HOUSTON TEXANS 37
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS 9
Paid Attendance: 56,037

THE WIN…
· Improved the Texans to 7-3, the best record through 10 games in franchise history. It also marks the first time the Texans have been four games above .500.

· Extended Houston’s winning streak to four games, tying a franchise record from 2009.

· Improved Head Coach Gary Kubiak’s record to 44-46 and 2-0 against Tampa Bay.

· Improved Houston’s record against Tampa Bay to 2-1 in the all-time series and gave the Texans their first win at Raymond James Stadium.

TEAM OFFENSE NOTES
· The Texans outrushed the Buccaneers 185-90. It was the seventh time this season and fourth consecutive game in which Houston outrushed its opponent. The team improved to 6-1 in those games and 35-13 under Kubiak when outrushing its opponent.

· The Texans ran the ball 44 times for 185 yards and three touchdowns in the win, improving the team’s record to 7-0 this season and 30-3 under Kubiak when rushing 30 or more times.

· The Texans won the time of possession battle for the ninth time this season, holding the ball for 35:06, and improved to 7-2 in those games.

· Houston scored on its opening possession for the seventh time this season and scored a touchdown on the opening drive for the sixth time this year. The Texans have now scored 44 points on their game-opening possessions, which is the most in the NFL this season.

· The Texans scored on their opening possession of the second half for the fifth consecutive game, going 65 yards in seven plays, culminating with a 5-yard touchdown run by RB Arian Foster. The touchdown gave Houston 34 points on their second-half opening possessions this year.

· Houston had two completions of more than 60 yards in the same game for the first time in franchise history. The only times Houston has had multiple passes of 50 yards or more were earlier this season vs. Oakland (10/9), when RB Arian Foster had a 60-yard reception and TE Joel Dreessen had a 56-yard touchdown catch; and at Jacksonville on 12/24/05, when WR Andre Johnson caught a 53-yard touchdown and WR Corey Bradford caught a 50-yard touchdown.

· Houston’s 91-yard touchdown drive in the second quarter was the Texans’ League-best seventh scoring drive of 90 yards or more this season.

· Houston’s second drive covered 80 yards and took 7:24 off the clock before ending with a 22-yard field goal. It was the Texans’ League-leading 21st drive of 5:00 or more this season.

TEAM DEFENSE NOTES
· Houston’s three interceptions tied for the third-most in a game in franchise history. The Texans had four interceptions on 10/17/04 at Tennessee and 11/12/06 at Jacksonville.

· The three interceptions raised the team’s total to 14 on the season, surpassing last year’s total of 13 interceptions.

· Houston’s defense held Tampa Bay to 9 points. It was the seventh game this season and fourth consecutive game in which the defense held its opponent below 20 points.

· The Texans recorded four takeaways without giving up any turnovers of their own for a plus-four turnover margin. It marked the seventh time this season that Houston posted a positive turnover margin, and the team improved to 5-2 in those games.

· The Texans defense has intercepted at least one pass in nine consecutive games.

· Houston has scored 90 points off of 20 takeaways this season, including 14 points off of four takeaways today. The Texans have scored following 14 of their 20 takeaways this year.

· The Texans defense held Tampa Bay to 1 yard of total offense in the third quarter. That is the fewest yards allowed in the third period in franchise history, bettering the previous low of 6 yards at Cincinnati (10/18/09).

· The Texans defense sacked Tampa Bay QB Josh Freeman four times in the game. Coming into the game, he had only been sacked 10 times on the season.

· The four sacks raised the defense’s total to 28.0 on the year, nearly matching the 16-game total of 30.0 from 2010.

· The Texans defense stopped a two-point conversion attempt for the second consecutive game.

· Houston led after the first quarter for the ninth time in 10 games this season, at halftime for the eighth time and after three quarters for the ninth time.

· Tampa Bay K Connor Barth’s 55-yard field goal at the end of the first half was the sixth field goal of 50 yards or longer by a Texans opponent this season, which is tied for the most against any team in the NFL this season along with Minnesota. Texans opponents are 6-of-6 from 50+ yards this season.

· Team captains were QB Matt Schaub and C Chris Myers on offense, ILB Brian Cushing, ILB DeMeco Ryans and DE Antonio Smith on defense and K Neil Rackers representing the special teams.

· The Texans won the toss and elected to receive.

INDIVIDUAL PLAYER NOTES
HEAD COACH GARY KUBIAK
· Successfully challenged a play in the first quarter that an apparent interception was an incomplete pass. The successful challenge improved Kubiak’s record on challenges to 2-3 this season and 12-25 in his career.

OLB CONNOR BARWIN
· Notched his fourth sack of the season when he tackled Tampa Bay QB Josh Freeman for a 4-yard loss in the third quarter.

· Added a half-sack on Tampa’s next possession, teaming with DE J.J. Watt to drop Freeman for a 7-yard loss. The sack gave Barwin 4.5 on the season, matching his career single-season high from 2009.

ILB BRIAN CUSHING
· Registered his third sack of the season when he tackled Tampa Bay QB Josh Freeman for an 8-yard loss in the first quarter. The sack gave Cushing 8.5 for his career.

· Intercepted his second pass of the season when he caught a deflected pass in the third quarter. It was his sixth career interception.

· Led the team with eight tackles, all solos. It marked the eighth time in 10 games that Cushing either led the team or tied for the team lead in tackles.

TE OWEN DANIELS
· Extended his streak of consecutive games with a reception to 63 with a 13-yard catch in the first quarter.

FS QUINTIN DEMPS
· Intercepted his second pass in as many games when he picked off Tampa Bay QB Josh Freeman in the fourth quarter.

RB ARIAN FOSTER
· Caught a 78-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter. It was his second 78-yarder of the season. He also did so on 10/23 at Tennessee. Both receptions are tied for the second-longest TD catch in team history.

· Scored his 25th career rushing touchdown and his sixth of the season on a 5-yard run in the third quarter. Foster has run for at least one touchdown in four consecutive games.

· Surpassed 100 receiving yards for the third time this season. He topped the century mark on a 13-yard catch in the third quarter. He also had 116 receiving yards vs. Oakland (10/9) and 119 yards at Tennessee (10/23).

WR JACOBY JONES
· Caught the longest touchdown pass in Texans history when he hauled in a throw from QB Matt Schaub on the first play of the game and took it 80-yards for a score. The previous long was 78-yards by RB Arian Foster earlier this season at Tennessee (10/23).

