The Texans scored the last 21 points of the game yesterday to prevail showing a ton of heart.  Matt Schaub was very effective once again for the Texans as he completed 24 of 39 passes for 303 yards with 2 TD passes and 1 INT.  Arian Foster was excellent yesterday as he rushed for 119 yards on 20 carries (6.0 ypc) with 2 TD runs and he also added 3 receptions for 26 yards (8.7 avg).  TE Joel Dreessen led the way for the Texans in the passing game with 6 receptions for 81 yards (13.5 avg) with a TD grab.  WRs Andre Johnson (6 rec, 65 yards) and Jacoby Jones (5 rec, 65 yards, TD) also had solid games for the Texans yesterday.  The Texans finished up with 439 total yards on offense (144 rushing, 295 passing) in this game.

Safety Bernard Pollard led the way for the Texans in this game with 6 tackles, 1 pass defensed, 1 interception and he recovered a fumble in the end zone for a TD.  Demeco Ryans (7 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss), Glover Quin (7 tackles, 2 passes defensed) and Dunta Robinson (7 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss) also pitched in on a decent effort by the Texans’ D yesterday.  The Patriots finished up with 317 total yards on offense (74 yards rushing, 243 passing) in this game.  The Texans finished with a winning record (9-7) for the first time in frachise history by they were eliminated from the playoffs last night when the Jets pounded the Bengals.

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

The Texans have placed 23-year old strong safety Dominique Barber on the Injured Reserve List ending his season due to a hamstring injury.  Barber played in 13 games this season for the Texans and he made 33 tackles, defensed 4 passes and he had 1 interception.  The Texans have re-signed 31-year old safety Brian Russell to replace Barber on the roster.  Russell played in 2 games for the Texans earlier this season making 1 tackle.  He has played in 11 games overall this season with the Jags+Texans in which he has 13 tackles.

The Texans are sending four players to the Pro Bowl in Miami unless of course they are playing in the Super Bowl.  28-year old WR Andre Johnson has made the Pro Bowl once again.  He has played in 15 games this season and he has caught 95 passes for 1,504 yards (15.8 avg) with 9 TD grabs.  Rookie linebacker Brian Cushing is one of three rookies (Jairus Byrd, Buffalo and Brian Orakpo, Redskins) to make the Pro Bowl.  22-year old Cushing has played in 15 games this season and he has made 128 tackles, 8 tackles for a loss, 4 sacks,  1 forced fumble, 10 passes defensed and 4 interceptions.  What a great pick Cushing was last April by the Texans.  25-year old linebacker Demeco Ryans earned a trip to Miami also.  He has played in 15 games for the Texans this season and he has made 116 tackles, 10 tackles for a loss, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble and 2 passes defensed.  24-year old DE Mario Williams will also make the trip.  Williams played in 15 games for the Texans this season and he has made 41 tackles, 6 tackles for a loss, 2 forced fumbles, 3 passes defensed and he has 8 sacks.  It looks like the defense is starting to finally catch up with the offense for the Texans and that means they have a very bright future.

The Texans jumped the Dolphins early in this game as they were leading 27-3 at halftime but then they had to hold off a furious second half comeback from the Fins to prevail.  Matt Schaub was very effective as usual as he completed 20 of 31 passes for 286 yards with 2 TD passes and 1 INT.  Arian Foster led the way on the ground for the Texans in this game with 19 carries for 97 yards (5.1 ypc) with 1 TD run.  Ryan Moats pitched in with 23 yards rushing on 8 carries (2.9 ypc) and he also caught 4 passes for 39 yards (9.8 avg).  Andre Johnson had another solid game with 5 catches for 71 yards (14.2 avg) with a TD catch.  Jacoby Jones was also very effective in this game with 2 grabs for 79 yards (39.5 avg) with a TD grab.  The Texans finished up with 406 total yards on offense (126 rushing, 280 passing) in this game.

LBs Demeco Ryans (11 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss) and Brian Cushing (9 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, 1 sack, 1 pass defensed, 1 QB hit and 1 interception).  The Dolphins finished up with 363 total yards on offense (60 rushing, 303 passing) in this game.  The Texans are now 8-7 on the season as they have kept their playoff hopes alive.