The Captain's Log, Game Twelve: "The Conundrum"

Captain's Log Supplemental

Well, that was really fun! No seriously, it was a fun football game to watch. That leaves most of us fans in a conundrum of sorts on how to feel emotionally. We like to see our team compete and beat other teams. However, with the bigger picture in mind for next season, we also need to reload a few key positions and would benefit from controlling the 2014 NFL Draft. Getting the first overall pick isn't any type of guarantee that the player will be a future All-Pro, but it can help the team rebound quickly if done correctly and fill a key role. The obvious areas the Texans need to consider upgrading in the first round are at QB and an outside pass rushing threat on defense. In that sense, this was almost the perfect game for fans in our situation. We watched the Texans really put it to the Patriots throughout the game, and then let the victory barely slip away at the end.

I would still prefer that they beat the team led by Tom Brady. The Patriots are the benchmark for the Texans to overcome if they are truly going to make a championship run. For the first time this season, the Texans put together a really solid offensive game. Especially considering how things could have been for us if we started the season with a better offensive line and quarterback, and had a full roster for this game (Brian Cushing, Danieal Manning, Arian Foster, Owen Daniels). There are a couple of glaring holes on defense that can be fixed (nickel CB, ILB, OLB), but otherwise this should give us hope that this team is able to compete against anyone.

I'm really pumped about what we saw this weekend. The players are not giving up, and I think next season will be a good bounce-back to the top of the AFC.

Go Texans!

SUMMARY OF KEY STATS:

No penalties on the Patriots? I appreciate the refs staying out of this game and letting the guys play, but there were most certainly penalties on both sides needing some laundry. That inadvertent contact by Brooks Reed on Brady as Tom was pushed into Reed was completely ridiculous. I still think the biggest weakness in the NFL product is the complete lack of consistency from one refereeing crew to the next.

Around the AFC South...

The Colts (8-4): Indy beat Tennessee 22-14 and have all but secured the AFC South title for 2013. They now travel to play the AFC North first place Bengals, who just beat the Chargers in San Diego.

The Titans (5-7): Tennessee lost to Indy, and now heads to Denver to face the Broncos.

The Jaguars (3-9) Jacksonville beat the Browns 32-28, and now hosts the Texans on Thursday. The "Bridgewater Bowl" or "Clash for Clowney" is on!

Sick Bay

"I'm not a Spy, I'm a Doctor!"

INJURY UPDATES THIS WEEK:

TE Owen Daniels - Still no update on when, or if, he returns.

Here is the official Texans' injury report from the Mothership:

Bravo Zulu - Ben Tate

(Bravo Zulu is a naval signal, conveyed by flag hoist or vocal, meaning "Well Done")

Ben Tate had a rough game last week with only one net yard rushing on seven carries, but he is playing with cracked ribs that are still healing, so we understand. That didn't slow him down this week, as this tough running back pounded out 102 rushing yards on 22 attempts and scored three touchdowns. I wish we could afford to keep this guy, because he sure looks great out there. Great job this week, Ben!

Official stats on Ben Tate from the Mothership:

• Tied Arian Foster and Ryan Moats with a franchise-record three rushing touchdowns in a game, most recently done by Foster on Sept. 12, 2010 vs. Indianapolis.
• Led the Texans in rushing with 102 yards on 22 attempts, his fifth career 100-yard rushing game and first since Nov. 6, 2011 against Cleveland.
• Passed Steve Slaton (1,832) to move into third place on the franchise’s career rushing list on his 13th carry of the game. Tate entered the game with 1,765 career rushing yards. He now has 1,867 career rushing yards.
• Scored his second touchdown of the season on a 8-yard rush in the first quarter
• Broke free for a 20-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, giving him his second multi-touchdown game of his career. Tate last scored two touchdowns in one game on Sept. 16, 2012 at Jacksonville

Honorable Mention:

WR Andre Johnson - He looks so amazing this season! It's like he has gone back about five years. I'm hoping this guy can play long enough to shatter Jerry Rice's records.