· Jones’ 80-yard touchdown catch was also the longest of his career, bettering a 47-yard catch last season at Denver (12/26/10). The touchdown was his second of the season and the 11th of his career.

QB MATT LEINART
· Made his debut as a Houston Texan, coming on as a substitute in the fourth quarter.

CB BRICE MCCAIN
· Intercepted his second pass of the season when he picked off Tampa Bay QB Josh Freeman in the third quarter. He returned the interception 10 yards to the Tampa Bay 14-yard line.

OLB JESSE NADING
· Recovered an onside kick in the fourth quarter, giving him his first career kickoff return.

K NEIL RACKERS
· Passed Joe Nedney (1,113) for 36th on the NFL’s all-time kick scoring list. He entered the game with 1,009 career points and his 7 points in the game gave him 1,016 for his career.

· Saw his streak of 69 consecutive made extra point attempts come to an end following Houston’s opening touchdown when his kick was blocked by Tampa Bay DT Albert Haynesworth. The last time the Texans had an extra point attempt blocked was on 10/29/06 at Tennessee when Robaire Smith blocked Kris Brown’s try.

OLB BROOKS REED
· Picked up his fifth sack of the season when he tackled Tampa Bay QB Josh Freeman for a 10-yard loss in the third quarter. He is tied for the team lead with OLB Mario Williams whose place he took after Williams was placed on injured reserve.

· Has now registered at least one sack in each of his last four games, which ties him with DE Antonio Smith for the second-longest streak in franchise history. Williams holds the record with sacks in six straight games.

QB MATT SCHAUB
· Improved his record as the starting quarterback of the Houston Texans to 32-32 with the victory.

· Tossed the longest pass of his career when he hit WR Jacoby Jones for an 80-yard touchdown on the opening play of the game. The throw was the longest touchdown completion in franchise history, bettering a 78-yard touchdown pass to RB Arian Foster earlier this season at Tennessee (10/23).

· Became the first quarterback with two touchdown passes of 78 yards or longer in the same game since Brett Favre did so in 2007 for Green Bay vs. Denver (10/29/07).

· Finished 11-of-15 for 242 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions, giving him a career-high passer rating of 154.9.

· The performance marked Schaub’s fifth game this season with a rating better than 100. Houston is 4-1 in those games.

RB BEN TATE
· Scored his third rushing touchdown of the season when he scored from 11 yards out in the fourth quarter.

WR KEVIN WALTER
· Hauled in the 300th reception of his career on his first catch of the game, a 6-yarder in the first quarter.

RB DERRICK WARD
· Scored from 4 yards out in the third quarter. It was his 12th career rushing touchdown and his second of the season.

DE J.J. WATT
· Notched a half-sack in the third quarter, giving him 2.5 sacks on the year. He and OLB Connor Barwin teamed up to tackle Tampa Bay QB Josh Freeman for a 7-yard loss.

For two seasons, the Houston Texans have been the NFL’s
hottest tease.

Twice hyped out of training camp as a legitimate up-and-comer, head coach Gary
Kubiak’s team has broken from the gate fast to prolong the prognosticator’s
zeal before, only to stumble badly in the second half en route to maddening
also-ran status.

But this year, thanks to a perfect storm of divisional mediocrity behind them,
it appears the Texans are finally ready to crack the playoff code.

Owners of a 1 1/2-game lead over second-place Tennessee in the AFC South and
already 3-0 against fellow division inhabitants this season, Houston enters its
final pre-bye test against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday at Raymond James
Stadium feeling deservedly good about itself — albeit with just the right
amount of caution.

“We’re sitting where we want to be, first in the division, 6-3,” Kubiak said.
“But as everyone knows, things can go downhill fast in this league, so we have
to remain focused. We’re controlling the football and the clock, so we’re doing
a good job of keeping [opponents] off the field. They’re only going to get
tougher as we move forward.

“We’ve got enough guys around here that have been through enough tough times to
know how hard they’ve worked for this opportunity that they’re fixing to go
into here over the course of the next seven weeks.”

Previously a pass-happy outfit with the tandem of quarterback Matt Schaub and
wide receiver Andre Johnson, the Texans have taken giant leaps toward changing
their identity in 2011, boasting the league’s second-ranked rushing offense and
a defense that’s allowed the fewest total yards en route to the best record
after nine games in franchise history.

Armed with running backs Arian Foster (656 rushing yards) and Ben Tate (623),
the Texans average 155.1 yards per game on the ground, while the defense
surrenders 274 yards and 17.4 points per game.

“I tell you guys [the media] all the time, [the goal] is hopefully get a team
that’s good enough when you show up on Sunday that you can win three different
ways,” Kubiak said. “Right now, I think we’re heading very much towards that. I
think we feel like we can play defense with anybody in the league and we feel
like we can move the ball with anybody in the league.”

Houston won its third straight by routing Cleveland, 30-12, last week with 124
rushing yards from Foster and 115 more from Tate, establishing a franchise-
record 261 rushing yards in the process. Foster has rushed for at least 112
yards in three straight games and gone over 100 from scrimmage in his last six
contests, the longest streak in the league.

The Texans are 4-0 when giving up fewer than 90 rushing yards. They allowed
just 44 to the Browns.

Tampa Bay, meanwhile, is 0-4 when gaining fewer than 100 yards on the ground.
Buccaneers running back LeGarrette Blount has averaged 100 rushing yards and
5.6 yards per carry over his last six home games, but the team has only eight
touchdowns in 22 red-zone opportunities this season.

The Bucs trail New Orleans by 1 1/2 games in the NFC South after dropping a
27-16 decision to the Saints last Sunday.

“It’s hard to win in this division when you’re not scoring touchdowns,” Tampa
Bay quarterback Josh Freeman said. “It’s just taking advantage of the
opportunities. Everything in the red zone is more condensed. It’s got to happen
faster and we just haven’t been making plays.”

Defensively, Tampa Bay made a big move on Wednesday, claiming lineman Albert
Haynesworth off waivers a day after he was released by New England. The
Buccaneers lost defensive tackle Gerald McCoy for the season with a torn right
biceps he sustained in last week’s defeat.

Johnson has missed Houston’s last five games with a right hamstring injury and
is questionable to return for Sunday’s contest.

SERIES HISTORY

The Buccaneers and Texans have split two previous regular-season meetings, with
Tampa Bay recording a 16-3 victory in Houston’s only prior visit to Raymond
James Stadium back in 2003. The Texans topped the Bucs by a 28-14 count in
Houston during the 2007 campaign.

