Every time the New England Patriots visit play the Houston Texans, we get nostalgic.

And Patriot fans also lick their chops. Their team always beats their old friends in Houston.

Bill O’Brien, the former New England offensive coordinator, ran the team for the last few years and eventually ran Houston into the ground.

And he was replaced by a former New England defensive coordinator, a longtime frieind of Bill Belichick, Romeo Crennel.

Crennel is one of the good guys in this league, but has never seemed cut out to be a head coach. He’s done this interim thing before, and he’s not bad at that.

“Now everybody right away starts thinking about what their future is,” Crennel said. “And so all those questions are in the back of their minds. So, then trying to come in and keep it together, I think that’s the biggest thing because, in a situation like this, it can fall apart and fal apart quickly.”

It had already fallen apart in Houston. The Texans have only beaten one team – Jacksonville, twice. We get to see them on Thanksgiving against the Lions in what should be a turkey of a game (we also get Washington-Dallas; the day is saved only by Steelers-Ravens Thursday night).

Crennel knows what he’s in for. He was impressed with the New England win over Baltimore.

“I mean, that was classic Belichick all the way,” he said. “Keep that other quarterback on the sideline, run the ball and run the ball and run the ball, and then you win the game.”

Classic Crennel is basicall being a good guy and a good assistant coach.

Classic picks? Read on:

PATRIOTS 24, TEXANS 21

Here’s the deal: The suddenly ground-and-pound Patriots will move the football that way. The Texans, despite all of J.J. Watt’s bravado, can’t stop the run. Unless Deshaun Watson finds a way to completely torch the secondary – unlikely – New England should be able to pull this road win off and reach the .500 mark.

CHIEFS 42, RAIDERS 24

Revenge on the road for Pat Mahomes & Co. Somehow the Vegas defense was able to bottle up the Chiefs when it counted in their last meeting at Arrowhead, despite allowing 32 points. But it’s the Chiefs defense that has to come up big this time, because it flopped in the previous meeting.

DOLPHINS 27, BRONCOS 17

Look at Miami’s schedule. After this game, which is at Mile High, they have the Jets and the Bengals, so you could very well be looking at 9-3. Let’s see if Tua Time continues on a roll, because a sign of a good team is winning the games it’s supposed to win.

TITANS 24, RAVENS 21

Titans have had a tough time lately, but here’s thinking Mike Vrabel will come up with a way to keep the suddenly skiddish Lamar Jackson in check. Tennessee needs to get back to taking the game out of Ryan Tannehill’s hands and put the rock in the hands of back Derrick Henry. Ravens are tough to run against, but if the Patriots could, Henry certainly should, even on the road.

FALCONS 30, SAINTS 17

Mark this one down: first time this space has ever picked against the Who Dats at home. Especially against a bad team. But no Drew Brees, and evidently Taysom Hill is going to be the starting QB, not Jameis Winston. Just a feeling that this may not go well.

BROWNS 24, EAGLES 15

Philly stinks. There, we said it. Carson Wentz hasn’t been the same since all his injury troubles. Now, the Browns won’t have Myles Garrett, but the Eagles are giving up nearly 27 points a game. They fit the NFC Least.

PACKERS 30, COLTS 27

Philip Rivers throws an end zone pick on the game’s last play to seal the deal. Indy is tough, competitive, but the Colts, despite a good defense, just don’t look like big time contenders. Aaron Rodgers solves Indy’s defense in the Dome.

LAST WEEK: 5-2

SEASON RECORD: 45-24

Tom King may be reached at tking@nashuatelegraph.com. Also, follow King on Twitter (@Telegraph_TomK).

Newsletter