NFL (2025 Season)

[CoreySamson]

I am not liking my team's chances tomorrow afternoon at Foxborough:  only five days rest, back on cross-country flight to frigid conditions, history is not on our side – 1-6 on the road in the playoffs, 1-7 at Gillette Stadium (including a winless 0-2 vs the Patriots in the playoffs), and winless in the Divisional Round (tomorrow makes 0-7) – and to top it all off the game's X-Factor Stefon Diggs is out for revenge against his former team.  He knows everything about CJ's game....his tendencies and weaknesses, and you better believe he's shared that with his current team having played alongside him last year.

My prediction is New England 10 (an offensive TD + extra point + one FG), and Houston 9 (a defensive TD + extra point + safety).  My bold prediction is that the Texans hapless offense will fail to score a single point, opening the door for the Patriots to edge them out in a one-point win.

I'm starting to believe the NFL doesn't want to see the Texans in any AFC Championship Game.  After the game, our GM Nick Caserio and HC DeMeco Ryans are going to have some tough decisions to make:  continue with this offense core or rebuild a new offense which may take years?  Are they going to give CJ another chance?  He's still regressing, Nico is often injured, Tank Dell is likely done playing in the NFL, we lost Diggs, and Mixon....god only know what will happen to him.  A once promising offense looks to be shattered to pieces.  Okay, I'm done ranting.  I can only wish next year will bring better luck.

Tell me you haven't watched a Texans game this year without telling me.

The Texans offense is not as bad as you think. They had 400 yards of offense last week, and their best starting field position the entire game was their own 30. They went 10/15 on 3rd down. The Texans had the 13th best scoring offense in the NFL this year by points. The Texans are great at moving the ball; the problem is their red zone offense, which has improved. Take away the turnovers and misses (which are wildly uncharacteristic for the team), and the Texans probably score three more touchdowns against the Steelers:
- If Stroud had a little more time on the flea flicker in the first half, he had an open touchdown.
- If Nico catches Stroud's pass on the final drive of the 1st half, they probably score on that play or on the next one.
- If Stroud doesn't throw the interception, the Texans probably score.

The turnover/fumbling issues are an issue, but if you look past them, Stroud played a pretty good and resilient game. He spread the ball around well as he has all year. He also only has 3 picks in his last 6 games and was only sacked 7 times in those games. And if he does turn it over, the defense has shown it is plenty capable of picking up the slack. To your point about Diggs, I think Sting locks him down. Metcalf was noticeably absent in the Steelers game after the first drive, which you can chalk up to Stingley.

Also, I find it funny that you think that Fairbairn won't kick a field goal tomorrow. Bro is going to get at least 3, watch.

I think the New England game will be tough, but it is not an impossible task. I like the NE matchup more than I do Buffalo or Denver at this point in the season. There are a couple questions I have, but they aren't the end of the world:
- Will C.J's nerves calm down, especially without Nico this game?
- Will the offensive line hold up given that Trent Brown might not play?
- Can the defense avoid choking against a good offense, like they did against the Bucs and the Bills?

If they can do that, I think they win. I have the Texans winning 22-17. Can they make the Super Bowl? I don't think so, but the stage is set for their first conference championship appearance.

[Ted$8roadFan]

Hope the Texans can handle snow; the forecasts show it will be snowing steadily tomorrow afternoon. Foxboro will get around 1-2 inches during the day.

[thspfc]

People will whine about any flag getting thrown on an important play but I have to give the refs credit for once, that was one of the best officiated games I've ever seen.

Also Justin Herbert is the third best quarterback in his own division.

[The Ghostbuster]

Well, the first game is in the books. Denver wins 33-30 to advance to the AFC Championship. Will the 49ers or the Seahawks advance to the NFC Championship?

[thenetwork]

Well, the first game is in the books. Denver wins 33-30 to advance to the AFC Championship. Will the 49ers or the Seahawks advance to the NFC Championship?

The Bills Mafia got WHACKED!