Houston’s above-mentioned win in 2007 gave Kubiak a 1-0 lifetime record against
Tampa Bay as a head coach, while the Buccaneers’ Raheem Morris will be taking
on both the Texans and Kubiak for the first time as a sideline boss.

WHEN THE TEXANS HAVE THE BALL

In four road games in 2011, Schaub has completed 82-of-128 passes (64.1
percent) for 1,119 yards and eight touchdowns with just one interception for a
109.5 rating. He also needs just four touchdown passes to reach 100 for his
career. The Texans had a club-record 261 rushing yards last week and Foster
seeks a fourth consecutive game with 100-plus yards on the ground (115, 112,
124). The standout running back also surpassed Domanick Williams (23
touchdowns) for the most rushing touchdowns in Texans history last week, and is
averaging 106 rushing yards and scored seven touchdowns in his past six
November games. Foster (656 rushing yards) and Tate (623 rushing yards) are the
first running back duo to have 600-plus rushing yards apiece through a team’s
first nine games of a season since Denver’s Mike Anderson and Tatum Bell in
2005. Johnson needs two receptions to reach 700 in the second-fewest games
(120) in NFL history behind only Marvin Harrison (114), but may be held out
another week with Houston having an upcoming bye.

For the Tampa Bay defense, cornerback Ronde Barber has started 191 consecutive
games, the most by a corner in league history. He is also the only player in
NFL history with 25-plus sacks (27) and 40-plus interceptions (42). Defensive
end Adrian Clayborn is tied for second among NFC rookies with three sacks,
while safety Tanard Jackson aims for a third home game in a row with an
interception and rookie middle linebacker Mason Foster has 41 tackles, two
sacks and a forced fumble.

Statistically, the Texans’ offense is sixth in scoring (26.2 ppg), eighth in
total yards (393.6 ypg), 14th in passing yards (238.4 ypg) and second in
rushing (155.1 ypg). On defense, the Buccaneers are lowly in all four
categories, placing 24th in points allowed (24.5 ppg), 29th in total yards
allowed (398.9 ypg), 28th in pass defense (266.5 ypg) and 26th against the run
(132.4 ypg).

WHEN THE BUCCANEERS HAVE THE BALL

Freeman aims for a fourth consecutive win at Raymond James Stadium. Last week,
he completed 27-of-37 passes (73 percent) for 281 yards and a touchdown and a
103.5 rating. When Blount has 18 or more carries, the Buccaneers are 7-1, and
in those eight games he has rushed for 834 yards (104.3 per game) and five
touchdowns. In his past six home games with 15 or more carries, Blount has 676
yards (112.7 per game) and four touchdowns. Wide receiver Mike Williams
averages 4.9 catches per home game in his career (13 games, 64 catches), while
tight end Kellen Winslow had a touchdown last week and has a catch in 84
straight games. He has 10 or more catches in two of three career games against
Houston as well, compiling 21 receptions for 200 yards and a touchdown over
those two contests. Wide receiver Dezmon Briscoe aims for a fourth game in a
row with a 20-plus yard catch this week.

Houston rookie linebacker Brooks Reed had a career-best two sacks last week and
aims for a fourth consecutive game with a sack. Eighth-year end Antonio Smith
has 16 tackles, 4 1/2 sacks and a forced fumble on the season, while free
safety Danieal Manning has 32 tackles and two interceptions in his first season
with Houston. The free-agent acquisition won’t play this week due to a
fractured tibia, however.

By the numbers, Tampa Bay is 24th in scoring offense (18.4 ppg), 15th in total
yards (343.5 ypg), 11th in passing yards (245.4 ypg) and 24th in rushing yards
(98.1 ypg). Houston’s defense is third in points allowed (17.4 ppg), first in
total yards allowed (274.0 ypg), second against the pass (182.6 ypg) and fourth
against the run (91.4 ypg).

KEYS TO THE GAME

Unfortunately for the Bucs, it seems their main weaknesses — running the ball
and scoring points — play right into the hands of a top-four team in both of
those categories league-wide.

With Johnson either unavailable or not at 100 percent, the Texans will lean
even harder on the two-headed running monster of Foster and Tate, who’ve taken
the pressure off a happy-to-oblige Schaub. The Buccaneers are going to have to
keep the pair in check to have a chance this week.

As mentioned earlier, it’s another litmus test — a game on the road against a
credible foe — for a Houston team that’s a would-be playoff contender and has
never really won a status-clinching late-season game. The Texans still need to
show they’re up to the task.

OVERALL ANALYSIS

The Bucs have a way of winning these kinds of games. Get them at home and match
them with an opponent seemingly content to play down a level or two, and it’s
often spelled an unlikely victory for opponents of Tampa Bay in the past.
However, if you’re a believer in the Texans’ renaissance, you have to believe
they’ll find a way here over a foe that’s superior in no other way but home
turf.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Texans 27, Buccaneers 14

©2011 Sports Network. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Maybe this time, the Houston Texans will still be there in
the end.

Similar to the last two seasons in which they’ve started 5-3 and 4-2,
respectively, the Texans are piquing the interest of NFL prognosticators once
again in 2011 with a 5-3 break from the gate.

Unlike 2009 and 2010, however, it seems the planets are aligning for them to
finish the race this time.

Because unlike those two years, the competition alongside Houston, which
entertains AFC North representative Cleveland Sunday at Reliant Stadium, in the
AFC South doesn’t seem up to par as before. That is, unless Peyton Manning
rises from the walking dead in Indianapolis.

Short of that miracle, the Texans reached the halfway point last week with a
half-game lead over the second-place Tennessee Titans, with Jacksonville
languishing on another lower floor at two games ahead of the winless Colts and
their Curtis Painter-led race to the draft board.

Houston has defeated its three divisional opponents by a combined 99-28 score,
following a 41-7 win at Tennessee on Oct. 23 with last Sunday’s 24-14 victory
over the Jaguars. The Texans are also 3-1 at home this season.

“We can control our fate, and that’s the way we want it,” Houston owner Bob
McNair said after his team improved to 3-0 in divisional play for the first
time. “I think the guys understand where they are and I think they really
stepped up [last week].”

The renewed uptick warrants credit for first-year defensive coordinator Wade
Phillips, whose team is third in the league in total yards allowed, fifth in
both scoring defense and against the pass and tied for ninth in sacks.

The Texans were 30th in the NFL after allowing 376.9 yards per game in 2010.

