Locked On Patriots - Daily Podcast On The New England Patriots - Crossover Thursday: Patriots take on the Texans - 11/19/2020

Episode Date: November 19, 2020

It’s Crossover Thursday on the Locked On Podcast Network. Join hosts Mike D’Abate of Locked On Patriots and John Hickman of Locked On Texans as they preview this Sunday afternoon showdown between the New England Patriots and the Houston Texans from NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas on Sunday, November 22, 2020.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! EchelonRight now, you can try any Echelon Fitness equipment at home for 30 days. Go to EchelonFit.com/NFLBuilt BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order.MyBookieINVEST IN YOUR INTUITION. USE PROMO CODE LOCKEDON AND DOUBLE YOUR FIRST DEPOSIT. NEW PLAYERS GET UP TO $1,000 IN FREE PLAY - DESIGNED TO ADD MORE EXCITEMENT TO THE SPORTS YOU LOVE AND THE GAMES YOU BET. YOUR WINNING SEASON BEGINS TODAY...ONLY AT MYBOOKIE!BuiltGoVisit BuiltGO.com and use promo code “LOCKED,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order.Door DashRight now, our listeners can get $5 off and zero delivery fees on their first order of $15 or more, when you download the DoorDash app and enter code LOCKEDON.SimpliSafeGet 30% off SimpliSafe plus a free security camera today by visiting SimpliSafe.com/lockedonnfl Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You are Locked On Patriots, your daily New England Patriots podcast. Part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. Hello to all of you, Foxborough faithful. You are now locked into the Locked On Patriots podcast. We're on to week 11 of the 2020 NFL season, and that means it is once again time to cross the streams here on your daily home for news notes and analysis infused with the occasional opinion on your six-time Super Bowl champions, the New England Patriots.

Locked on Patriots is presented today by Pepsi, made for football watching. Thanks to a lack of natural athleticism or commitment or overbearing sports parents, fewer than 1% of 1% of 1% of people will ever play professional football. But instead of entering the NFL, they've joined another league, the League of Football Watchers. This football season will be different, and Pepsi is here to get you ready for game day, no matter how you watch. Pepsi is the refreshment you need to power through any game day. Because Pepsi isn't made for those who play the game, it's made for those who watch it. Pepsi, made for football. Watch it. Welcome back to the Pod Patriots Nation. Today is Thursday, November 19th, 2020. And that can mean only one thing. It is once again time to cross the streams here on the Locked On Podcast Network.

That's right, it's Crossover Thursday. And it being week 11 of the 2020 NFL season, that means the Houston Texans are up next on the Patriots schedule. And right here today on Locked On Patriots, I will be joined momentarily by John Hickman, one half of the hosting tandem of the Locked On Texans podcast. John, of course, is a good friend and valued colleague of mine here at Locked On. He's one of the more objective and candid voices when it comes to coverage of the Texans.

And folks, you're going to love this. John is a fan of your New England Patriots. So I really think you're going to love this podcast. As for me, I'm Mike DeBate, your host of the Locked On Patriots podcast, which of course is a proud part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. And folks, that phrase, your team every day, means that your questions, comments, and feedback are always welcomed and very much appreciated. Feel free to share that feedback anytime by reaching out to me and following me on Twitter

at MDABATEFPC. And while you're out there doing some Thursday traveling through the Twitterverse, please be sure to follow the Locked On Patriots account as well at LO underscore Patriots. Patriots Nation, we are officially on to Houston. Sunday, November 22nd, 2020, 1 p.m. Eastern from NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. Your New England Patriots travel deep into the heart of the Lone Star State to take on the Texans. And usually when these two teams meet in the regular season, there's a lot at stake. The Texans got the best of the Patriots in last year's matchup.

A 28-22 loss on Sunday night football for the Patriots to the Texans, with both teams making an eventual march to the playoffs in the 2019 postseason. This year, it's a little bit of a different story. The Patriots come into this game at 4-5, riding a two-game win streak, but still on the outside looking in when it comes to the playoff picture. As for the Texans, it's been a dismal 2020 so far. Their 2-7 record definitely does not instill fear into the hearts of a lot of football fans. But make no mistake about it, the Texans still have a lot of weapons, especially on the offensive side of the ball. That begins and ends with quarterback Deshaun Watson. Watson has almost

single-handedly kept the Texans in just about every game they've played this year. So while on paper this looks to be a good matchup for the Patriots, it's definitely not a slam-dunk win for the team. They're going to have to go in and play solid on both sides of the ball, continue to win battles on special teams, and the Patriots should come away with a victory here. But I don't want to get too far ahead of myself just yet. To fairly evaluate this Texans team, we need a little local wisdom and counsel from the local experts.

