Texans at Jaguars
THE STORY: The Houston Texans begin life with a new quarterback and will try for their first five-game winning streak in team history when they visit the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. Quarterback Matt Schaub is out for the season with a foot injury and Houston will turn to Matt Leinart, who hasn’t started since 2009 and hasn’t started consecutive games since 2007. Leinart will be aided by the return of All-Pro wide receiver Andre Johnson, who missed the last six games with a hamstring injury, and a defense at or near the top of the NFL in every major statistical category. The Texans had last week off after their 37-9 rout at Tampa Bay on Nov. 13. Jacksonville lost 14-10 at Cleveland last week and is four games behind Houston in the AFC South. The Texans, who have lost four straight at Jacksonville, are off to their best 10-game start in franchise history.
TV: CBS, 1 p.m. ET. LINE: Texans -3.5, O/U 37.5
ABOUT THE TEXANS (7-3): The combination of a two-game lead over Tennessee – plus Arian Foster and a strong defense – should be enough to get Houston into the playoffs without its No. 1 quarterback. The Texans are No. 2 in the NFL with 158.1 yards per game and No. 1 in total defense at 269.7 yards, including second against the pass and fourth versus the run. They are also No. 2 in points allowed (16.6). Leinart is 7-10 as a starter, including 4-7 in his rookie season with Arizona in 2006. Only two of Houston’s final six games (Atlanta, Cincinnati) are against teams in playoff position.
ABOUT THE JAGUARS (3-7): Jacksonville, which lost to Houston 24-14 on Oct. 30, has alternated wins and losses for the last four games. Running back Maurice Jones-Drew is a model of consistency, though. He is second in the NFL with 941 yards (Eagles’ LeSean McCoy, 1,019) despite always receiving the most attention from opposing defenses every week. Rookie quarterback Blaine Gabbert is last in the NFL with a 64.4 rating as he continues his on-the-job training. Jacksonville is last in the NFL in offense at 249.5 yards per game, but has the No. 3 defense at 300.2 yards.
EXTRA POINTS:
1. Houston signed Kellen Clemens, who will serve as the No. 3 quarterback Sunday. Rookie T.J. Yates is No. 2.
2. Foster leads the NFL with 148.1 yards from scrimmage per game.
3. Following the last six games in which the Texans have scored 30 or more points, the under is 6-0.