Houston allowed just 174 yards to Jacksonville, the first time in franchise
history in which two straight foes were kept below the 200-yard mark.

“I do have a ton of confidence right now in the way we’re playing defensively,?
Texans head coach Gary Kubiak said. “I know there are some statistics as far as
points and yards, the last two or three weeks, that are off the charts. We’re
playing very well.”

Cleveland has also distinguished itself on the defensive side, allowing just 20
points and 299.1 total yards per game in spite of a 3-4 record that’s still
dead last in the tough AFC North.

The Browns scored just 46 points while going 1-3 in four October games,
however. A fourth-quarter touchdown pass from Colt McCoy to Joshua Cribbs in
last week’s 20-10 loss at San Francisco was the team?s first end-zone trip in
two games.

“Back home, I hope they don’t go into a frenzy like the world is going to end,”
Cribbs said after the game.

The Cleveland offense has been without running back Peyton Hillis for the past
two games due to a strained left hamstring, and he’s questionable for Sunday’s
contest as well. Backup Montario Hardesty is also on the injured list and is
expected to miss multiple games with a calf tear suffered last week.

In their absence, carries would go to Chris Ogbonnaya, signed off Houston’s
practice squad on Oct. 18, and Thomas Clayton, signed this week after a workout
at the team’s practice facility.

SERIES HISTORY

These teams have split six lifetime meetings, with the Texans evening the
series by virtue of a 16-6 win in Cleveland in 2008. The Browns posted a 27-17
home victory over Houston the previous year but are just 1-2 in their three
prior trips to Reliant Stadium, dropping decisions there in both 2005 (19-16)
and 2006 (14-6). Cleveland’s lone positive result against the Texans in Houston
was a 22-14 triumph in the 2004 season finale.

Kubiak is 2-1 all-time against Cleveland during his tenure with the Texans,
while the Browns’ Pat Shurmur will be opposing both Houston and Kubiak for the
first time as a head coach.

WHEN THE BROWNS HAVE THE BALL

In his past three games on the road, former University of Texas standout McCoy
has completed 65-of-111 passes (58.6 percent) for 667 yards with four
touchdowns, an interception and an 84.2 passer rating. Hillis needs six catches
to reach 100 for his career, while tight end Benjamin Watson needs nine catches
to reach 100 with the Browns. Watson tied his season-best with 64 receiving
yards last week. Rookie wide receiver Greg Little, a second-round pick in this
past draft, ranks second in the NFL among rookies with 29 receptions, trailing
only Cincinnati’s A.J. Green’s 33. Cribbs recorded his second touchdown catch
of the season on a 45-yard reception last week.

Houston’s defense is tied with Baltimore with an AFC-best 19 sacks, and rookie
linebacker and 2011 second-round selection Brooks Reed aims for a third
consecutive game with one. Linebacker Brian Cushing leads the Texans with 54
tackles and posted his first interception of the season last week. End Antonio
Smith has 16 tackles, 4 1/2 sacks and a forced fumble in eight games, while
cornerback Jason Allen has 27 tackles and three interceptions.

Statistically, Cleveland is 28th in scoring offense (15.3 ppg), 26th in total
yards (305.7 ypg), 20th in passing yards (218.1 ypg) and 29th in rushing yards
(87.6 ypg). The Texans are fifth in the league in scoring defense (18.1 ppg),
third in total yards allowed (286.8 ypg), fifth in pass defense (189.4 ypg) and
sixth versus the run (97.4 ypg).

WHEN THE TEXANS HAVE THE BALL

In his past three games, Texans quarterback Matt Schaub has four touchdowns, no
interceptions and a 102.1 passer rating. He needs four touchdown passes to
reach 100 for his career. Running back Arian Foster aims for a sixth straight
game with 100 or more yards from scrimmage, following efforts of 166, 184, 101,
234 and 124 yards. He recorded his 12th career 100-yard rushing game and third
of the season last week. Foster has five touchdowns in the past two games (four
rushing, one receiving) as well, and in his past five games in November, is
averaging 102.4 rushing yards per game with six touchdowns on the ground.
Backup running back Ben Tate averages 5.2 yards per carry (97 attempts, 508
yards). Wide receiver Andre Johnson posted 10 catches for 116 yards (11.6
average) in Houston’s most recent matchup with Cleveland back in 2008, but is
uncertain to return this week from a nagging hamstring injury that’s kept him
out of the past four games. If he plays, Johnson needs two catches to reach 700
for his career and would do so in the second-fewest games (120) in NFL history,
trailing only Marvin Harrison (114). Wide receiver Kevin Walter had seven
catches for 93 yards with a touchdown in that 2008 win over the Browns, while
tight end Joel Dreessen aims for a third consecutive game with a touchdown
catch.

On defense, the Browns allow 171.9 passing yards per game, second-fewest in the
NFL behind Pittsburgh’s 171.6. Linebacker D’Qwell Jackson leads the team with
65 tackles and cornerback Joe Haden tops all Cleveland players with 10 passes
defensed. Rookie lineman Phil Taylor, the Browns’ first-round choice in last
April’s draft, has two sacks in his past three games and is tied for third
among AFC rookies with three sacks.

By the numbers, Houston is eighth in scoring offense (25.8 ppg), seventh in
total yards (395.2 ypg), 11th in passing yards (253.4 ypg) and fourth in
rushing yards (141.9 ypg). Cleveland is eighth in scoring defense (20.0 ppg),
fifth in total yards allowed (299.1 ypg) and the aforementioned second overall
in pass defense (171.9 ypg), but ranks just 26th against the run (127.3 ypg).

KEYS TO THE GAME

Should he be healthy enough to go, Houston’s Johnson could be prolific after
posting 10 catches for 116 yards the last time the teams met, though the Browns
have been one of the league’s tougher teams to throw on.

While on the subject of injuries, the banged-up Browns could find an even more
difficult road against the sixth-best rush defense in the league this week.
Replacements Chris Ogbonnaya and Thomas Clayton have a combined career total of
35 rushes for 125 yards, but will need to produce if called upon.

The Texans have traditionally found adversity when beginning the second halves
of recent seasons, as their last win in the ninth game of the season was in
2007. It’s a hump the team must get over both for this week and beyond.