And that's why John Hickman of Locked On Texans will join me here in just a moment. We'll break this one down from an offensive standpoint, a defensive standpoint. I'm sure John will have some questions for me about Cam Newton, Damian Harris, and the Patriots defense. I'll also pick his brain a little bit on how the coaching change has worked out in Houston. Two former Patriots sideline stalkers have taken the head coach's job in Houston this season. Former offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien started the season as the head coach's job in Houston this season. Former offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien started the season as the head coach in Houston. He was unceremoniously dropped from that role, but taking his place was another former Patriot, one who's a little bit

more beloved in this area, and that is former defensive coordinator Romeo Cornell. Don't forget, Bill Belichick and Romeo Cornell know each other's tendencies very well, so that could set up a very interesting chess match on Sunday. Folks, I believe Sunday afternoon's matchup has a chance to be a really exciting one in Houston, and I for one had this one circled on my calendar for a while. I always love being able to share the microphone with John, and hopefully by the time you're finished listening to today's pod, you'll know a lot more about the Houston Texans, and maybe even a little bit more about your New England Patriots.

So sit tight and settle in, because here on the pod we will be crossing the streams in just a moment. But first, because it's Thursday, we know that the injury reports are already starting to come out for both teams. The Patriots hit the practice fields Wednesday, and the good news is that all members of the Patriots' 53-man roster were present and accounted for on the field. The not-so-good news is that 13 of their players were limited participants, but that is a decrease from last week's 17.

So the Patriots' injury list is diminishing just a little bit, folks. Of course, as I stated yesterday here on the pod, rookie offensive tackle Justin Harrod returned to the practice field yesterday, which means that as of Wednesday, the 21-day clock for him to be activated by New England begins. As for those members of the Patriots that were limited in yesterday's practice, Damian Harris headlines the list with both an ankle and chest injury. Tight end Ryan Izzo, a new addition.

He's listed with both a hamstring and a hand injury. Don't worry, Claire. I'm sure it's only precautionary when it comes to Ryan. But moving on on the list, Isaiah Wynn continues to be listed with an ankle injury. Joe Tooney with an ankle injury as well. and of course Shaq Mason with the calf. On the defensive side of the ball, we're talking Lawrence Guy, still listed with shoulder, elbow, and knee ailments. He suited up on Sunday. I think it's a pretty good bet that he'll end up suiting up this Sunday against the Texans, but definitely worth keeping an eye on. Adam Butler returns to the Patriots injury list with a shoulder injury.

Dietrich Wise is listed with both knee and hand ailments. John Simon with an elbow injury. Juwan Bentley, who's missed the last couple of games, continues to be listed with a groin injury. Therese Hall, the former practice squad linebacker who's become the Patriots de facto middle linebacker, elevated to the 53-man roster. Hall was limited on Wednesday with a shoulder injury. Of course, the big name cornerback Stephon Gilmore is still listed as being limited with a knee injury, and kicker Nick Folt continues

to be limited in practice with a back injury. On the Texans side of things, some notables for the Texans did not participate in practice on Wednesday, including running back Duke Johnson, who's listed with an illness. Offensive tackle Laramie Tunsell, one of the key members of that offensive line, also listed with an illness. wide receiver Kenny Stills with a back injury, and safety Michael Thomas was out with a shoulder injury. As always, folks, still too early to tell who's going to suit up in this one and who won't for both teams, but definitely worth keeping a sharp eye on. Once again, good news for the Patriots that all Patriots were present and accounted for

on the field. Keep a sharp eye on Thursday's report, and then, of course, the big report on Friday evening. That should be telltale as to who is going to make the trip to Houston and who might be active and inactive for this game. So now that we've taken a brief trip down the lane of walking wounded for both teams, it's time to cross the streams. And in just a moment, John Hickman, host of the Locked On Texans podcast, will join me here on the hot seat.

