Texans @ Jets Preview: Offense
The Houston Texans have seen a trend so far this season of playing against teams that have drastically less talent than they do and that trend will continue tonight against the New York Jets.
While the Texans are a better team on both sides of the ball, their offense should have a field day tonight even without premier running back Ben Tate.
September 30, 2012; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub (8) warms up before a game against the Tennessee Titansat Reliant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-US PRESSWIRE
Matt Schaub
It recently came out that the Jets had aggressively pursued the Texans’ signal caller when he was being shopped by the Atlanta Falcons in 2006. Schaub will likely try to prove the Jets right tonight as he will have mismatches all over the field with Darelle Revis out for the year with an ACL tear.
While it is possible that Schaub could put up video game numbers this week in a game that could break the Jets’ spirits for the remainder of the season, especially considering they were obliterated last week by San Francisco, don’t expect it. The 49ers were able to beat the Jets in every aspect of the game and not many teams in this league will allow that to happen two weeks in a row. The Texans will beat the Jets decisively tonight, but a 34-0 game is unlikely.
The Jets have been abysmal in nearly every category this year, except passing defense. Andre Johnson should be able to have a pretty good day picking on Antonio Cromartie and the tight ends should continue their success against lethargic looking linebackers, but Schaub will probably keep his stats pretty close to his season average of just over 200 yards per game.
Namas..Forsett?
With Ben Tate missing tonight’s game with a toe injury it is likely that Justin Forsett should see a considerable number of carries against a team that has allowed the second most rushing yards in the league at over 172 yards per game. If you had Tate starting in a fantasy league tonight I would certainly consider picking up the speedy Forsett who the Texans picked up this offseason to give their offense an added dimension.
If their run defense continues to be the sieve it has been thus far this year, look for Arian Foster to have an enormous game. Last week he was stifled by an all around bad run defense team in Tennessee and it is unlikely that he will allow that to happen two weeks in a row.
The Texans will win this game by a lot and their lead will grow late in the second half as their two-headed monster running game continues to pound it down their throats.
Wide Receivers
As I said earlier Andre Johnson could see his second 100-yard receiving game of the season tonight as he is going to be manned up on by Antonio Cromartie as opposed to the shutdown corner, Revis. I expect Schaub to go at Andre early and often tonight and he should lead all receivers by the end of the night.
The tight ends will continue their success tonight, what isn’t known is which one will step up tonight. Personally, I say it will be James Casey as he tends to get the biggest mismatches on his delay routes whereas Garrett Graham won’t see enough time and Owen Daniels will be bracketed by a linebacker and safety for a majority of the night.
Hopefully tonight will be the night we see a resurgence in the running backs as receivers. Whether it means Foster finally starts making catches as opposed to dropping everything that comes his way, or Forsett breaks a screen open doesn’t really matter, just so long as we can create receiving yards out of the backfield.
August 30, 2012; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans running back Justin Forsett (28) and center Ben Jones (60) celebrate after a rushing touchdown during the second quarter by Forsett against the Minnesota Vikings at Reliant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-US PRESSWIRE
Offensive Line
Last week saw the Texans seven-man rotation at offensive line earn them the Madden Protectors Award, for the best offensive line of the week. They should largely succeed again this week against a team that has virtually no pass-rushers and a sub-par secondary.
If the Texans are able to do what they want, which is quick three-step drops, play-action bootlegs and running the football, the offensive line’s job shouldn’t be hard and they should shine again this week.
My Prediction: The Texans will win tonight by a score of 38-10.