The Houston Texans (3-5) dropped a critical road game to the Minnesota Vikings 28-21 on Sunday and lost more than just the game. Starting quarterback Matt Schaub tore his medical collateral ligamet when a low tackle by Vikings defensive end Jared Allen sent Schaub to the sidelines in the second quarter.
Despite an interception return for a touchdown by first year Texan cornerback Jacque Reeves in the first quarter, the Texans snapped their three-game win streak and are still winless on the road this season.
The Texans are two games behind the wildcard leader Baltimore Ravens (5-3), who they will try to defeat at Reliant Stadium on Sunday for a chance to improve their home record to 4-1. The game against Baltimore was scheduled for Sept. 14 but moved after Hurricane Ike hit the Houston-Galveston area.
Houston’s only shot for making the postseason is in the wildcard race, with division leader Tennessee 8-0 on the season and four games clear of all teams in the AFC South, but they have their work cut out for them. Following the game against the Ravens, the Texans will be road tested at the Indianapolis Colts followed by a trip to face the Cleveland Browns.
The Colts are 4-4 on the year and have already stunned the Texans this season, beating them 31-27 at Reliant Stadium when Indianapolis recovered two fumbles by Texans backup quarterback Sage Rosenfels and cashed them in for touchdowns late in the fourth quarter.
The loss of Schaub, who has thrown for 1,762 yards and 10 touchdown passes, twill give way to the backup Rosenfels to redeem himself.
Rosenfels has passed for 470 yards and 3 touchdowns while filling in for Schaub this season, and the eighth-year quarterback is under a lot of pressure after basically costing the Texans a win against the Colts.
The Texans should up points against the injured Ravens’ secondary, but veteran safety Ed Reed and linebackers Ray Lewis and Terrell Suggs will anchor Baltimore.
Houston has scoring threats at all positions, led by wide receiver Andre Johnson (834 yards on 60 catches, three touchdowns), rookie running back Steve Slaton (538 rushing yards and five touchdowns) and underrated tight end Owen Daniels, who has 528 yards on 43 catches and two touchdowns and had a career-high 11 catches for 133 yards against the Vikings.
The key to defeating Baltimore for the Texans will be putting pressure on rookie quarterback Joe Flacco, who has started every game for the Ravens this season. Flacco had a career high 248 yards last week in a win against the Browns.
Houston’s former No.1 draft pick defensive end Mario Williams, who has 28 tackles and eight sacks on the season, will be going after the rookie in hopes of getting more sacks and forcing interceptions. Houston will also need a big game from linebacker DeMeco Ryans who hasn’t had more than five tackles in each game during the last four weeks.
My prediction for the game has to be the Ravens winning in Houston. Baltimore, led by first year head coach John Harbaugh, is clicking on all cylinders right now and has won three consecutive games, including two on the road.
Raven rookie running back Ray Rice had the game of his life against Cleveland with 176 yards rushing and receiving, and veteran receiver Derrick Mason had nine catches for 136 yards and a touchdown. The Ravens will be able to test the Texans’ weak secondary with Flacco’s strong arm.
Rosenfels and the Texans will fill the stat sheet, but an inability to play defense is not the key to success. Viking running back Adrian Peterson put up 139 yards and a touchdown, journeyman quarterback Gus Frerotte threw three touchdown passes and receiver Bernard Berrian had 104 yards and a touchdown against the Texans.
My prediction is the Ravens will score on defense and win 27-17, dropping the Texans to 3-6 on the season after getting off to an 0-3 start this year and putting their playoff hopes even farther from their reach.