OVERALL ANALYSIS

Johnson may be back in the fold. Foster’s on a roll and the Texans’ defense has
held five of eight opponents to 14 points or less. Oh, and they’re playing at
home as well, where they’re 3-1 this year. There weren’t a lot of reasons to
pick against the Texans anyway, but without Hillis at 100 percent for
Cleveland, there’s one less.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Texans 30, Browns 14

©2011 Sports Network. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

By David Coleman

– Managing Editor

Follow @sbnhouston on Twitter, and

Like SB Nation Houston on Facebook.

Oct 25, 2011 – The Houston Texans just sent out their pre-game press packet for the upcoming game against the Jacksonville Jaguars and I thought I might run through some of the stuff that popped up to me…

 

• Houston is 4-2 this season when they score first and 4-0 when they hold opponents under 20 points. Both of those things bode well this week for a Jacksonville team that is averaging just 12 points per game and is ranked 31st in the NFL in scoring offense.
• The other thing that shocked me? Houston’s lowest sack output of the season is two in three different games, including last week against Tennessee. For a team that’s struggled for so long with a pass rush, that’s an awful encouraging number.
• The Texans are just 3-2 this season when they have won the turnover battle. I was really shocked by that, since they’re 37-14 in franchise history when positive in turnovers for a game and 24-7 in the Kubiak Era. Seems like that may be some luck which will even out in the next few games.
• No one player has scored more than one touchdown against the Texans all season. 13 players have done it once, but none have scored multiple times. That’s as bizarre as it is obscure.
• The Texans are also 4-0 this season when they have a 100-yard rusher. As goes the rushing game, so goes the Texans.
• For the fourth week this season, Houston is sporting a top 10 defense and a top 10 offense. The defense is ranked eighth overall and the offense is seventh overall and fifth rushing. 
• It’s Battle Red Day for the Texans and Marv Albert and Rich Gannon will be calling the game on CBS. That’s not the worst-possible annoucing setup for this game, but I was hoping for something better.
• A victory this week would give Houston 10 wins against Jacksonville in franchise history, the most it would have against any team. 
• According to the depth chart, James Casey will be back and starting in this one, while Troy Nolan will take over at free safety for the injured Danieal Manning. Nolan’s start is significant, because he may have had the best game of his career against the Jags back on Jan. 2 of this year, when he made six tackles, had a sack, an interception and recovered a fumble.
• If the Texans recover a fumble in this one, they’ll equal their entire total from the 2010 season. Another blocked kick will also set the franchise record with three.
• Antonio Smith needs one-half sack to take third place on the all-time franchise list away from Jason Babin. Smith needs 1 1/2 sacks to set a single-season high for himself and 3 1/2 to get him to 30 sacks for his career.
• If Andre Johnson plays, he needs just two catches to get to 700 for his career, which would be the second-fastest in NFL history after Marvin Harrison.

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(Sports Network) – The Houston Texans have come up empty in each of their
previous four meetings with Baltimore. Perhaps the addition of a former Raven
can get them into the win column in this series.

The Texans could have wide receiver Derrick Mason on the field this Sunday
when they draft to get the better of the Ravens, a task easier said than done
given the AFC North leaders’ usual play at M&T Bank Stadium.

Following a 25-20 loss to the Oakland Raiders last weekend — a game in which
the Texans played without star wide receiver Andre Johnson — Houston sent an
undisclosed draft pick to the New York Jets on Wednesday for Mason, a 14-year
veteran with 937 career catches and over 12,000 receiving yards.

Mason had spent his previous six seasons in Baltimore, going over 1,000 yards
receiving in four of those years, before signing with the Jets this offseason
following a 61-catch, 802-yard campaign in 2010. The 37-year-old made 13
catches for 115 yards in five games with the Jets.

Houston head coach Gary Kubiak hopes that Mason can help fill the void left by
Johnson, who is unlikely to play again this weekend after sitting out the
Oakland loss with a hamstring injury.

“I’m going to do whatever I need to do to play Sunday, and not just because
it’s Baltimore or just because I want to be out there,” said Mason. “I’m a
football player. I want to be out on the field.”

Ravens head coach John Harbaugh isn’t worried about his former receiver giving
the Texans any extra insight.

“I don’t think he’ll give them much that way,” he said. “It’s been a while. He
may have something. But for all these guys, when you get away from that scheme
…he may have something on the players, maybe, kind of his insights. But he’s
been working on the Jets’ system and learning that system. That stuff leaves
you after a while and things change.”

Houston certainly could have used Mason last weekend after failing to hold a
two-point lead heading into the fourth quarter. Quarterback Matt Schaub had
one last chance to get his team a win, but his pass into the end zone as time
expired was intercepted.

The loss gave the Texans a split of a two-game homestand and was their second
in three games since starting 2-0. It also featured a season-ending pectoral
injury to linebacker Mario Williams, who had five sacks after making the move
from defensive end.

“I feel so bad for Mario because he’s been such a heck of a player, and what
we’re doing to me is really going to blossom his career from now on,” said
Kubiak. “I think he’d really taken to the position he’s playing. He was
improving every day at practice, improving in every game and really enjoying
[it].”

Schaub, meanwhile missed practice on Wednesday due to shoulder and thigh
ailments, but he is expected to play this weekend.

Houston will need him given the absence of Williams and Johnson, though the
Ravens, who are coming off their bye week, aren’t going to take the Texans
lightly.

“It just doesn’t really matter to us,” said Harbaugh of Houston’s injuries.
“We’ve got to get ready to play. That team is a really good team. I told our
team before we left on the bye week that we’d be playing the best team in the
AFC next week — the team that was playing the best.

Baltimore is aiming to improve to 4-1 for just the fourth time in team history
and for a second straight year after besting the Jets, 34-17, before the bye.
Though the Ravens’ offense struggled, the defense contributed a team-record
three touchdowns off returns, taking a pair of fumbles and an interception to
the end zone.

The victory was the Ravens’ 12th in their last 13 games at M&T Bank Stadium,
while quarterback Joe Flacco improved to 21-5 at home in his career.

While Mason could line up against his old team for the second time this
year, Houston will face a pair of former faces for the first time in Baltimore
safety Bernard Pollard and fullback Vonta Leach. Pollard spend the previous
two seasons with the Texans, while Leach had been with the club since 2006.

SERIES HISTORY

As previously mentioned, the Ravens have won each of the four previous meetings
between the teams, including a wild 34-28 overtime victory in Houston during
Week 14 of last season in which the Texans scored 21 straight second-half
points to force the additional session. Houston will be making only its second
appearance at M&T Bank Stadium, having been handed a 16-15 setback there in
2005, and has lost twice to Baltimore at home in addition to last season’s
matchup. The Ravens came through with a 23-19 win at Reliant Stadium in 2002
and recorded a 41-13 road rout during the 2008 campaign. That game was
initially scheduled to be played in Week 2, but was pushed back into November
due to the arrival of Hurricane Ike.

