The Texans need a win and some help to make the playoffs for the first time in team history so they should be focused while the Patriots are playing for the #3 seed in the playoffs so it’s quite possible that they will take it easy tomorrow.  With the Patriots likely not completely motivated tomorrow the Texans should try to jump them immediately by throwing the ball down the field.  If the Texans give Schaub time to throw the ball he will likely combine with Andre Johnson to torture the Patriots’ secondary.  Look for Arian Foster to lend some ground support to Schaub in the game tomorrow.

The Texans won’t likely see much of Tom Brady tomorrow and if that is a fact they should be blitzing undrafted rookie QB Brian Hoyer a lot.  But, if the Patriots are resting their receivers too then they will likely lean on the running game.  That means that they will be challeging Pro Bowl linebackers Demeco Ryans and Brian Cushing with their very average set of RBs.

PREDICTION:  TEXANS 30, PATRIOTS 17