The Houston Texans played hard today but it just wasn’t enough to win this game.  Matt Schaub had a solid game completing 32 of 43 passes for 311 yards with 1 TD pass and 2 INTs.  He also carried the ball 3 times for 21 yards (7.0 ypc) in this game.  Ryan Moats couldn’t back up his great game of last week against the Bills as he carried the ball 16 times for 38 yards (2.4 ypc).  He also caught 3 passes for 15 yards (5.0 avg) with a TD grab but he also lost a fumble in this game.  Steve Slaton also had a tough time as he carried the ball 6 times for 17 yards (2.8 ypc) with 1 TD run and he also caught 3 passes for 12 yards (4.0 avg).  Andre Johnson led the way in the passing game for the Texans as usual with 10 catches for 103 yards.  Kevin Walter (5 rec, 67 yards) and Jacoby Jones (4 rec, 67 yards) also helped out in the passing game for the Texans today.  The Texans finished up with 382 total yards on offense (81 rushing, 301 passing) in this game.

Safety Bernard Pollard led the way for the Texans’ D in this game with 12 tackles, 3 passes defensed and 2 interceptions.  LB Brian Cushing also had a solid game with 12 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss and 1 pass defensed.  The Colts finished up with 378 total yards in this game (72 rushing, 306 passing) in this game.  The Texans are now 5-4 on the season.

The Houston Texans hit the jackpot in the first round of the NFL Draft.  They selected linebacker Brian Cushing with the 15th pick of the first round and he has been a beast this season.  Cushing has 66 tackles, 4 tackles for a loss, 1.5 sacks, he has defensed 7 passes and he has 2 interceptions.  With Cushing added to Demeco Ryans and Mario Williams the Texans are building a very solid defense for the near future.  CB Glover Quin (4th round, #112 overall) has also been really solid for the Texans this season as he has 32 tackles, 2 tackles for a loss and he has defensed 3 passes.  DE/OLB Connor Barwin (2nd round, #46 overall) has 8 tackles, 1 sack and he has defensed 2 passes this season.  The Texans hope he will improve in the 2nd half of the season.  OG Antoine Caldwell (3rd round, #77 overall) has played in only 3 games (0 starts) this season for the Texans.  TE Anthony Hill (4th round, #122 overall) has not done a thing yet this season for the Texans but with Owen Daniels out of action they need him to step up and do something.  TE James Casey (5th round, #152 overall) has caught 2 passes for 14 yards so far this season.  He has also made 3 tackles and returned 1 kickoff for 0 yards.  Casey will also be counted on to step up with Daniels out of action.  CB Brian McCain (6th round, #188 overall) has 7 tackles so far this season.  Safety Troy Nolan (7th round, #223 overall) has not played this season for the Texans.  Cushing and Quin make this a good draft for the Texans.

Kicker Kris Brown has been pretty solid for the most part this season.  He has made 9 of 12 field goals this season and he has converted all 23 of his extra point attempts.  The Texans probably want him to tighten up his accuracy on the field goals but he is a good kicker.

The Houston Texans have won three games in a row and they will be looking to keep that streak going against a Indianapolis Colts team that is 7-0.  The Texans will likely try to run the ball a little more than usual against the Colts who are allowing 112.0 yards rushing per game and 4.5 yards per carry.  Ryan Moats should get the start over Steve Slaton based on how well he played last week against the Bills.  Without Owen Daniels the Texans will rely on WRs Kevin Walter and David Anderson to catch the short stuff.  The Colts will be without a doubt be doubling Andre Johnson all day long on Sunday.  That might not matter however if Matt Schaub has time to throw the football.  That will only happen if the Texans’ O-Line can hold out DEs Dwight Freeney (8 sacks) and Robert Mathis (6 sacks) and that won’t be easy.

The Colts won’t stray from the usual plan as they will rely on Peyton Manning’s right arm to win this game.  DE Mario Williams will have to get pressure on Manning or he will slice and dice the Texans’ secondary.  The Texans will have problems slowing down Reggie Wayne, Austin Collie and Dallas Clark in this game.  The Texans also don’t stop the run too well allowing 113.3 yards rushing per game and 4.7 yards per carry.  Joseph Addai could have a big game here if the Colts get the lead and then decide to grind out a win on the ground. 

PREDICTION:  COLTS 38, TEXANS 20

In a crushing blow to the Texans they have lost starting TE Owen Daniels for the season due to a torn ACL.  Daniels played in 8 games for the Texans this season and he had 40 catches for 519 yards (13.0 avg) with 5 TD grabs.  The Texans will have Joel Dressen and rookies James Casey and Anthony Hill to replace Daniels the rest of the year.  Dressen is more of a blocker as he has played in all 8 games for the Texans this season catching 5 passes for 52 yards (10.4 avg).  When they want to pass to the TE they will likely insert one of the rookies.  James Casey was a 5th round pick out of Rice and he has played in all 8 games for the Texans this season and he has caught 2 passes for 14 yards (7.0 avg).  He is going to have to miss a week due to the fact that he also had to undergo surgery (it was minor) after the game with the Bills.  Anthony Hill was a 4th round pick for the Texans out of North Carolina State and he has yet to catch a pass this season.  The Texans and Matt Schaub are going to miss Daniels big time the rest of the season.

The Texans were down 10-9 heading into the 4th quarter of this game before exploding for 22 points in the final stanza.  Matt Schaub didn’t have his best game of the year by any stretch of the imagination yesterday as he completed 25 of 34 passes for 268 yards with 0 TD passes and 2 interceptions.  Steve Slaton fumbled and lost the ball in the early first quarter in this game and Coach Kubiak yanked him from the field and inserted Ryan Moats who had the best football game of his NFL career by far!  He carried the ball 23 times for 126 yards (5.5 ypc) with 3 TD runs.  He also caught 3 passes for 25 yards (8.3 avg) in this game.  Andre Johnson was hurting but he decided to play anyway and he led the Texans with 6 grabs for 63 yards (10.5 avg).  Everything wasn’t good in this game for the Texans however as starting TE Owen Daniels had to leave this game with a severe knee injury that could cost him the rest of the year.  The Texans finished up with 439 total yards on offense (186 rushing, 253 passing) in this game as they had possession of the football for 39:08 of the game!

The defense was outstanding for the Texans yesterday.  Rookie LB Brian Cushing had another monster game for the Texans finishing with 10 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, 1 sack, 1 pass defensed and 1 QB hit.  Demeco Ryans (8 tackles) and CB Jacques Reeves (3 tackles, 2 passes defensed and 1 interception) both pitched in for the Texans on D.  The Bills finished up with 204 total yards on offense (97 rushing, 107 passing) in this game.  The Texans are now 5-3 on the season.