Both John and I break down this Week 11 matchup between the Houston Texans and your New England Patriots when the Locked On Patriots podcast continues. But first, Locked On listeners, this football season has been and will continue to be different. But Pepsi is here to get you ready for game day, no matter how you watch this season. I know, the roar of the crowd might not be as loud, and some of those tailgating thrills might be a thing of the past,

but that doesn't mean that you can't still have the best seat in the house when it comes to watching your favorite team play football. Think about it, your seat at home is probably a lot more comfortable, you're probably wearing more comfortable clothes. Maybe, just maybe, you might not even have to watch your language as much. You've got your favorite snacks right by your side, and of course, Pepsi, which is the refreshment you need to power through game day and become a member of the League of Football Watchers. These passionate fans are the real generational talent that Pepsi fuels.

Because Pepsi isn't made for those who play the game, it's made for those who watch it. Go to madeforfootballwatching.com to check out the latest football watching content from Pepsi. Made for football. Watch it. Patriots fans and Texans fans, there is a lot of familiarity between these two teams and these two proud franchises.

And on Sunday, they're set to renew that familiarity at 1 p.m. Eastern from NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. The Houston Texans host the New England Patriots in week 11 of the 2020 NFL season. And today is crossover Thursday here on the Lockdown Podcast Network. My name is Mike Debate, host of the Lockdown Patriots podcast. And joining me is my friend and colleague John Hickman, host of the Lockdown Texans podcast. John, it's always an honor and a privilege to join you on the microphone for these crossovers.

Absolutely. You know, I love getting these crossovers done with every team that we cover here in Lockdown, which is all 32. I love them because we finally get an insight of what's going on with the other franchise organization. But I love doing the Lockdown Patriots because as the Lockdown Texans fans know, as much as I love Houston Texans, I'm a Patriot fan. I'm actually going to the game on Sunday. But it's very fun and knowledgeable whenever we're done with these. So I can't wait to discuss both franchises today.

Absolutely. And there's really no stranger between these two teams. And I should say that probably a better choice of word was there's a lot of familiarity. Like I said, in the opening of Houston Texans and the new England Patriots do share a lot of former players on both sides, a lot of history between these two franchises, and definitely a lot of history between the two fan bases. In fact, John, both occupants of the Texans head coaching office are former Patriots coaches, former head coach Bill O'Brien, who I know is kind of a polarizing figure in Houston, but current interim coach Romeo Cornell has seemed to turn things around a little bit,

and we know Romeo very well for his defensive prowess here as Bill Belichick's coordinator on the preventative side of the ball on the defense. John, in your estimation, since Romeo has taken this team over, how have the Texans changed, both conceptually and from an on-field standpoint, since he took over for Bill O'Brien? I think if we look at conceptually, I think what Cornell was able to do when he stepped into the role was allow everybody to breathe without having to be so uptight. There were rumors and a lot of

sources that was coming out that the way Bill ran the franchise, the team, over the, really the duration of his time here in Houston was very, very strict to the point where players felt like they were not grown men. One mishap, we see what's going on with Kiki QT, and we still don't really know why he is not getting the playing time. But the way Bill ran things was very detrimental to what the players wanted to do. Be free. So, Romeo Quiniel got into the locker room and took over as interim head coach. We saw a lot of freedom. Now, what we see on the field as far as play, I think defensively nothing has changed, in my opinion. We played some rookies.

They got more minutes, but I think that's due to injury and COVID. So, not much there, but I think that's due to injury and COVID. So not much there, but I think overall the biggest change has come from seeing Deshaun Watson not be handcuffed by Bill O'Brien and the coaching style that he has brought to Houston. He's very good with quarterbacks that are not talented, to say the least. He made the playoffs with Brock Oswalt as his starting quarterback. He made the playoffs one year with five quarterbacks featuring Josh Johnson and Brian Hoyer. A terrible year

quarterback-wise for Houston. But he was able to take that roster and make it a playoff team. But with Deshaun Watson and his talent, he's never really been good at coaching that. So now with Cornell stepping in, Watson is's never really been good at coaching that. So now with Cornell stepping in,

Watson is no longer handcuffed by that coaching style. Excuse me. And since week four, he's thrown for 14 plus 100 yards, 12 TDs and two interceptions. At one point, four straight games with 100 plus pass rate. Cornell just let Watson be in control of that offense and allows him to get his own mojo going. And that's been shown on the field. Outside of that, we're still a very bad team.

