HOUSTON — The Tennessee Titans and Houston Texans have different
objectives in mind heading into today’s regular-season finale.

For the Titans (8-7), the goal is clear-cut — win at Reliant
Stadium and then hope for the magic combination of losses involving
Cincinnati, Denver, Oakland and the New York Jets to earn their
first playoff berth since 2008.

And that would set up a rematch with the Texans in the first
round of the postseason right back in Houston.

“If we don’t take care of our business, there will be no
scoreboard watching,” kicker Rob Bironas said. “We’ll be on the
couch watching — for all of January.”

For the Texans (10-5), the incentive is more intangible —
regaining the momentum they seem to have lost in two consecutive
defeats after reeling off seven straight wins to clinch their first
AFC South title.

Houston has nothing at stake in terms of postseason positioning.
The Texans are locked into the No. 3 seed in the AFC, and will host
a game on the first weekend of the playoffs, no matter what
happens.

But no one in the locker room wants to go into the franchise’s
first postseason game riding a losing streak.

“This game is more important than most people will ever know,”
defensive end Antonio Smith said. “You think that since it doesn’t
hurt us or help us as far as the playoff run, that it doesn’t
matter.

“You’ve got to be firing on all cylinders when you go into the
playoffs,” he said. “If not, man, ain’t no telling what will
happen.”

The Texans kick-started their regular season with a 41-7 victory
in Nashville on Oct. 23. They stayed in first place for the rest of
the regular season, despite playing most of their games without
star receiver Andre Johnson.

The five-time Pro Bowl selection has been practicing this week,
and coach Gary Kubiak expects Johnson to play in the finale.
Johnson sat out six games with a right hamstring injury that
required minor surgery, started the next two games and then
strained his left hamstring. He’s been sidelined for the last three
games, and he’s eager to see some action on Sunday, just so he can
regain some stamina and timing.

“I’m excited,” Johnson said. “I feel like I haven’t played
football all year. It’ll be fun to get back out there and run
around a little bit.”

Houston also hopes to have defensive coordinator Wade Phillips
back calling the plays, but from the press box instead of on the
sideline. Phillips, 64, returned to practice this week after
undergoing kidney and gall bladder surgery on Dec. 15.

“It’s awesome to have him back,” rookie outside linebacker
Brooks Reed said. “He just has that personality where no matter
what goes wrong, he’s always calm and I think that is kind of
contagious throughout.”

The Titans, meanwhile, only have flickering playoff hopes
because of a 23-17 victory over Jacksonville last week. They lost
to the previously winless Colts on Dec. 18, a setback that now
looms large.

And they also remember how the Texans manhandled them on their
home field, holding Tennessee to 148 yards and 11 first downs.
Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck conceded that the Titans took their
divisional rivals too lightly the first time around.

“I think we probably underestimated how good they were
physically,” Hasselbeck said. “They’re one of the premier teams in
the NFL this year and it just hasn’t been the case sometimes in the
past.

“They were fantastic that game we played against them here,” he
said. “They were making plays all over the field in all phases and
they really took it to us. I think that’s probably the toughest
game we’ve played this year in terms of just, we were feeling one
thing and they really disrupted what our thoughts were and took it
to us.”

Chris Johnson rushed for only 18 yards in that game, but he’s
had three 100-yard games since, all Tennessee victories. Johnson
needs only 14 yards rushing on Sunday to reach 1,000 yards for the
fourth consecutive season.

“We’re fully aware that he can just break out any time,” Reed
said, “and we just need to secure edges and just make sure he
doesn’t get out in too many open spaces because that’s where he’s
dangerous.”

The Texans’ running backs dominated the earlier meeting.

Arian Foster and Ben Tate both went over 100 yards, and Foster
also had 100 yards receiving. Foster, named to the Pro Bowl for the
second straight season, has seven 100-yard games this year and has
topped 100 yards rushing in Houston’s last two season finales, both
victories.

CAROLINA PANTHERS 28
HOUSTON TEXANS 13
Paid Attendance: 71,540

THE TEXANS…
· Set the franchise single-season sack record with the 38th of the year when NT Earl Mitchell tackled Carolina QB Cam Newton for no gain in the first quarter, breaking the previous mark of 37 set in 2005. The Texans entered the game with 36 sacks on the year.

