Unconventional Preview: Searching for healthy optimism as Patriots prepare for Texans
Rob Gronkowski of the Patriots celebrates a touchdown with Julian Edelman against the Steelers.
COMMENTARY
Welcome to Season 4, Episode 13 of the Unconventional Preview, a serious-but-lighthearted, occasionally nostalgia-tinted look at the Patriots’ weekly matchup that runs right here every weekend.
For the first time this season, the Unconventional Preview is coming at you after back-to-back losses. Actually, it’s the first time since weeks 2 and 3 of the 2012 season — the rookie year of this goofy preview — that the Patriots have lost two games in a row. The Patriots have not lost three in a row since a four-game losing streak that extended from weeks 4-8 (including a bye) during the 2002 season, leaving a span of 213 games since such a thing has happened. That was so long ago that I remember writing during that slide that Belichick really ought to send a message to the team by cutting fumble-prone bust Kevin Faulk. If I recall, he did not follow that advice, and Faulk turned out to be a cornerstone Patriot in a 13-year career that ended four years ago. So yeah, it was a while ago.
It is possible that the Patriots, who lost to the Broncos and Eagles the past two weeks to drop to 10-2 and third in the AFC playoff seedings, do lose again this week. After a 1-4 start, the Texans have won 5 of 7 under coach Bill O’Brien, the one-time Patriots offensive coordinator.
The Patriots are still shorthanded on offense, limiting Tom Brady’s options. Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman are back at practice, but the latter probably isn’t close to returning to game-action yet, while the former is listed as questionable. Donta’ Hightower, the essential linebacker, also missed last week’s game, and his absence is always glaring, especially in stopping the run. This didn’t look like a big game for the Patriots a couple of weeks ago. But it sure does now.
Kick it off Gostkowski, and let’s get this thing started …
THREE PLAYERS I’LL BE WATCHING NOT NAMED TOM BRADY
J.J. Watt: The heir to Peyton Manning’s Papa John’s endorsement might be juuuust a bit over exposed, but then, we’re Gronk people around here and our guy would probably wear Bread Gloves during a game if he got paid enough, so we should probably suffer Watt’s variety of awful commercials in silence. Besides, he is a wonderful player, essentially the defensive version of Gronk in terms of impact and destructiveness to the opposition. The deification is a bit much — I expect the CBS broadcasters to try to convince us Watt broke his hand by punching out a mountain lion that was about to devour a child — but his talent is unassailable. When Bill Belichick is comparing him to Lawrence Taylor, you know he’s the real thing, on the field. I have no idea how the Patriots will keep him out of Tom Brady’s rib cage on Sunday.
DeAndre Hopkins: You’ve probably heard this before, but I’m going to repeat it because it still leaves my mind in a deep state of bogglement. (Right, I’m so mind-boggled that I’m now making up words.) The 2011 Clemson Tigers offense included Hopkins, who is arguably the best wide receiver in the NFL right now, as well as Sammy Watkins, Martavis Bryant, Andre Ellington, and Dwayne Allen. Clemson went 10-4 that season, but I’m pretty sure that if a decent defense accompanied that collection of offensive talent it would run away with the NFC East and the AFC South this year. Hopkins is fourth in the NFL in receptions (86), third in receiving yards (1,169) and tied for third in touchdown catches (10), numbers that are all the more impressive when you realize he’s had Brian Hoyer, Ryan Mallett, and T.J. Yates throwing to him. Andre Johnson had a hell of a run with the Texans, but Hopkins may be just as talented.
GRONK: So you’re saying there’s a chance? He’s back at practice, a great sign for sure, but it’s still uncertain whether he will play. The Patriots miss him dearly in the passing game and as a blocker. This is where the loss to the Eagles hurts. In an ideal world, he’d sit another week or two, but the Patriots can’t afford to let the Broncos and Bengals get secure in those top two seeds. Man, why can’t Scott Chandler be as good as it seemed he would be?
GRIEVANCE OF THE WEEK
I have no grievances this week! This is a grievance-free zone! Probably because personal circumstances dictated that I watch last week’s game on DVR, and thus I was able to fast-forward through all of the Tony Siragusa nonsense during the Fox broadcast. His existence on my television would be my grievance if I hadn’t had to do that. I need to do that more often.
PREDICTION, OR ARE WE SURE VINCE WILFORK IS ACTUALLY GOOD AT BASKETBALL? OR AT THIS POINT, FOOTBALL?
Seriously, he’s struggling to hit the rim while goofing around with a bunch of kids. This is what Big Baby Davis will look like when he tries to make a comeback with the Knicks in three years. Of course, knocking down corner jumpers isn’t what Wilfork is paid to do. His job is to stop the run. He was OK last year with the Patriots, but it’s telling that their run defense seems to have become stouter the year after he is gone. The 34-year-old been spotty with the Texans — understandably, can you imagine the abuse his body has taken playing that position all these years? — and it would be huge for the Patriots if this is the week their running game starts to show some life. Ultimately, though, it will come down to Brady’s arm. If the Patriots’ line can start to get some cohesion and keep Watt somewhat contained (that’s one sack or less on the day), the Patriots should prevail. But it’s not going to be easy. Nothing is right now. Patriots 24, Texans 21
Chad Finn can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @GlobeChadFinn.
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