We still don't have talent on the defensive side of the ball, which isn't his fault. He was involved in a lot of the personnel moves in regards to signing guys. He was no longer the defensive coordinator. That job was appointed to Anthony Weaver in his first year, and Bill O'Brien did a terrible job of setting him up with talent. But that's it. Nothing much has changed outside of seeing that even at 2-7, Deshaun Watson is going out there every week trying to win a game,

trying to prove why he's one of the best in the league, and he's living up to that contract extension. Absolutely, and Deshaun Watson, without question, one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, consistently in the top, and he really has trapped this team on his back, and we'll definitely get to Deshaun and his prowess in just a minute, but staying on Romeo's specialty on the defensive side of the ball, and John, you did allude to this about maybe some lack of defensive personnel being the reason for Houston

not having the robust defense we're accustomed to them seeing. But Houston has had some difficulty stopping the run, and that's where the Patriots have been most effective this year is running the football. So logic says that the Texans might want to try to force the Patriots into obvious passing situations because that may be the best way to slow them down. Now, the Texans do have the ability to put pressure on the passer. They still have J.J. Watt. They still have Whitney Merciless, seven sacks between the two of them so far in the 2020 season. And in the secondary, you've got a guy like Bradley Roby, who especially gave Patriots problems last year with his versatility in the backfield. Vernon Hargraves is now on the other side of that corner spot.

Then you've got Justin Reed and Eric Murray as a pretty stout safety tandem. John, in your estimation, when we're talking about the matchup with the Patriots, do the Texans have the personnel on the front seven to force the Patriots to try to beat them through the air and challenge that secondary? No, they don't. The front seven is a weakness to this defense, and the secondary is a weakness to this defense. But the problem with the front seven is how you mentioned J.J. Watt and Winnie Merciless had seven sacks between the two throughout 10 games. Those sacks have come far in between one another.

And on top of that, nobody else is producing any real pressure on the quarterbacks. So with those two guys giving you those seven sacks, but they're coming far in between and nobody else stepping up to really help consistently, you lose Charles O'Manee, who really don't play out a rookie, and Ross Blacklock. Saw more of him in the last couple of weeks, but like I mentioned earlier, that was due to COVID and injuries. They will have, the Patriots, will have enough time for Cam Newton to make decisions. Whitney Merciless has played well beneath that contract, been very underwhelming.

And as we've seen out of J.J. Watt, especially against the Browns, his commitment to the game. What made J.J. Watt so good was his motor, how committed to the game he is, and how he just never quits. I think we can all agree that has been one of the biggest parts of J.J. Watt's game is his style of play. But he's playing defeated right now. He's playing angry.

We've all seen the press conferences. We've seen the 15-second responses. J.J. Watt, he's not here anymore, not on the field at least. And so I don't see him being a real factor in this game outside of him trying to, you know, maybe pad his stats a little bit for his career, which he deserves for his legacy. Nobody else is going to cause problems. And with that being said, I don't trust Bradley Roby being that good of a cornerback to where it affects the rest of this defense.

Justin Reed has played terrible this year, to say the least. He played better last year than he has this year. We have a huge problem at safety on the other side of Reed because Michael Thomas or Eric Murray just isn't talented enough. And then Vernon Hongrace has been getting picked on all year. And we still have a rookie or second year player in Lonnie Johnson who is still trying to figure out the position of safety. So that's been an issue as well. Defense is atrocious, horrendous and pathetic. New England will have a fairly good day with running the ball.

We know that the Texans are the worst run defense in the league. And they are the number 31st pass defense as well. You guys will be okay. Trust me. No, and that's the reason why I love crossovers is local experts giving you the latest information and the greatest information on the team. That's great insight. And I know it's painful as a host of Locked On Texans to have to kind of give some feedback of that nature. But the Patriots right now are definitely showing signs of strength or at least improving.

And I'm sure we'll get to that in the next segment when you put me on the hot seat. But that's definitely interesting and good stuff to know, especially from an enemy standpoint. But lastly, my friend, we did allude to this earlier. You did and the prowess of Deshaun Watson, and he's still a very dangerous weapon to deal with on offense for the Patriots, for any team, but Watson gives his team a chance to win each and every week. And Houston has had a chance to win virtually each and every week as a result of Deshaun Watson putting this team on his back. Will Fuller's still there. A lot of people were questioning whether or not he might be on the trade block.

He's still there making plays. A former Patriot as well on this team, Brandon Cooks. He's always dangerous for a big play threat. Got a lot of speed. Nine touchdowns between those two. Randall Cobb still pretty effective in the slot. Watson can also do damage with his legs. He's averaging almost five yards per rush.