· Trailed at the end of the first quarter, at halftime and through three quarters for the second consecutive week and the third time this season in each instance. Houston fell to 1-2 in all three instances.

· Were shut out in the first half for the first time this season.

· Scored on their opening drive of the second half for the eighth time this season and for the second consecutive week when K Neil Rackers booted a 26-yard field goal.

· Team captains were 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.

· Total paid attendance was 71,540, which was the third-largest crowd this season and third-largest in team history. The Houston Texans have sold out all 99 home games, including preseason and regular-season contests, in franchise history.

G THOMAS AUSTIN
· Made his professional debut, taking the field with the kickoff return unit on the opening kickoff.

OLB CONNOR BARWIN
· Sacked Carolina QB Cam Newton for a 10-yard loss on the Panthers’ opening drive, giving him 10.5 for the year. Barwin became the second Texan to notch double-digit sacks in a season, joining Mario Williams, who did so in 2007 and 2008.

G ANTOINE CALDWELL
· Made his first start of the season at RG. He started seven games in 2010, including the last three games of the season.

ILB BRIAN CUSHING
· Led the team with 12 tackles, including nine solos and one tackle for loss. It was the 10th game this season in which Cushing led the team or tied for the team lead in tackles.

TE OWEN DANIELS
· Extended his streak of consecutive games played with a reception to 67 on a 17-yard reception in the third quarter.

FS QUINTIN DEMPS
· Returned a fourth-quarter kickoff 50 yards. It was his longest kick return as a Texan and his longest since 11/23/08 when he had a 100-yard return for a touchdown at Baltimore as a Philadelphia Eagle.

RB ARIAN FOSTER
· Surpassed the 1,000-yard mark for the second consecutive season on is seventh carry of the game, a gain of 18. The run gave him 1,010 yards on the year, making him the second player in team history to top 1,000 rushing yards in consecutive season along with Domanick Williams in 2003-04.

· Became the fifth player in NFL history to surpass 1,000 rushing yards and 600 receiving yards in consecutive seasons. He topped 600 receiving yards on the year with his fifth catch of the day, a 22-yard gain in the fourth quarter, which gave him 601 yards on the season.

· Went over 100 yards for the sixth time this season and the 14th time in his career. He topped the century mark on a 6-yard gain in the fourth quarter, his 13th rush of the game, and finished with 109 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries.

· Scored his ninth rushing touchdown of the season and the 28th of his career when he dove into the end zone from 2 yards out. Foster has scored a rushing touchdown in eight of Houston’s last nine games.

WR BRYANT JOHNSON
· Doubled his season reception total with a pair of catches on Houston’s second drive. He entered the game with two receptions for 22 yards on the year and caught two passes for 23 yards on that drive.

WR JACOBY JONES
· Returned a third-quarter punt 42 yards. It was his fifth return of 40 or more yards this season.

WR JEFF MAEHL
· Made his NFL debut after being signed off of the Texans’ practice squad on Wednesday. Maehl saw his first action on the punt return unit in the first quarter.

NT EARL MITCHELL
· Registered his first sack of the season when he tackled Carolina QB Cam Newton for no gain in the first quarter. It was his second career sack.

K NEIL RACKERS
· Scored seven points in the game to increase his season total to 115, tying Kris Brown’s 2007 point total for the third-most in franchise history.

FB LAWRENCE VICKERS
· Caught his fourth pass of the game, a four-yarder in the third quarter, to set a career single-game high. Vickers’ previous high was three receptions on 11/4/07 vs. Seattle as a member of the Cleveland Browns.

DE J.J. WATT
· Tied a career high with seven tackles, including five solos, one tackle for loss and one quarterback hit. He also made seven tackles in Week 12 at Jacksonville (11/27).

QB T.J. YATES
· Completed his first eight pass attempts, gaining 60 yards on those throws. His ninth pass of the game was tipped at the line of scrimmage and fell incomplete.

· Finished the game 19-of-30 for 212 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions, giving him a passer rating of 56.5.

