Texans at Saints
THE STORY: The Houston Texans have undergone a transformation. Not from perennial losing team to division title contender – though they've done that, too – but from an offensive-minded team to a squad that leans on a stout defense. That unit, which leads the league in scoring defense and passing defense, will be tested against of the league's top passing offenses when the Texans travel to New Orleans to face the Saints on Sunday. The teams have split the only two meetings, with the home team winning each one. The Texans won the most recent contest, 23-10 in 2007.
TV: CBS, 1 p.m. ET. LINE: New Orleans -4, O/U 53
ABOUT THE TEXANS (2-0): Houston's offense hasn't exactly been sluggish, but the passing numbers have dropped off a bit for QB Matt Schaub, and the Texans have endured a preseason injury to RB Arian Foster, the league's leading rusher last season. Foster was limited to 33 yards on 10 carries last week in his first action of the season. With Foster slowed, RB Ben Tate has rushed for 219 yards – third-most in the NFL – and has a chance to join Cadillac Williams as the only players in NFL history with three consecutive 100-yard rushing games to begin their career.
ABOUT THE SAINTS (1-1): QB Drew Brees and the New Orleans offense will provide a better measure of just how good the Texans' defense is. Since joining the Saints in 2006, Brees leads the NFL in completions (2,078), yards (23,607) and touchdowns (161), and he has won 14 of his past 19 home starts. With WRs Lance Moore and Marques Colston sidelined with injuries, Devery Henderson has been Brees' favorite target and is aiming for his third consecutive 100-yard receiving game.
EXTRA POINTS:
1. Schaub has 1,242 completions with the Texans and needs only two more to surpass David Carr for the most in franchise history.
2. RB Darren Sproles has been the Saints' go-to guy on third down. He leads the league with seven third-down receptions.
3. Foster needs 94 rushing yards to reach 2,000 for his career.