And Duke Johnson in a fill-in role has been pretty good on the ground. He can make plays out of the backfield as well. John, in your estimation, despite the struggles this year, what makes this Texans offense a dangerous one, especially at home, and why they should get a little more credit than their 2-7 record? Well, I think when you look at a Swiss blade knife, you can get injured by different styles of knives. I mean, how many knives do they have on a Swiss blade? A lot. One of those pocket knives.

There's always like three or four different versions of knives on there. So there's three or four different ways you can get cut. We look at Deshaun Watson being the holder of that knife. He pulls it out when you have Will Fuller that can burn you. You have Brandon

Cooks that can burn you. And now with David Johnson getting hurt and we see, we're going to see more Duke Johnson. Duke Johnson can also hurt you. And as you mentioned, Brenda Kauf can also do a lot of damage in a slot. He's had two games where he caught over 80 yards. And Sean

Watson has been so good at picking his poison. Also to add, his pocket presence has been a whole lot better this year than we've seen in the past two years. He's stepping up in the pocket, keeping his eyes downfield. He's also being more decisive, especially since the first Jaguar game. He's been more decisive whether or not he wants to take off or just keep his eyes downfield and make a pass. So he's getting better with his pocket presence and leadership on the field,

and now he has full control of an offense that he was originally handicapped by. That is why this offense has been good. When you have a player like Deshaun Watson, somebody that Dabo Sweeney called Michael Jordan, when you have a player of his talent and how great he plays, things are going to happen. He's going to be able to make things happen. He's going to be able to spin out of tackles,

sacks, and make plays happen. We saw it last week when he just threw it and it looked like his eyes was closed and completed the pass. Big pass. He's that good and there's also talent offensively to match with him. We didn't think Will Fuller was going to be able to hold up.

At least I didn't. But he put on some weight during the offseason, came back 15 pounds heavier, and he's looked like a number one receiver. Brandon Cooks has had great moments so far with Houston, and I want him to return for next year. Both of those two guys are talented. I think the Achilles heel for the Longhorns was just not knowing what to do with a talent like Watson, but we haven't had that problem

since Bill O'Brien has been fired. No, and great insight, especially when it comes to both Fuller and Cooks. Look, Cooks is someone Patriots fans know very well from his time here in New England. Did some big things. Unfortunately, it wasn't quite the fit that everyone had hoped, but can't blame Brandon Cooks for not being a speedy, effective receiver here in New England. He certainly was, and he's doing big things in Houston as well this year

and playing well. Will Fuller is someone that Patriots fans had their eye on, maybe coveting him through a trade, but he's always someone that can burn you, like you said, and someone that can put points up on the board. And you have to respect Deshaun Watson's ability to be equally as effective both through the air and on the ground, one of the best dual threat quarterbacks in the league without question.

And John, you've provided a great amount of insight when it comes to the Texans. And I know my listeners and locked on Patriots greatly appreciate the insight you've given both on offense and on defense. But this wouldn't exactly be a true crossover unless we flip the script and you put me on the hot seat. In just a moment, folks, my friend and colleague John Hickman, host of the Locked On Texans podcast, will take over the command and seek my insight on all things New England Patriots. More on this Week 11 showdown between the Patriots and the Texans when this Locked On Crossover Thursday continues.

So, Mike, I mentioned earlier, I hope I did, that I'm going to the game on Sunday and I'm going to wear some Patriots gear. And I know I'm going to look, get those looks, those angry looks. What are you doing here, looks? I'm going to rip it proud. So, you know, I'm going to look, get those looks, those angry looks. What are you doing here? Looks.

I'm going to rip it proud. So you don't stand by just in case I need somebody to, you know, kind of vouch for me. If I got to move to Boston, I'm always here. Always. I'll always be here for you, my friend. Definitely. We love the fact that you're repping Patriots nation deep in the heart of Texas.

And if you ever need an ally, you always know where to come for me. I'm right here, southern New England. Foxborough's in my blood, and you know that. I'll be right there for you, buddy. I love my coworkers. I love you guys. I love my colleagues here at Locked On Podcast Network. We're a great big family.

But I want to talk about Cam Newton, right? I think that's the biggest story for Houston. I'm sorry, for the Patriots this year, because the bigger story is why do you have Cam Tom Brady left? Now with everything going on with Cameron Newton, with COVID-19, the limited to no access to the facilities, no off season or realseason. Coming into this season late and last minute, how has his progression with Josh McDaniel in this office been through Week 10? You know, John, that's a good question. And I think the synergy between Josh and Cam has been kind of a work in progress. And it's starting to come on a little bit as of late.