Official stats on Andre Johnson from the Mothership:

• Became the 15th player in NFL history with 900 career receptions and the second-fastest player to reach 900 in NFL history, doing so in his 150th game. Marvin Harrison was the fastest to reach 900, doing so in his 149th career game.
• Had eight receptions for 121 yards, his fifth 100-yard receiving game of the season and the 49th of his career
• Passed Jimmy Smith (12,287) to move into 17th place on the NFL’s all-time receiving yards list on his second reception of the game. Johnson entered Sunday with 12,256 yards receiving. He now ranks 15th all-time with 900 receptions and 17th all-time with 12,377 yards receiving.
• It took Johnson 13 games to reach 900 receptions since he had his 800th career reception against Minnesota in Week 16 of 2012.
• Extended his streak of consecutive games played with a reception to 113 and his franchise record of games played to 150.

Movie Quote (name it):

"Can I refill your eggnog for you? Get you something to eat? Drive you out to the middle of nowhere and leave you for dead?"

Stories From The Brig

With the exception of J.J. Watt and Johnathan Joseph, we'll stuff the rest of the defense and Coordinator Wade Phillips in there this week. Repeatedly mashing the blitz button on Tom Brady has resulted in allowing 117 points in three games against the Patriots over the last year. Can we please find another scheme? Granted, the first half of this game was looking good, but the Patriots made adjustments and the Texans didn't readjust to counter in the second half.

Execution also fell apart when they had three players covering Rob Gronkowski and left Shane Vereen wide open within five yards of the end zone. It also helps when you wrap up and tackle a ball carrier near the goal line instead of just shoulder-chipping like I saw Shiloh Keo do a couple of times. Third down conversions by throwing on Brice McCain seem to be a common theme every week, and Brady got in on that action as well.

This week the offense did enough to win. The defense failed to make key stops. The only sack in the game came from Whitney Mercilus and Jeff Tarpinian, who combined for one.

Ship's Galley

Let's go below decks and see what's cooking...

Juicing!

Many folks are looking for ways to stay healthy, or get healthy, or find a shortcut to eating concentrated nutrients while still enjoying everyday balanced meals. Juicing is a great way to ensure you digest enough vegetables each day (or week) without having to gnaw through a mountain of produce. Drinking just one or two 8 to 12 ounces of fresh juice each day can really make a difference in helping with weight management, and getting the essential nutrients our bodies crave. It helps with general illness and disease prevention too! I got into juicing this summer, and it has made a big difference in my daily energy and overall health.

If you are not sure about this whole juicing thing, and want to learn more about the benefits with a real life example; check out this documentary of Joe Cross and how he was able to lose weight and stopped taking several prescription medicines as a result of infusing his body with powerful micro-nutrients from juicing: Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead

I use a slow cold-press juicer by Omega, but get whatever you can and put it to use. It will change your life!

Here are a couple of recipes I have found to be easy, healthy and tasty:

Note: If you have bananas getting over-ripened, peel them, put them in a ziplock bag, and freeze them to use in smoothies. This smoothie is a hit with my teenage kids.

Fun With Numbers...

38

Quarterback hits this season for J.J. Watt, which leads the league.

5

Yard rushing touchdown for Case Keenum, who had his first career rushing score in the NFL. It was the first touchdown run by a Texans' quarterback since T.J. Yates’ 1-yard plunge at New England on Dec. 10, 2012.

66

Yards on a pass completion from Keenum to Hopkins, which is also the longest completion by a Texan this season. Case also had four completions of 25 yards or longer. Hopkins’ 66-yard reception in the fourth quarter was the longest by a rookie in franchise history. The previous long by a rookie was a 46-yard touchdown reception by WR Andre Johnson at Buffalo on Nov. 16, 2003 and a 46-yarder by RB Steve Slaton against Jacksonville on Dec. 1, 2008.

31

Yards returned by Johnathan Joseph after intercepting Tom Brady; the pick tied Brian Cushing for fourth place in franchise history with eight interceptions as a Texan. It was J-Jo's 22nd career interception.

133

Consecutive games played by Chris Myers. This extended the NFL’s longest active consecutive games played streak by an offensive lineman, and the longest active consecutive games started streak by a center to 108. It was also his 92nd consecutive game as a Texan.

Movie Quote II (a/k/a the hint):

"Oh, the silent majesty of a winter's morn... the clean, cool chill of the holiday air... an a-hole in his bathrobe, emptying a chemical toilet into my sewer..."

On The Horizon...

The Texans head to Jacksonville this Thursday for a 7:25 PM (CST) kickoff.

Last week's Captain's Log: Game 11 vs Jaguars

Patriots vs Texans coverage