Patriots vs. Texans 2013, Week 13: New England comes back again

Brady’s praises were sung loud and proud over at Pats Pulpit, who didn’t blame the success on Houston’s defensive failings, instead focusing on just how good No.12 was on Sunday.

This has been a trying year for the Patriots quarterback. His team is winning, which cures a lot of ills -- but a young offense without a lot of reliability has often left him visibily frustrated. It’s a testament to how good he and head coach Bill Belichick are that this team is winning as much as it is in spite of the problems.

Wait a second. This game was played in Houston. The conspiracy goes deeper than we thought. This is an inside job. Only one man could have given the keys to the Patriots to set up their cameras to work out these new defensive wrinkles, and only one player fits the bill.

(Kirby Lee - USA Today Sports)

Just a bit shy of Johnson’s mark.

• Week 13 updates, highlights and GIFs | Live scores

Despite missing from 55 yards in the first half, head coach Bill Belichick showed no hesitation in giving his kicker some crucial chances in the fourth quarter as his team trailed by three. Gostkowski did the rest, hitting from 53 yards to tie the game and then again from 53 to give New England the lead with 3:12 left in the game.

Houston had one final drive to try and at least tie the game, but eventually turned it over on downs and lost its 10th game in a row. The Texans drop to 2-10 and will at least stay in good position to pick first overall next April.

Lost in all of the madness of Rob Gronkowski partying, hosting women’s clinics, partying, breaking his arm, partying, and just being an all around doofus, is just how good of a football player he is. Gronk made a spectacular shoestring catch to bring the Patriots within three of the struggling Texans.

.gif via

Thompkins walked right off of the field after that play and is questionable to return, according to the CBS broadcast booth.

Update, 10:56 AM PST:Â Thompkins has returned to the game, per CBS.

The fourth-year tight end enjoyed a breakout season in 2011, catching 90 passes for 1,327 yards and an astounding 17 touchdowns in 16 games. The following season, Gronkowski was limited to just 11 games before being injured, catching 11 passes for 790 yards and 11 touchdowns while continuing to be a dangerous downfield threat for the Patriots.

The 8-3 Patriots travel to Houston to take on the Texans at 1 p.m. ET, with coverage on CBS.

The young cornerback has been solid for the Patriots this season, recording an interception and seven passes defensed while starting eight of ten games this season. Dennard is set to be sentenced in court on Thursday related a suspicion of DUI arrest that was ruled to have violated his two-year probation.

• NFL Week 13 expert picks | 3 teams can clinch playoff spot

Game Date/Time and Location: Sunday, Dec. 1, 1 p.m. ET at Reliant Stadium, Houston, Texas

TV schedule and distribution map: CBS; The506.com

It’s been that kind of season in Houston.

Maybe the Week 12 loss to the Jaguars was enough to spark something in the Texans, who do have the luxury of playing at home. It’s tough to imagine them pulling off an upset against one of the AFC’s best teams, though.

For more betting details on this game, head over to OddsShark.

• NFL Week 13 expert picks | 3 teams can clinch playoff spot

With the disparity of success, the Texans are considered 7.5-point underdogs against the Patriots. For CBS Sports panel of eight, that spread is just fine and have the Patriots clobbering the Texans with or without the points. The two-man panel for Yahoo! Sports! is also a full sweep in favor of New England.

The SB Nation panel of six has a slim difference of opinion. A 5-1 vote in favor of the Patriots means that only Matt Ufford of SBN Studios picked the Texans.