But early on, it looked like the Patriots were going to try to use the system that worked so well in the Tom Brady era and simply add elements into it that played into Cam's strengths, like incorporating zone reads, even some RPOs into the offense. And really, for the first couple of weeks, that seemed to be the case. They were looking good. Cam looked comfortable in the offense. They were talking about him possibly being comeback player of the year.

Even people were mentioning him in the MVP race early on. Cam looked that good coming off of the injury and coming off of a very abbreviated shortened period of training camp and acclimation period with the Patriots. But then the play calling stopped getting inventive and Josh seemed to revert back to running the old fashioned Brady playbook, which is simply pre-snap reads, play action, more air than the ground. And I think some of that was because of the time that Cam missed on the COVID reserve list. He definitely didn't get the synergy time with a lot of his receivers

to be able to develop that type of rapport that you need to effectively run the running game, the passing game in tandem and make them compliments of one another. You had Brian Hoyer in there for a little bit. You had Jared Stidham in there for a little bit, and it kind of threw off what Josh and Cam were working together to really build. Since then, the Patriots game plan has simplified, and I think they've done it to perfection in a lot of ways in terms of what they need to do. Now, have they run it perfectly at all times? No, but I think that the concept has been the best possible outcome for Cam Newton in a New England Patriots uniform.

Run the ball, eat the clock, use the passing game as an efficient complementary piece because the Pats running attack has been so versatile lately, meaning that you've got to account for Cam Newton, Damian Harris, Rex Burkhead, James White. The key for most teams beating the Patriots has really been to blitz on almost every down. You want to take away Cam's ability to check the football down and force him to beat you vertically. That's been kryptonite for the Patriots in 2020. But I saw something on Sunday against the Ravens that lets me know that Cam Newton is much more comfortable in this offense.

The Ravens love sending those extra pass rushers from all over the field. The Patriots really, I think, hit on a winning combination of being able to neutralize that. The combo of using the running game and Cam's coolness under fire, that's what kept that from being a big factor on Sunday. When Baltimore sent those extra pass rushers, Cam was 9 for 12, 105 yards and he hit rex burkhead for a nice touchdown his familiarity with the offense he's recognizing those pre-snap reads he's more easily picking up the blitzes that are coming and most importantly he's getting rid of the ball quicker i give cam so much credit for doing that because it's not an easy thing to have to adjust midway through

and miss time the way he's had without a lot of acclimation time, again, to be able to get used to his offense. So to me, those are the good signs that he's improving. He's gaining comfort in the system. And I think you're going to continue to see him look more effective each and every week. Cam's been a great fit, and I think he'll continue to be a great fit here. Another thing that helped the Patriots win against the Baltimore Ravens and, you know, throughout the year, how dominant they've been on the ground. They rushed for 173

yards on Sunday, but Damian Harris, Damian Harris has looked phenomenal. Has Damian Harris, who's averaging 5.5 yards per carry right now, always been ready for this spot he's in right now. He's taken the best opportunities. He's taken the best of his opportunities this season and has been major for the number three Russian team in the league. Was it just his time to shine after having to wait last year? What's been the difference of Damian Harris this year? Versatility.

Versatility. He's just one of the more versatile running backs I've seen come through Foxborough in quite a while. Damian Harris is the real deal. There's no question about it. And as much as I've advocated for Sony Michelle being the feature back on this team since Sony was drafted, it's clear that Damian has taken that job and rightfully so. I really love watching this kid run each and every week. In the last six games, Harris has rushed for 100 yards or more in three of them. That includes the 121-yard career high on Sunday, in which he carried the ball 22 times. This was going against one of the better run defenses in the NFL. His vision, his toughness, his physicality were all on display against the Ravens. And the thing that I really love about the way Damian Harris runs the football is he identifies the lanes so well.

He's able to pick them out. And the offensive line has been doing an amazing job of opening those lanes for him. And I'll get into the O-line in a minute. To take away from what Damian is doing, finding the lane, running through the lane, and continuing to get yardage after he passes the line of scrimmage is truly an amazing thing. And he's been great. But Harris hasn't been alone in the running backs showing prowess. I think Rex Burkhead has had a really resurgent year for the Patriots. He continues to show why, when he's healthy, why he's a favorite of his Patriots coaching staff. He's tough. He can catch the ball his Patriots coaching staff. He's tough.