HOUSTON – Even now, in the best of times, the Houston Texans can’t escape their star-crossed history.

The Texans (7-3) are off to the fastest start in franchise history and enter their bye week on a four-game winning streak. They’ve taken control of the AFC South and share the top record in the conference with Pittsburgh, whom they defeated on Oct. 2.

And somehow they’ve done it as their best players continue to go down with major injuries.

The latest is quarterback Matt Schaub, who may be lost for the season after injuring a Lisfranc joint in his right foot during Sunday’s 37-9 win over Tampa Bay. Schaub has started all but 10 games since the start of the 2007 season, but Matt Leinart will replace him for the Texans’ next game, in Jacksonville on Nov. 27.

Houston has already survived more than a month without All-Pro Mario Williams (torn chest muscle) and has won four of the last six games without All-Pro receiver Andre Johnson (right hamstring), who’s expected to return after the bye. Running backs Arian Foster and Ben Tate have also missed games, and starting safety Danieal Manning is still out with a broken left fibula.

It’s always something with the Texans, whose 10-season life span is more defined by epic collapses than milestone victories. The players insist this year feels different, with upgrades in depth, talent and coaching creating confidence and unity in the locker room.

But they also can’t help but wonder why this franchise can’t ever catch a break.

“Over the years, it’s been crazy,” said tight end Owen Daniels, drafted by Houston in 2006. “That’s just the way it’s going to be with the Texans. We’re going to have to fight through stuff, we’re going to have some crazy adversity that other teams might not have.

“That’s what’s going to make this group so special,” Daniels said. “We’re going to be able to fight through that, and find a way to get it done, even though certain things have happened.”

The mindset began to change when Houston scuttled its defensive staff after last season and hired Wade Phillips, renowned for quickly turning around bad defences.

And, boy, did the Texans need a change after ranking 30th overall and dead-last against the pass in 2010. Phillips not only sold coach Gary Kubiak and owner Bob McNair on a switch to a 3-4 alignment, he also suggested moving 6-foot-6 Williams from defensive end to outside linebacker and morphing into a DeMarcus Ware-type pass rusher.

The Texans focused on high-energy defensive players in the draft, picked up Johnathan Joseph and Manning in free agency to shore up the secondary and the pieces were suddenly in place.

Kubiak can hardly believe how well it’s turned out.

Houston has the league’s No. 1 defence (269.7 yards per game) and more amazingly, ranks second against the pass (178 yards per game). The Texans have generated 20 takeaways (14 interceptions, six recovered fumbles) and are plus-11 in turnover margin.

And even without Williams, who’s been out since Week 5, the Texans rank second in sacks (28). Rookie Brooks Reed has capably filled Williams’ role, outside linebacker Connor Barwin and defensive end Antonio Smith have 4 1/2 sacks each, and linebacker Brian Cushing has recaptured his playmaking form from 2009, when he was named the league’s top defensive rookie.

“It’s just been fun to watch,” Kubiak said. “The players have just bought into what we’re doing and they’re playing with a lot of confidence right now and a lot of young players stepping to the plate. Hopefully there’s a lot more good things to come, but right now, it’s very exciting to watch.”

The Texans can also boast the league’s top rushing tandem, Foster and Tate. Both rank among the league’s top 10, and Houston is third in rushing (158 yards per game), behind Philadelphia and Denver.

Between the defence and the running game, the players think they’re equipped to withstand the loss of any one player. Even their starting quarterback.

“Everything happens for a reason,” receiver Kevin Walter said. “It seems like it’s been one thing after another with this team, this year, but we’ve overcome it. We have to do good job and overcome this with Matt, too.

“I feel bad for Schaub, he was having a heck of a year,” he said. “But I know Leinart, and I know he’s excited for the opportunity to come and keep this thing rolling. We’re going to ride him on in, and we’re going to continue to make plays and do our thing.”

Leinart seems to be one of the first who felt a good vibe for this season. He was a free agent in the off-season, but turned down other offers to come back, knowing that he would still be backing up Schaub.

The start of his NFL career derailed in Arizona, and Leinart wasn’t shy during training camp about his desire to earn another starting role. Now he’s in control of a franchise that’s never won anything, but also never felt more optimistic about its future.