Harbaugh owns a 2-0 career record against Houston, while Kubiak has lost both
of his two prior encounters with both the Ravens and Harbaugh.

WHEN THE TEXANS HAVE THE BALL

Oakland was unable to fend off the Texans last weekend despite 473 yards of
offense for Houston, including 416 passing yards from Schaub (1377 passing
yards, 9 TD, 5 INT). The quarterback completed 24 of his 51 pass attempts,
getting picked off twice while throwing touchdown passes to tight end Joel
Dreessen (8 receptions, 1 TD) and wide receiver Kevin Walter (9 receptions, 2
TD). Schaub extended his own team record of 13 straight games with a touchdown
pass and helped Houston feature four players with at least 80 receiving yards
in a game for the first time in team history. Running back Arian Foster (256
rushing yards, 10 receptions, 1 TD) led the way for Houston’s eighth-ranked
offense with his first 100-yard receiving game, logging 116 yards on five
catches and another 68 yards on the ground over 22 carries. Dreessen and
Walter both had five catches, with the tight end logging a career-high 116
yards and Walter having 81. Tight end Owen Daniels (21 receptions, 3 TD) added
89 yards on a team-leading seven receptions. Fullback James Casey suffered a
pectoral injury in the game and is day-to-day. Lawrence Vickers would start in
his place if he can’t go.

The Texans could struggle to overcome the loss of Johnson (25 receptions, 2
TD) again this weekend, given that the Ravens rank third in total defense at
284.5 yards allowed per game and are yielding an NFL-low 14.3 points per
contest. Turnovers have been key for Baltimore, which leads the league in
takeaways per game and have scored 55 points off mistakes this year. Twenty-one
of those came versus the Jets, with linebackers Jameel McClain (11 tackles, 1
sack) and Jarret Johnson (8 tackles) both returning fumbles for scores and
cornerback Lardarius Webb (27 tackles, 2 INT) adding a 73-yard pick-six. Safety
Ed Reed (17 tackles, 1 sack, 2 INT) and tackle Haloti Ngata (13 tackles, 1
sack) logged sacks in that win, while cornerback Cary Williams (23 tackles) had
eight tackles. Linebacker Ray Lewis (30 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT) added five
stops and needs 28 more interception yards to pass Derrick Brooks (530) for
the most all-time by a linebacker, while Reed is 20 interception yards shy of
the all-time record held by Rod Woodson (1,483). Lewis also needs just another
half-sack to become the first player ever with 40 sacks and 30 interceptions.
Safety Haruki Nakamura missed Baltimore’s last game with a knee injury and Tom
Zbikowski (14 tackles) left the Jets contest with a concussion. Both are
questionable after being limited in practice.

WHEN THE RAVENS HAVE THE BALL

Baltimore’s offense will look to move on from the Jets game after logging only
267 yards of offense. The Ravens rank 14th in total offense (358.5 ypg), but
are still scoring at a healthy 29.8 points per game clip. Dual threat Ray Rice
(297 rushing yards, 16 receptions, 4 total TD) had over 100 yards of offense
versus the Jets, notching 66 yards on 25 carries with the lone offensive
touchdown for the Ravens, and compiling another 64 through the air on a pair of
catches. The back is averaging 134.8 yards per game from scrimmage. Flacco (973
passing yards, 7 TD, 3 INT) completed only 10 of his 31 passes for 163 yards
two weeks ago and was picked off once without a touchdown pass. He was also
sacked twice, bringing his season total to eight. Flacco tried a number of
times to get the ball to tight end Ed Dickson (16 receptions, 1 TD) in the
team’s last game, targeting him 12 times. Dickson came up with four catches for
45 yards, while receivers Anquan Boldin (15 receptions, 1 TD), Torrey Smith (6
receptions, 3 TD) and LaQuan Williams were held to one catch each. Baltimore
hopes a few offensive pieces got healthy over the break, with guard Ben Grubbs
and receiver Lee Evans both practicing on a limited basis this week. Grubbs has
missed the last three games with a toe injury, while Evans has sat out two
straight due to an ankle issue.

Houston’s defense ranks seventh in the league with an allowance of 314 yards
per game, thanks in part to a much-improved secondary that is yielding only
208.2 passing yards per game that ranks sixth. The Texans will be looking to
hold an opponent under 20 points for the fourth time in 2011, but will look to
do so with rookie linebacker Brooks Reed replacing Mario Williams. The Texans
still have two other playmakers at the position in Brian Cushing (36 tackles, 1
sack) and DeMeco Ryans (21 tackles), however. The former matched cornerback
Jason Allen with eight tackles against the Raiders to go along with a sack,
while Ryans had four stops. Allen (25 tackles, 2 INT) had an interception for a
second straight game and will try to log three picks in a row for the first
time in his career. Defensive end Antonio Smith (10 tackles, 4.5 sacks) logged
a half-sack against the Raiders, leaving him 1 1/2 shy of his career high set
in 2007. Smith and rookie end J.J. Watt (15 tackles, 1 sack) will try to get
more pressure on Flacco in Williams’ absence, while corners Kareem Jackson (13
tackles) and Johnathan Joseph (15 tackles, 2 INT) will try to add to Houston’s
season interception total of five.

KEYS TO THE GAME

The Ravens will be looking to prevent another quick start by the Texans, who
have scored 24 points and posted 348 yards on their five opening drives this
season. On the other side, Houston’s defense is also the only unit in the
league that has forced five punts on their opponents’ first drives.

Schaub and company will need to hold onto the ball, as the Ravens own a plus-37
turnover ratio at home since 2008. That ranks second in the NFL over that
span.

Let Mason be your guide. The veteran should do wonders for Houston’s locker
room, and his main focus should be on telling the rest of the Texans not to
worry about their past history versus the Ravens.

