There Will Be Blood…
When I was looking at the Patriots schedule in early September, all tonight’s game was to me was one that would be televised nationally on ESPN that I could watch in Philadelphia. What I did not know was that it was going to be the greatest test the Patriots would face so far this season. The Texans enter tonight’s contest with an 11-1 record, good for a two game lead in the AFC. Interestingly, the Pats and the Texans have only met three times before but of those last three times, can the Pats say that they beat the best team in their conference? Definitely not. The Texans are undefeated on the road this year (6-0) while Brady & Co. are 4-1 at home this season. Both teams have been dealing with injuries well (as their records show) but the Patriots are missing tight-end Rob Gronkowski who has become the centerpiece of the Patriots air attack. Patriots fans should not worry as Tom Brady has been scarily efficient this season throwing his first interception in six games last weekend against Miami. The Patriots offensive line MUST contain J.J. Watt if Brady is to have any hope of remaining flawless in the pocket. The Pats would like to think of this as a must win game in that they could position themselves a game away from the Texans and possibly secure both a first-round bye and home field advantage throughout the playoffs. If the Texans win tonight then they will have defeated every other AFC division leader which would lock up a #1 seed for them in the playoffs. Both teams have a fight ahead of them, but Tom Brady seems especially aware of the significance of tonight’s game. "This game is hugely important to our season," Brady said. "It's an AFC opponent that's 11-1. ... I think for us as a team, there's not really much more you could ask for than that: to play Monday Night Football in December against one of the best teams in the NFL and see what we're capable of." It all starts at the top and Brady’s poise and experience in games like this will certainly carry the Patriots far.
-Nick O’Mara
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