He can catch the ball out of the backfield. He's averaging over five yards per carry on the ground. He also caught four passes on Sunday night for 34 yards, two huge touchdowns, one of them coming on the arm of Jacoby Myers, who's been a great breath of fresh air in the passing game. But the running attack has been excellent. And then when all else fails, you've got good old reliable James White in the backfield, one of the better pass catching backs. James has had an up and down year for a lot of different reasons, but I think you're going to

continue to see him utilized. He had a nice play the other day where it looked like the Patriots were going to lose a great deal of yardage to a very sound Ravens defense. And then all of a sudden James was able to break free and he ended up gaining more yards than the Patriots would have probably had originally. So they've been great. They've been very solid as a unit. Fullback at the fullback position, losing a guy like James Devlin and having Danny Vitale opt out was a big concern. But Jakob Johnson has done a very good job of stepping up. He's been very good at run blocking. He can even get out into the open field and catch passes every now and then.

But one of the big reasons why the running game has been so effective, too, along with Damian Harris, is the offensive line. David Andrews being back in this lineup really helps the Patriots set up for exactly where they need to be. Joe Tooney is one of the better offensive linemen in the league. And guys like Isaiah Wynn, guys like Shaq Mason, even the rookie Michael Wainu, they've been great at being able to provide protection. So when you have that kind of protection, it highlights the running back.

But got to give a lot of credit to Damian Harris. He's been phenomenal this year. He has been phenomenal. And it has been fun watching his growth. Former Alabama running back now playing for one of the very few friends of Nick Saban in the league, Bill Belichick. Perfect fit. Now, you mentioned how great Deshaun Washington was early in the show, right? When we were talking about the Texans, you gave him praise, and I told you why he's so good, right? But on the other side, we've got to talk about defensively. Why hasn't this team been able to get after the quarterback and get sacks with only 13 this year?

They haven't been that same collective unit defensively like we've seen in the past. Why has that been? For lack of a better term, John, it's basically because the Patriots have been pretty bad on first and second down for the most part this season. Really subpar defense, I guess, is the best way for me to put it against outside zone heavy schemes and poor middle of the field coverage off of play action. These are two things that the Patriots have mastered in years past. They've had the personnel to do it. They've had guys like Kyle Van Noy, Jamie Collins, Alandon Roberts, Dante Hightower. All of a sudden, all those players are gone. Dante opting out,

the other three vacating the Patriots via free agency. So it's been difficult for the Patriots to fill that void. They just lacked experience among the rushers that they've had on the roster. But lately, the defensive line has made some improvements, and I think that's helped with the linebacking core, and that's helped them to be able to at least start to put the pieces together to get the pass rush back in New England. It's not completely back as of now. It's still a work in progress, but it will improve over the course of the next couple of games if they keep this formula together. And that's running the 3-3 defense early on with Adam Butler, Lawrence Guy,

and Byron Cowart on the inside, and then having guys like John Simon and Chase Winovich as outside linebackers on the edge, clogging up that running lane. Therese Hall is coming in as the middle linebacker. He's taking over for Juwan Bentley, who's been injured lately. And I think he's done a fairly decent job. And then, of course, as a backup nose tackle, Carl Davis has come in as that solid body that they need to come up and help with the run defense, allowing the linebackers to be able and the edge rushers to be able to get free and maybe get after the pass rush. A guy that's going to benefit a lot from that is Dietrich wise. The Patriots can now fall back into that three, four set that Dietrich is a little bit more comfortable with and be able to

get after the quarterback and utilize the defensive line to his advantage. Lawrence guy has been their best defensive lineman. He really has, whether it's against the pass rush or it's against the run, which is really where he shines. He's the key cog in that. And if he's healthy and making plays in the interior of that defensive line, it makes them that much better.

But to me, the other big reason why is the reemergence of the linebacking core. Again, I just mentioned that they lost Dante Hightower to opting out. And then Juwan Bentley goes down with an injury. That's Dante's replacement as middle linebacker that's going to cause problems for any defense but to compensate for that the Patriots coaching staff has the linebackers playing close up to the line especially both Winovich and Simon who I mentioned earlier as the game progresses the coaching staff's moving them around a little bit they'll slide Simon back down to the line a little bit later in the game and that frees up