[Great Lakes Roads]

Well, the first game is in the books. Denver wins 33-30 to advance to the AFC Championship. Will the 49ers or the Seahawks advance to the NFC Championship?

Bills whenever they play an AFC West opponent- lose (which is not surprising given their track record).

[oscar]

For the Christmas season in 2024, the Hallmark Channel ran "Holiday Touchdown - A Chiefs Love Story" (Hallmark is headquartered in Kansas City, so the featured team was not unexpected). The Chiefs made it to the 2025 Super Bowl, but lost to the Eagles, and didn't even make this year's playoffs.

This Christmas season, Hallmark ran "Holiday Touchdown - A Bills Love Story". The Bills made it to this year's playoffs, but just got knocked out by the Broncos. Is there a "Hallmark curse" going on?

I watched both flicks with family on Christmas Eve. Usual sappy Hallmark fare. We watched them, so you don't have to.

[jgb191]

I am not liking my team's chances tomorrow afternoon at Foxborough:  only five days rest, back on cross-country flight to frigid conditions, history is not on our side...

From a Pats guy, don't give up hope. History was not on your side at Pittsburgh (23-game home winning streak on Monday night) but we know how that ended. It seemed like a close game until it suddenly was not. I still hope the Pats win, but the Texans defense has earned a lot of respect around the league.

To your point about the Steelers MNF winning streak since around 1990 or so (half the current players weren't even alive yet), I think it was more about their regular season winning streak on MNF which still stands today.  We all knew, as was very well documented, about their own streak of playoff misfortunes this past decade or so.  I believe Mike Tomlin did the best he could with the shorter stack of talent to work with; hopefully a change of scenery would give him a fresh new start and he can prove himself again. 

As for our game, I think it will be a nailbiter and yes it could very well go either way, I'm just worried about CJ's carelessness with the ball and trying too hard as we saw on Monday Night.  This is one of those games where I believe CJ and Davis Mills should take turns on offense.  Davis has made our offense look a lot more stable (even though not very potent).

[74/171FAN]

For the Christmas season in 2024, the Hallmark Channel ran "Holiday Touchdown - A Chiefs Love Story" (Hallmark is headquartered in Kansas City, so the featured team was not unexpected). The Chiefs made it to the 2025 Super Bowl, but lost to the Eagles, and didn't even make this year's playoffs.

This Christmas season, Hallmark ran "Holiday Touchdown - A Bills Love Story". The Bills made it to this year's playoffs, but just got knocked out by the Broncos. Is there a "Hallmark curse" going on?

I watched both flicks with family on Christmas Eve. Usual sappy Hallmark fare. We watched them, so you don't have to.

My dad is obsessed with Hallmark these days so I saw too much of them last month.

[Max Rockatansky]

For the Christmas season in 2024, the Hallmark Channel ran "Holiday Touchdown - A Chiefs Love Story" (Hallmark is headquartered in Kansas City, so the featured team was not unexpected). The Chiefs made it to the 2025 Super Bowl, but lost to the Eagles, and didn't even make this year's playoffs.

This Christmas season, Hallmark ran "Holiday Touchdown - A Bills Love Story". The Bills made it to this year's playoffs, but just got knocked out by the Broncos. Is there a "Hallmark curse" going on?

I watched both flicks with family on Christmas Eve. Usual sappy Hallmark fare. We watched them, so you don't have to.

My dad is obsessed with Hallmark these days so I saw too much of them last month.

Obsessed why?

[Max Rockatansky]

Apparently Bo Nix broke his ankle and is out for the remainder of the playoffs.

https://www.espn.com/contributor/adam-schefter/657134e2f65dc

[74/171FAN]

Obsessed why?

I wish I had a better answer than boredom in retirement with a TV.

[thspfc]

Apparently Bo Nix broke his ankle and is out for the remainder of the playoffs.

https://www.espn.com/contributor/adam-schefter/657134e2f65dc

Depressing but at least it makes tomorrow's AFC game arguably the most important divisional round game in years.

[Ted$8roadFan]

You have to wonder if Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills will ever get over the hump. With his key nemeses out of the playoffs and facing still-green opponents, this was his best chance. His turnovers, not the officials, cost them the win.