OVERALL ANALYSIS

The task in front of the Texans is no small one, given that the Ravens are
coming off a bye and have had the club’s number in the past. Not having
Andre Johnson only makes things more challenging, but Houston should have three
healthy backs to turn to in Foster, Ben Tate and Derrick Ward for the first
time in a while. That may take some pressure off of Schaub’s shoulders, which
is good considering that Lewis and Reed will be looking to put him on his back
all game. The Ravens showed two weeks ago that they don’t need an above-average
showing from the offense to win, and should be able to grind Houston down.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Ravens 17, Texans 13

The Sports Network

The Houston Texans have released running back Steve Slaton, replacing him with Chris Ogbonnaya from the practice squad. Slaton had a standout campaign after being selected in the third round in 2008, running for a NFL rookie-best 1,281 yards. But his career has been beset by injuries and fumble issues since. Arian Foster became the feature back and led the league in rushing last season, relegating Slaton to being a backup and returning kicks. With Ben Tate in the fold this season, Slaton had just seven carries for 20 yards through two games. Ogbonnaya, a seventh-round pick of St. Louis in 2009, led the Texans in rushing during this preseason. Texans coach Gary Kubiak said he expects Foster, who has been inactive for all three games, to be ready to play Sunday against Pittsburgh.

Carnell “Cadillac” Williams is the only running back to reach 100 yards rushing in his first three games. Tate will probably have a chance to match Williams on Sunday when Houston (2-0) plays at New Orleans (1-1), because 2010 NFL leading rusher Arian Foster is still limited by a left hamstring strain.

“It’s an awesome group to even just be mentioned with those guys, but it’s just the start to my career,” Tate said. “Honestly, I haven’t taken time to really think about it, but I would have to say it’s important. I guess it’s a big thing that it happened.”

Despite Tate’s fast start, Houston coach Gary Kubiak said Foster will regain his starting role when he’s fit enough to play. Foster took some snaps in Friday’s practice, and will be re-evaluated Saturday.

“It’s tough,” Foster said. “I think it’s more mental than it is anything because like I said before, it’s not something you can really push through. It’s not something that you can play with at 100 percent, so you just got to be patient with it. It’s just got to work that way.”

Tate can relate to Foster’s frustration. The former Auburn star was a second-round pick by the Texans in 2010, then broke his right ankle in Houston’s first preseason game and was placed on injured reserve.

And like Foster, Tate was hampered by a hamstring injury during training camp this year. Kubiak became concerned with how much practice time Tate was missing, but Tate has proven to be a quick learner.

“It’s fun to watch,” Kubiak said, “when you get a guy who’s talented, just watching them try to become a pro or as they become a pro, I guess is a good way to put it. He was out last year. He did study. He stayed in his book. He comes into camp this year, he misses a little time, he just kept working.”

Tate saw his first live action in more than a year in Houston’s second preseason game, rushing for 95 yards and a touchdown in a 27-14 win over New Orleans.

“He’s got good balance and vision,” Saints coach Sean Payton said. “Certainly, you wouldn’t have guessed that he hadn’t played, so he’s been exciting to watch, or follow, if you will. I think he certainly carries his pads well. He’s explosive. He’s got good vision and I think he’s someone that’s very elusive.”

Foster was inactive for the Texans’ season-opening win over Indianapolis, and when backup Derrick Ward left the game with a sprained right ankle, Tate made the most of his long-delayed opportunity, rushing 24 times for 116 yards and a touchdown. He ran for 103 yards in a 23-13 win in Miami last week, helping the Texans keep the clock moving late with 13 carries in the fourth quarter.

“I think that’s us telling how much confidence we have in him,” Kubiak said. “The way he was carrying that ball in the last 10 minutes of the game, there was no doubt who had control of what was going on. That player right there is telling you by how he’s playing to ‘Give it to me. I can get it handled,’ so hopefully that continues to grow.”

Tate expects to have some challenging blocking assignments on Sunday against the Saints’ blitz-heavy defense. But Tate downplays the difficulty of the transition from college, and says he’s confident that he can handle pro-level pass protection as well as he’s handled his rushes.

“The defenses are more complex,” Tate said. “They bring different blitzes, and you have to deal with more blitzes. Other than that, at the end of the day, it’s football. I wouldn’t say it’s hard to figure out. Everybody knows that protecting the quarterback is important.”

Eventually, Foster will get his job back, and Tate will be relegated to a reserve role once again. For now, Tate isn’t fazed by that.

“I can’t worry about what’s going on with Arian,” Tate said. “The only thing I can focus on is me.”

Notes: Kubiak was optimistic that WRs Jacoby Jones (bruised left knee) and Kevin Walter (bruised right shoulder) will be ready to play by Sunday, even though Jones has sat out team drills this week. … Seventh-round draft pick Derek Newton will move into backup tackle Rashad Butler’s spot on the depth chart. Butler was placed on injured reserve this week with an elbow injury.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

HOUSTON – Receiver Jacoby Jones has been a role player on offence and a key contributor to special teams since the Houston Texans drafted him in the third round out of tiny Lane College in 2007.

The Texans are expecting Jones to do even more. Houston signed the free agent to a three-year deal worth more than $10 million, hoping he can help boost an already potent offence better known for Andre Johnson, Matt Schaub and Arian Foster.

Jones shakes his head thinking about how much he’s matured in his years in Houston.

Early in his career, he had trouble with dropped passes on the field and wasn’t allowed to make a trip to Jacksonville to play the Jaguars in 2009 after he was late to a team meeting a day before the game.

“When I first got here, I was like a little kid running around all day,” he said. “I’ve matured a lot. I had a lot of guys to look up to and learn from. Coach Kube (Gary Kubiak) took me under like one of his own and that was big.”

Jones said watching that Jacksonville game from home pushed him into getting himself together.

“That was really the light that went off and just shook me,” he said. “I was like: ‘I never want to be in this type situation ever again.’ The guys took their time and had faith in me so I’ve got to buckle down.’”

And he did. The 27-year-old Jones hasn’t had any problems like that since, and he’s also taken a better approach to everything he does surrounding the game.

“He’s grown up from the standpoint of his preparation,” Kubiak said. “Jacoby does a good job in the classroom now. So all those things of being a pro that make it easy to come out here and play, he handles that stuff now. Now he’s just got to work hard at re-finding his skills and running routes, studying players and if he does that, then there’s another level for him to reach.”

Jones, who has 96 receptions for 1,229 yards and nine touchdowns in his career, said being around the All-Pro Johnson helped him learn how to do things the right way.

“That guy, you look at him and he seems like he’s not really going hard, but it’s just that he makes it look easy because he’s so smooth,” Jones said. “He’s detail-oriented and does everything right. So I look at a person like that and I try to use the same ways he uses.”

Jones has returned two punts and one kickoff for touchdowns in his career, which is tied for the franchise record for return touchdowns.

He will only return punts this season, with first-year Texan Danieal Manning taking over the kickoff return duties.

