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Houston: Are you ready for some football?
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The heyday of MNF (ABC photo archives)
That odd feeling you felt yesterday was something that NFL fans of good teams feel more often than once every fourteen years.
And just in case you've been out of the country or under a rock for a few months, that's the last time Houston was host to Monday Night Football.
That feeling was, 'we're not playing on Sunday so now what? I guess it's time to take care of a few honey-do's.'
That was me yesterday, although most of my day wasn't spent on the honey-do list, except for getting all the Christmas stuff down from the attic. Ugh.
Most of my day involved catching glimpses of the Giants-Skins and Pats-Steelers as a contractor worked to fix a very inconvenient plumbing issue outside my house. But with that resolved late in the day, I was able to catch up with the league and my fantasy team and get back into the right mindset over preparations for our first Monday Night Football game since your 8th grader was a newborn.
There's been plenty written about the history of MNF in this city so there's no need to go there, but I think there's a need to disclose the fact that I'm as pumped for this game as I've been for any game in a while.
That's what prime time play does to you.
And for the smart alecks out there who will respond by saying 'I've been ready for some football since the Texans came here in 2002,' please take a day off from the hatin' cause we're not listening to you today.
Yeah, these are two teams that are in the final month of disappointing seasons but there's still a bit of electricity on this end. If the Texans win, they are 5-7 which is upside down from where they should be, but the game is still important in terms of playing well in front of a national audience and maybe gaining a little respect which has been very elusive since our new franchise came to town.
It will be tough as the Texans are hurting at running back with Ryan Moats now backing up Steve Slaton who has shouldered more of the load than expected and is starting to show signs of the wear and tear of a long season.
In terms of the opponent, the Jags are coming off two consecutive home losses, there is internal strife (Mike Peterson) and the fans are restless (sound familiar?) leaving them at a crossroads of sorts. They are still a tough opponent but they are as beatable now as they ever have been, especially when we're at home. We need to avenge in a big way that frustrating OT loss at Jax earlier this season.
I know our fans will be ready. I can feel it. Let's just hope that our players deliver - and that the defense is allowed to further explore new horizons.
And with the unique circumstances of a night game in early December, our tailgaters will be 'warming up' as the sun sets with coolish late fall temps which should really stoke the football spirits. I can smell the bbq pits and grills already.
Given all the frustration that this year has brought, this is a game that can really lift the spirits. Winning on Monday Night Football is never a bad thing. Let's do it. I'm ready.
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