Week 14 Wraps Up With Texans at Patriots: Preview & Result

Houston visits New England on Monday Night Football

The 11-1 Texans travel to the Northeast to face the 9-3 Patriots, and it’s a first-class tilt on many levels. Houston is the only undefeated road team (6-0) in the league, while New England has been to the Super Bowl as Eastern Conference champions five times since 2001.

Both have won six in a row, and both could conceivably meet in the playoffs. Quarterback Matt Schaub has stayed healthy and has been productive: 94.5 rating, 64.4 completion percentage, 21 TDs versus nine INTs and only three fumbles with none lost. Since 2011, no QB has had a better record than Schaub (18-4). Defensive end J.J. Watt has been a revelation; he’s proven to be so adept at knocking down passes at the line of scrimmage that the Patriots have been preparing for him in the past week’s practices by using racquetball paddles to simulate his uncanny ability at disrupting offenses.

Because of their balanced attack, the Texans have led the NFL in time of possession at about 34 minutes per game from nearly the start of the season, both at home and on the road. With so many targets on offense — including running back Arian Foster, wide receiver Andre Johnson and tight end Owen Daniels — it’s difficult for defenses to key on any one player.

Of course, the same can be said for the Patriots. Having a world-class pivot like Tom Brady leading their attack gives them many options on offense because of his ability to distribute the ball evenly and effectively. The emergence of running back Stevan Ridley has spread defenses, who also can’t forget about the deadly dual tight-end threat of Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez, along with the receiving corps led by Wes Welker and Brandon Lloyd.

The key here could be Schaub himself. In his second start as a professional, while as a member of the Atlanta Falcons, Schaub started in place of an injured Michael Vick against New England on Oct. 9, 2005; he went on to complete 18 of 24 passes for 299 yards, two TDs and no interceptions and managed to rally the Falcons to a 28-28 score late in the game, only to fall 31-28 on a last-second field goal.

Prediction: Schaub was selected in the same draft as Eli Manning, Philip Rivers and Ben Roethlisberger, and has been waiting to be seen as worthy of consideration in the same elite class. Keeping their road record intact against such a formidable opponent would add to the credibility of both Schaub and Houston as contenders for the Eastern Conference title. The point spread favors the home team, but it will be Houston which comes out on top and lets Schaub get his revenge. Texans 27, Patriots 24.

RESULT: The Texans are no longer undefeated on the road as they took it on the chin courtesy of the New England Patriots 42-14 on Monday night.