Chase Winovich, who has really come on lately. Played in 98% of the snaps, was all over the field on Sunday night, really just being a royal pain for the Ravens offense. He had seven tackles, one quarterback hit, 10 quarterback pressures on the night, and he's chasing down plays from sideline to sideline. When Chase is playing that type of football, it's hard to contain him, and with his never-ending motor, he's going to get going and get after the quarterback. John Simon, I thought, did a great job of setting the edge. He deflected a pass. I think he's doing a good job of defending the flat as well,

and I think you're seeing that in the last couple of games. Both of them dropped into coverage well at times and not to mention the rookies. So I think at linebacker, you need to give them some credit. They're not quite rounding into shape just yet, but they're showing signs of being able to be a key part of the middle of this defense. And that's Josh Uche had a sack and limited snaps, the kid from Michigan. Again, another big time motor on this guy, speed quickness able to get off the block and I like what he brings to the table you might see a little bit of Anthony Jennings sprinkled in a little bit more they were able to do a great job of trying to contain Lamar Jackson a couple of times

overall this was just a much better job than we've recently seen and because of that Patriots pass rush definitely not where it needs to be but But for all of these reasons, for my long-winded explanation, I think the Pats may have a better shot at becoming a better pass-rushing team down the stretch. These two teams have two quarterbacks that look—one looks up to the other, and Deshaun Watson looking up to Cam Newton, and Cam Newton just enjoying and loving everything that he sees out of Deshaun Watson. And to see both of these two brothers play basketball, play football, I'm sorry, play football at a high level. One was an MVP a few years ago. Deshaun Watson, one of the best quarterbacks in the league for our respective teams, is great. But Sunday, somebody must win.

Mike, are you picking, pick the score, and why? Okay, I'm going with my hometown guys. I'm going with the Patriots. Visiting, of course, Houston this week, but I think the Patriots ride the era of good feelings for at least one more week. I think at the end of the day,

they're going to be able to put some points up on this Houston defense. I think that Pat's defense is going to be able to do just enough to get stops when they need to. But Deshaun Watson is going to get his points against this defense as well. I like the Patriots in this one by a final of 30-27 over the Houston Texans on Sunday. Great score. I'm going to go with my favorite team. I just think the Texans are going to be where they've always been. Disappointing when the game hits zero. And the Patriots are going to run all over the Texans because Houston

has allowed multiple games of yards over 150 and they just allowed two running backs to go over 100 yards in one game. I think the Patriots actually run for 180 in this game. Cam goes for two touchdowns, one in the air, one in the ground. I see this game ending 27-13 Patriots. Excellent. Excellent type of score. And you know what? I know Patriots fans are going to be happy with that.

Maybe the Texans can pull the upset. Always, always interesting when these two teams take the field. Just when you think you've got it figured out, a lot of times these two teams flip the script. And we heard Bill Belichick say earlier on Wednesday about how he feels that this team is much better than their record indicates, meaning the Houston Texans. I know Bill has a reputation of kind of talking up his opponent, but he's got a lot of respect for Romeo Cornell and a lot of respect for Deshaun Watson, JJ Watt, and a lot of the great players they have on the Texans roster. I'm looking forward to a good game and I think it's going to be a one in Houston this Sunday.

So for John Hinkman of locked on Texans, I am Mike debate of locked on Patriots. Thank you so much for joining us today on this crossover Thursday here on the locked on podcast network. Go Texans go Pats. We'll see you on Sunday. And so, Pats fans, the weekend is almost within our sights. So close you can almost reach out and grab it, but not quite. There is still one more episode here of Locked On Patriots to get you ready for game day and New England's Week 11 matchup against the Houston Texans.

And here tomorrow on the pod, I'll be opening up my notebook, giving you my notes and analysis on Sunday's game, and I'll also be making my game prediction. But I won't be breaking down this one alone. Alex Barth of 98.5 The Sports Hub will join me here on the hot seat, and we'll be breaking this one down from a Patriots perspective on offense, defense, special teams, coaching, you name it. We'll be talking about it tomorrow here on the pod. So to ensure that you do not miss a single second of the action,

please be sure to download Locked on Patriots wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe to us and follow us on platforms such as Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, wherever you get your podcasts. Just make sure you're staying locked in to Locked On Patriots. Once again, my name is Mike DeBate. I thank John Hickman of the Locked On Texans podcast for his time, his insight, and his appearance on today's pod, but most of all, I thank you all so much for listening and

for making Locked On Patriots a daily part of your New England Patriots coverage. Until tomorrow, stay safe, stay well, continue to be the change you wish to see in the world. Have a great day, everyone.