The Battle Red Blog writers evaluate if the Patriots represent a trap game.
The Houston Texans enter week six on a roll after defeating their best opponent this season. They now face another AFC East opponent in the New England Patriots. This isn’t the Patriots of old; they’re 1-4 and wanting for talent at just about every position. They’re one of the worst offenses in the league and have a middling defense. This is one of the least competent teams Houston will face all season.
Then, the big news.
To note, this question and the subsequent responses were before the Patriots announced that rookie QB Drake Maye will start for the first time. It’s a mixed-news announcement as Houston will be exposed to the new QB for the first time without any film to go off. For a team looking for answers, changing the QB is odd-on the best method. Unfortunately, this occurs for the Texans. Even so, it takes us to our Groupthink of the week.
Texans are facing the 1-4 New England Patriots. This is the biggest trap game of the season thusfar as the Patriots have lost four straight and have yet to score more than 20 points. How worried are you about the Texans relaxing and falling to the Patriots similarly to how Alabama lost to Vanderbilt after beating Georgia?
Patrick.H:
If not for a couple of bounces of the ball, the Texans would not be 4-1, so they have no reason to relax now. If anything, after the third quarter on Sunday, there’s all the more reason they should be even more focused. All that being said, I still worry this is a letdown game, as the Texans have proven frustratingly good at playing up or down to the level of their competition so there’s a distinct possibility we’ll be watching this game through our fingers. If the Texans are capable of playing like they were playing in the first half of Sunday, they’ll have nothing to worry about. If we see the 3Q Texans, then this game is gonna get ugly.
L4blitzer:
There are plenty of reasons that Houston shouldn’t take New England for granted, especially in New England. They are 0-9 all-time in games that count at Gillette. They did actually win the preseason game last season, so that is something…I guess. Also, it is hard to figure out what this team is. Sure, you are what your record says you are, which is 4-1. Yet, they still have a negative point-differential, and somehow, this team could just as easily be 2-2 or 1-4. They play it so close to the vest, for better or worse. Maybe that is how it will be. Blowouts/solid wins be [KITTEN]ed. Plus, the last time Houston went into New England as a “stronger” team against a Patriots squad starting an untested rookie…ok, it was still a Belichickean team that issued the 27-0 beatdown of Houston, but the pain resonated for the rest of that season. Let us hope it doesn’t here.
Vballretired:
They will find a way to make any game a nail biter. They could Middle Appalachian Tech and it would be close. Close games are still unpredictable. I don’t think it’s about taking opponents lightly. They just can’t get out of their own way. Also, when was the last time this team forced a turnover?
Patrick.H:
It’s not like they haven’t been close though. [Kitten], Al-Shaair almost had [Sunday] today alone.
Kenneth L.:
With the news of Drake Maye starting, this absolutely feels like a trap game. Everyone will step up their game to get in the good graces of the young QB. If I was the Patriots, I would’ve waited one week to face the also 1-4 Jacksonville Jaguars in London. It’s a neutral site, easy matchup, and conducive to a win. Houston proposes a much more difficult option.
The Patriots have a positive turnover differential, which is surprising for a 1-4 team. Their defense has played competently and only let the dynamic San Francisco 49ers breach 30 points. If the Texans are able to rack up points and force Maye to throw the ball downfield, they’ll be able to dominate. If not, they could be subject to Maye’s first career victory.