“I think it’s easy to let the situation itself overpower you,” Leinart said. “But for me, that’s why we play this game and that’s why we get paid what we get paid. That’s why we grind it out every day during the season and training camp is for things like this.

“It’s exciting,” he said. “This organization, we haven’t been in this situation before, but we’ve got a great team, we’ve got a great team camaraderie. Everyone is so together in belief of what we can accomplish. We just continue to march forward together.”

Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub has a significant foot injury that will force him to the whole season, according to ESPN.com.

The loss of Schaub, who has started every game since the start of the 2009 season, could affect the team’s ability to make a dominating playoff push, despite the Texans playing in an average AFC South this year. The Texans are 7-3, tied with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the AFC’s best record after 10 weeks, with Schaub a considerable part of their success. He was a top-ten QB in yards (2,479), touchdowns (15) and rating (96.8) for a Texans team that many believe has the capabilities to finally clinch the franchise’s first playoff berth.

According to ESPN.com, Coach Gary Kubiak said earlier Monday that Schaub was out indefinitely after injuring his foot on a quarterback sneak during Houston’s 37-9 win over Tampa Bay on Sunday. 

Backup QB Matt Leinart will start against the Jaguars after the bye, Kubiak said. The Texans will have to rely on Leinart, who hasn’t seen any playing time this year and has been for the most part obscured ever since his fallout with his former team, the Arizona Cardinals.

However, while the Texans may downgrade with Schaub’s injury, Schaub’s best target, Andre Johnson, will certainly keep the Texans on track Johnson, who has been out with a hamstring injury for six straight weeks, will be ready to return after Houston’s bye this Sunday to face the Jacksonville Jaguars on Nov. 27.  

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According to Albert Breer, the Houston Texans have gone from the #30 defense last year to the #1 defense. I saw that and immediately wondered how that could be. I mean, I look over the league each week, and I couldn’t figure out how they were #1. Then, I realized that the league, for which Breer works with NFL.com, still officially ranks defenses by yards allowed per game, even though no one with any sense would actually use that as the one factor in deciding who the best defense was.

Good defenses tend to allow fewer yards, but using yards allowed per game is not the best indicator. This would be like using batting average to rank an offense in baseball. Some teams face more passes late compared to others, and yards are higher on passes, even for a good defense. The 49ers, for example, rank in the top 10 in yards but not in the top 5, but are 1st in points allowed.

No doubt Houston is improved, and when we look at other indicators, they are top 5 to 10 defense this year. That improvement has them squarely as a solid contender come playoff time. Johnathan Joseph has been a huge pickup because of how much he upgraded a clear weakness, and Brian Cushing has cycled back after a dropoff in year 2 when he had to move positions. The team lost Mario Williams, but is still generating pressure, though they have yet to face a great offense since he was injured. No one player has a huge sack total, but the team has 24 on the season, with Antonio Smith, Brooks Reed and Connor Barwin leading the way among the active players.

Houston is 3rd, ahead on percentage points of Baltimore in net yards per pass. They are 3rd in points per game allowed, behind only Baltimore and San Francisco. Over the last three weeks, they have allowed fewer than 175 total yards and 15 first downs in each game, against the murderer’s row of Tennessee, Jacksonville and Cleveland.

We know that they can beat up on bad offenses, which is definitely something they could not do last year, when no lead was safe. They did allow 454 yards and 40 points to the Saints, easily the best offense they have faced (which is why I’m skeptical of the Bengals defensive numbers, since they have had none of those games). The defensive numbers are aided by the opponents, and it’s probably no coincidence that the top 5 teams by the league’s official yardage per game measure all play in the AFC North and South and thus play a lot of the same opponents.

While I’m skeptical that they are the best defense (Baltimore for me) and think the league’s use of yards per game to make a value judgment statement about who is the best is bad, they are very good this year. If you believe in such things, they are the most balanced team among the potential playoff participants, as we have seen a mix of great offenses/questionable defenses with powerful defenses/inconsistent offenses among the others. With the remaining schedule, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Houston lurk around and grab a first round bye, as the other AFC teams knock each other off.

[photo via Getty]