The S-Thread Live #2 For 12/10/12 (First Thread):

FINAL: Patriots 42, Texans 14

Well, the key matchup in this contest was whether Gary Kubiak's staff would equal Bill Belichick's and frankly, that has been a complete mismatch, especially in the 2nd quarter. 

Of course, two key plays in the game decided early for a Patriots sound win in another big game, although the Pats have had many of those at Foxboro in the last few years on Monday night. 

Not recovering Steven Ridley's fumble on the first Patriots drive was massive, and Matt Schaub missing a key checkdown that lead to the interception by Devin McCourty was all she wrote. 

Thankfully for Houston, they still have their own destiny to control for home field, and this did not happen in the playoffs. With Indianapolis twice (yes, stupid NFL scheduling) and Minnesota left, the Texans definitely called shop early. 

And when the Patriots smell blood, well, there you go. 

Photo from ESPN.com

Key injuries for both teams. The Texans have been dealing for weeks without defensive quarterback Brian Cushing, while New England is now without improving Julian Edelman joining Rob Gronkowski on the injury list.

The key matchups tonight in this AFC game of the year.

Texans' Gary Kubiak and Wade Phillips vs Bill Belichick and Josh McDaniels 

A battle of two of the AFC's best features arguably the two best coaching staffs in the conference. While Belichick and company get the pub, Kubiak and Phillips are a terrific tandem and have done a wonderful job. They are not inferior to Belichick and company.

Texans DL's JJ Watt and Shaun Cody vs Patriots OL's Ryan Wendell, Dan Connolly, and Sebastian Vollmer. 

It's massive for McDaniels to establish a running game again tonight behind Ridley, Woodhead, and Vereen to keep Phillips off balance and not really give confusion to Brady and his pass catches.

And also, of course, for Vollmer and Connoly not to have to deal with Watt and a mixture of Mercilus and Ruud coming in on the blitz.

That will be the key of many huge matches, and more of them to come here at The Whole Delivery.