sunday.
I know that’s bold but we’ll see if he could put up those types of numbers.
3.) Will Fuller will have no drops, pick up 175 yards receiving and two touchdowns.
As bad as the Chargers are at defending the pass, this will be perfect opportunity for Fuller to outshine his competition.
Fuller has been up-and-down on the injury front as of late — it will be tough to gauge how he’ll be able to get himself back into the ebb-and-flow of things.
But I think he’s due for another big game.
Not only that, he’ll have no drops and few touchdowns to his credit.
Casey Hayward is formidable competition — but I think with Fuller’s speed, he’ll be able to get the best of his match up Sunday.
I still see that making double-digit catches for 175 yards is absolutely attainable against the Chargers’ secondary.
Game Score Prediction: 27-21 in a Houston Texans’ win!
Go Texans.