Dan writes such a funny column for our Southwest friends.   He probably should have mentioned how much better the Houston Texans are compared to their sister football team, the Dallas Cowboys plus they do not have Jerry Jones as their owner.   I think it will be a close game with both team being healthy,

Dan, I must say, you're almost as entertaining as Leigh Montville was back in the day. keep up the good work. (Your avatar seems perfect for your sense of humor too. What a mug).

"On any given Sunday..."  We all know strange things happen in football, and while I expect Houston will not choose to include this week's game in their future highlight reels, one can never be completely sure.  Why, I can still recall a football game way back in February of '08...

a little dig at Quick Slants, I guess Dan didn't like the fact Tom E. Curran had the nerve to disagree with him , little thin skinned

The best part of your article is, it is protected in the left wing portion of the newspaper and how many Texans are subscribers to the Boson Globe? So, Dan it will read by only a few chosen few, thank goodness.  

That is one of the best columns you've written in a long time, Dan. I couldn't stop laughing. I just hope you're right. Being from New England, I'm uncomfortable with pre-game gloating. Any given Sunday and all that, but very entertaining and well written piece. Really enjoyed it.

And the Pats simply couldn't win against the Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI. Or so said all the columns before the game...

troll: One who posts a deliberately provocative message to a newsgroup or message board with the intention of causing maximum disruption and argument

- Urban Dictionary

If there's an afterlife, and any justice in it, Curly will be locked in a room as the endless list of his sneer targets waits in line for their personal interview with him. Houston Texans, get in line behind Carl Everett, Butch Hobson and hundreds of others. Each victim gets five minutes of solo retribution time with the Globe's designated troll. Shaughnessy learns the true meaning of "beatdown."

It's disgraceful that the Globe employs this jerk not to produce objective sports journalism, but to whip up emotions, belittle others, and sell papers to puerile wannabe trolls. Playing to the basest instincts in all fans of professional sport.

He's just trying to irritate BB.

I think Mr. Bundchen may end up paying for this column

SHUT.  UP.    Dan.

thank goodness BB doesn't even know who Dan is

Dan, do you have money on the Texans??

"No matter how much I study and prepare, I cannot come up with a scenario that has the Houston Texans defeating the New England Patriots Sunday night."

Excuse me?!?!?  How about Brady getting hurt in the first quarter? How about Gronk getting reinjured? How about other front line guys getting hurt? How about all of the above?

This is a stupid column, and someone like Shaughnessy should know better.

You can never have enough Grateful Dead references! The path to the Promised Land (written by the grate Chuck Berry) goes through Houston town!

You love doing this, don't you, Dan?  Count me among the more amused than outraged.  I know you'll be perfectly willing to eat crow if it comes to that.  In fact, I think you really like crow.

Ah, Dan, with Arian Foster using your fine prose for his Twitter avatar, plus your Schilling hall-of-fame ballot, it's been an outstanding week for making yourself the story, instead of simply covering those who actually have a special talent and skill that we may be interested in reading about. You must be very proud -- can't wait to see what next week holds for you!

Are you CRAZY, Dan Shaughnessey???  Wait, don't answer that.  I know you can be.  This is one of those times.  Don't underestimate ANY foe!!!

they can't win unless they do. Here's a way they could: open the game by using the double receiver stack they line up with a lot, play action send Andre Johnson down the field and see if the Pats' D bites on the fake and if the so Patriots secondary can cover him. If that doesn't work run pick play on next play ten yards downfield and if that doesn't work start passing to the TE and if that doesn't work they have a pretty fair running back who knowns Dans' work. The Pats should win this game but there are several ways that they might not.

And the Titanic can't sink!!!... A trite parallel but obvious.

Of course there are scenarios where Houston wins.  Suppose they score on their first two possesions with nothing by the Patriots.  There are, of course, all sorts of ways that coujld happen.   There is going to be a tight, tough game.