That will give Jones more time to focus on offence, where he’s coming off a season where he finished with a career-high 51 receptions for 562 yards. Johnson is the obvious starter at one of the receiver spots, but Kubiak said he also sees both Jones and Kevin Walter as starters.

Kubiak’s expectations for Jones this season are straightforward.

“Continue to make more plays,” Kubiak said when asked what he needs from Jones. “He had his biggest year with us as a pro last year. He and Kevin pushed each other every day. I think all three of those guys as starters. That’s the reason we wanted him back on this team. I think he’s in position now to make even more and more plays.”

Jones knows what he needs to do, even if he isn’t looking to reach specific numbers this season.

“I’m not really setting any goals, as far as number of punt returns or kick returns or touchdowns or catches,” he said. “I just want to play my role and whenever they on me to make a play, I make that play.”

Notes: Kubiak said LB DeMeco Ryans (elbow) could play on Saturday against San Francisco. He worked out with a trainer on a field away from the rest of the team on Wednesday. “DeMeco’s doing a lot better today,” Kubiak said. “He’s got his flexibility back. I didn’t want him out here because we were beating on each other a little bit today, so I’m trying to be smart.” … Kubiak said that RB Derrick Ward (concussion) will be cleared to play against the 49ers.

Preseason Opener at Houston Texans
Today, 8 p.m.
Reliant Stadium, Houston
TV: ESPN
Radio: ESPN 1050-AM
Line: -x

THREE POSITIONS TO WATCH

1. Defensive Line
Out with the old (Shaun Ellis) and in with the new (Muhammad Wilkerson). Jets coach Rex Ryan said he wouldn’t have drafted the defensive end out of Temple if he didn’t have the intention of starting him, and tonight is our first look at how ready Wilkerson is. In practice, he’s been going up against D’Brickashaw Ferguson, the Pro Bowl left tackle. Off the field, he’s been glued to DVD highlights of Trevor Pryce, clips that the defensive staff put together for Wilkerson to watch. As the evening wanes, we’ll also get a look at third-round pick Kenrick Ellis, who seems to be the second or third guy off the bench as it is, and could work himself into the regular rotation. Ropati Pitoitua, a 6-8, 315-pound mammoth who missed last season with an Achilles’ injury will also see significant time.

2. Wide Receiver
Aside from Santonio Holmes, all the mainstays from last year are gone and Plaxico Burress and Derrick Mason serve as the new normal, though Burress will be stuck in New York nursing his swollen ankle tonight. Instead, it will be a good opportunity to see how Mason and Santonio Holmes play off one another on opposite sides of the offense. It’s been tough sledding for Holmes thus far in practice but Mason seems to be catching everything in sight. The team is high on rookie Jeremy Kerley and undrafted free agent Courtney Smith (6-5, 230). Verona native Dan DePalma will also be in the mix late in the game.

3. Offensive Line
On Thursday, Nick Mangold sent a terrifying jolt through the coaching staff when he was face down on the practice field with a stinger. That being said, the question of who can be next in line to replace him — or any offensive lineman — can never be far off Ryan’s mind. Vladimir Ducasse has been working at both tackle and guard this preseason, and Rob Turner, a returner from last year, has worked at guard and center.

Some other names to look for will be Chris Stewart, the 6-5, 351-pound undrafted guard out of Notre Dame who has turned some heads in camp so far, along with Pete Clifford, who saw a little bit of time with the first team during drills. Matt Kroul, who spent the last eight years of his career (including high school and college) on the defensive line, has flipped to the offensive line and will likely see reps with the third team.

FOUR DOWNS WITH …
QB Mark Sanchez

1. How’s the offense going to look?
I think that one of the most important parts for our offense is not to get frustrated, to understand that the defense is usually ahead of the offense at this point and they are doing a really good job. I think the day before our break, Tuesday, we had a great day on offense. It started to turn the tide a little bit, so that’s good. We wanted to keep it competitive.

2. You ready to see Houston, a change of pace?
Absolutely, and you see your own players so many times and see their looks so many times that you start to over-think things, you start to try and figure out ways to make your plays better when you’re just trying to force stuff, and that’s natural in camp. Now things will be much more clear, just having a different color facemask to look at is nice.

3. What about Plaxico? Do you have enough time to build up chemistry?
I think, what Plax and I talked about is, as soon as he’s ready to go we’ll just have to hit it hard. Taking extra time to meet, taking extra time to watch film together, that stuff is paying off right now and now we have to practice it on the field. There’s plenty of time to get things right we just have to make sure we don’t waste the time once he gets back.

4. But you did have time to work a little with your newest weapon, Derrick Mason. What do you think about him?
He’s so smart and he runs around like he’s 20 years old but he’s 37. He has a positive attitude, he’s smiling and that energy kind of wears off and reminds you of how much this guy loves the game. And then you get him in there and he’s competing his butt off, asking questions, it’s an all out battle for him every play.

Conor Orr: corr@starledger.com

Reading the coverage …

Houston Texans

The Texans are projected to be $7.6 million under the 2011 $120 million salary cap.

If safety Gerald Sensabaugh doesn’t re-sign with the Cowboys he could see himself being reunited with Wade Phillips in Houston. “I could definitely see that if Dallas doesn’t work out,” Sensabaugh said. “Wade’s a good guy, I already know his system and it would be an easy transition for me. I wouldn’t have to learn anything new, and at the same time, I’d be able to help the other guys learn Wade’s system. I could see that becoming an option.”

Indianapolis Colts

The Houston Chronicle’s Stephanie Stradley points out via Twitter that, despite recent reports that Peyton Manning had neck issues throughout 2010, he never appeared on the Colts’ injury report last season.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Owner Wayne Weaver and team executives are headed to Atlanta Thursday as movement toward a new CBA continues.

Rookie quarterback Blaine Gabbert joined tight end Zach Potter and fullback Brock Bolen at Atlantic Coast High School to get in some practice Wednesday, and before long high school students were running routes and catching passes from Gabbert.

Tennessee Titans

Kerry Collins says he’s comfortable with his decision to retire: “I am really at peace with my career,’’ Collins said on Wednesday. “I didn’t win a Super Bowl and that is going to be one of the things that bugs me, I know it will. But when I sit here and look back at the age of 38, I played 16 years and I had kind of a rough start but I am proud of the way I came back from that and the things I accomplished over the years.”

Linebacker Rennie Curran talked with KSAZ-TV about preparing for the season during the lockout.