Countdown To Kickoff: Texans v. Patriots

Today's game between the New England Patriots and your Houston Texans was supposed to mean something. Instead, the game has been flexed out of a national late afternoon broadcast into an all too familiar noon CST start thanks to the Texans being 2-9 (losers of nine straight!) instead of 9-2. There's little reason to think Houston will do anything besides add to its franchise record consecutive games lost streak today, yet we'll watch. Because we're fans, and these are the days that will make the success sweeter someday. Or so I'm told.

So as you're waiting for the Texans' latest date with disaster, this the place for you to talk about the Texans, the Patriots, what you hope to see this afternoon, the 2014 NFL Draft, and anything else Texans or Pats-related as we wait for those final minutes to tick by before kickoff.

The first open thread for the game will post at 11:45 a.m. CDT. Until then, make with the gameday chatter here.