[jgb191]

My god, you are depressing to read sometimes when it comes to your team.

I generally am not much better though to be fair it is hard not to be negative about the Packers' chances this year once Micah Parsons tore his ACL.

I'm not saying that I am all that positive myself, how can I be as a Lions fan?  All the same I feel like I'm downright happy go lucky when I hear this constant Texans doom and gloom. 

At least your Lions have played in a Conference Championship game.  That's why I feel so depressed for my team; I'm lamenting because of the following:

Conference Championship Appearances:
19 -- Niners
16 -- Steelers
15 -- Patriots
14 -- Cowboys
11 -- Broncos, Raiders, Rams
9 -- Eagles, Packers, Vikings
8 -- Chiefs
7 -- Bills, Colts, Dolphins
6 -- Redskins/Commanders
5 -- Bears, Giants, Ravens, Seahawks, Titans
4 -- Bengals, Buccaneers, Chargers, Falcons, Jets, Panthers, Saints
3 -- Browns & Jaguars
2 -- Cardinals & Lions
Zero -- Houston Texans (for god knows how long)


We're the only team left out of the big dance.

And it's not really Drake Maye or his team -- last year we beat them 41-21 (without Nico Collins) in Foxborough -- it's their coaching staff that worries me immensely.  Mike Vrabel has turned a four-win team to practically Super Bowl Champions if they win today (Broncos likely out in the next round)....that's a coaching feat not seen since Vince Lombardi took over the Packers.  What Mike has done is historic magnitude turnaround, and for that reason I don't see how or why he can't be Coach of the Year.

[ZLoth]

At least your Lions have played in a Conference Championship game.  That's why I feel so depressed for my team; I'm lamenting because of the following:

Conference Championship Appearances:
Zero -- Houston Texans (for god knows how long)

The Houston Texans were enfranchised in 2002. The following teams have not appeared in the AFC/NFC Championships since the Texans started:

• Cleveland Browns - 1989 AFC
• Miami Dolphins - 1992 AFC
• Dallas Cowboys - 1995 NFC

[Max Rockatansky]

Who cares about being in the conference championship game?  When the Lions lost to the 49ers in the NFC championship game I didn't leave the stadium brining "boy, I'm glad we just got here."

[NWI_Irish96]

Who cares about being in the conference championship game?  When the Lions lost to the 49ers in the NFC championship game I didn't leave the stadium brining "boy, I'm glad we just got here."

I guess that depends based on what the team's expectations were heading into the season and into the playoffs. I think Bears fans would be ecstatic to "just get there" this year, especially given how dominant the Seahawks looked last night.

[Max Rockatansky]

Who cares about being in the conference championship game?  When the Lions lost to the 49ers in the NFC championship game I didn't leave the stadium brining "boy, I'm glad we just got here."

I guess that depends based on what the team's expectations were heading into the season and into the playoffs. I think Bears fans would be ecstatic to "just get there" this year, especially given how dominant the Seahawks looked last night.

It definitely didn't help that the Lions had a big lead and blew it in the second half. 

[JayhawkCO]

Punting down 12 with 5 minutes left should be a fireable offense.

[Ted$8roadFan]

Patriots beat the Texans 28-16 in a snow-filled afternoon at Foxboro. Now they're off to Denver to play the Broncos and old friend Jarrett Stidham. It wasn't a perfect game, with lots of turnovers by both teams. But it was C.J. Stroud and the Texans who couldn't deal with wintry conditions.

[Roadgeekteen]

Back like we never left. Go Pats.

[JayhawkCO]

I think we're going to find out that the AFC was really bad this year.

[wanderer2575]

Punting down 12 with 5 minutes left should be a fireable offense.

Not really all that long ago, that was standard in the Lions' playbook.

[thspfc]

No matter what happens in overtime (I have a wild guess), this Bears team is the most clutch team in the history of professional sports. I also think there's something to Caleb's wild scrambling making every defense run all game and exhausting them by the 4th quarter.