On paper, the Houston Texans taking on the New England Patriots should be an easy victory for New England. However, the Patriots are not overlooking the Texans at all.
“We’re playing a really good team,” Patriots quarterback Tom Brady said Monday morning. “We are playing a team that has earned this opportunity. They have the No. 1 defense in the league. I studied them all day yesterday.”
Brady also said the Patriots must play well and that Houston has “a damn good defense.”
When New England’s offense collides with Houston’s defense, the veteran quarterback said there will be “nothing easy” for the Patriots. During his appearance on Kirk and Callahan on WEEI, Brady said, “I think this is a day-to-day league.”
“It really doesn’t matter last time we played them or last year because things change so much with the game and a game plan and players. Coach talks about all the time, it’s not who you play, it’s how you play.”
Even though Texans defensive end Jadeveon Clowney has arguably been Houston’s best defensive player this season, Brady praised others like linebacker Whitney Mercilus, the secondary, and coaches.
“Not only that, [Mercilus] is a damn good player,” Brady said. “They have two very good linebackers and then they have one of the best secondary’s [sic] that we’ll face in terms of coverage corners. They have three guys who can cover. Also, playing against Billy’s [Texans head coach Bill O’Brien] team and he has [defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel], who we know how great of a coach Romeo is.”
In Week 3, the Patriots beat the Texans 27-0, but Tom Brady wasn't under center for New England. The veteran quarterback was still serving a four-game suspension for his role in Deflategate.
Instead, third-string quarterback Jacoby Brissett started and led the Patriots to victory. This time around, though, Brady will get a chance to face the NFL’s top-ranked defense.
Even though Brady was praising the Texans defense, a lot of people believe this game will be a laugher, and that New England will win with ease. In fact, according to Odds Shark, the Patriots are favored by 16 points.