Texans at Ravens
THE STORY: The Baltimore Ravens are among the AFC’s elite. The Houston Texans, who visit Baltimore on Sunday in a matchup of first-place teams, are trying to join them, but haven’t matched the hype that seems to grow every year. Losing their best offensive and defensive players in back-to-back weeks won’t help the Texans, and neither will this: Baltimore is 8-1 in its last nine games following an off week, including 3-0 under coach John Harbaugh. Houston fell at home to Oakland 25-20 last week, when it lost its top pass rusher – Mario Williams – for the season.
TV: CBS, 4:05 p.m. ET. LINE: Baltimore -7, O/U 45
ABOUT THE RAVENS (3-1): Baltimore’s No. 2 rushing defense (72.5 yards per game) will be put to the test by Arian Foster and Houston’s No. 5 rushing offense (132.8). The Ravens, coming off a 34-17 rout over the New York Jets on Oct. 2, might try what the Raiders did last week – stack the box with eight players and force Houston quarterback Matt Schaub to pass more. Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco, who is 21-5 at home, is off to a slow start this season with seven touchdowns, three interceptions and a 79.9 rating. He has also completed less than 50 percent of his passes in two different games. The Ravens lead the NFL with 14.3 points allowed per game.
ABOUT THE TEXANS (3-2): Williams, who was tied for fourth in the NFL with five sacks, tore a pectoral muscle. Houston was already without All-Pro wide receiver Andre Johnson, who will likely miss at least another game. He had surgery to repair his injured hamstring last week. The Texans acquired wide receiver Derrick Mason from the New York Jets this week and hope he masters the playbook quickly. Foster missed two of the first three games with a hamstring injury, but ran for 155 yards in Week 4 and had 184 yards (116 receiving) last week. Houston leads the NFL with 15 sacks.
EXTRA POINTS:
1. Mason scored two touchdowns for the Ravens in their 34-28 overtime victory over the Texans last season. Foster rushed for 100 yards.
2. Baltimore has won 12 of its last 13 games at home.
3. Schaub has a sore throwing shoulder, but practiced Friday and said he will play.