It seems every week the Houston Texans have another Pro Bowl player go down with an injury. But so far the AFC South leaders have prevailed. Without running back Arian Foster in Week 1, Ben Tate filled in and rushed for 116 yards. Since pass rusher Mario Williams was placed on injured reserve after a loss to the Raiders on Oct. 9, the Texans’ defense has allowed just 14.2 points a game. And Houston has actually averaged nearly a point more in the six contests star wide receiver Andre Johnson has missed than the four games he played in this year.
But can the Texans overcome their latest obstacle — being without quarterback Matt Schaub for the remainder of the season?
Houston enters its bye week with a 7-3 record and a 1?-game division lead. And the Texans’ hopes of making the playoffs for the first time in franchise history lies in the hands of Matt Leinart.
After failing to take advantage of several starting opportunities with the Arizona Cardinals, the former Heisman Trophy winner and top-10 pick was released in 2010 and came to Houston to back up Schaub.
Leinart may have struggled in the past, but he finds himself in an ideal position to succeed this time around. He will have last year’s leading rusher in his backfield as well as one of the league’s top receivers once Johnson returns from a hamstring injury. On top of the weapons the Texans have on offense, Houston has the top-ranked defense in the NFL.
So Leinart won’t be asked to carry this team to the playoffs, but rather not screw it up. Even Schaub had a reduced role this season, ranking 27th in the league in pass attempts a game.
If Leinart is able to manage this run-first offense, the winning should continue. But if Leinart — who has 20 interceptions to just 14 touchdowns in his career — reverts to the turnover-prone ways of his past, the franchise-long playoff drought will continue.
– Jeffrey Tomik
