The Houston Texans (4-5) and the New York Jets (7-2) enter Week 11 having experienced opposite ends of the emotional spectrum the last two weeks. Houston has suffered consecutive heartbreaking losses where the ball literally did not bounce its way. Meanwhile, New York became the first team in NFL history to pull out back-to-back overtime wins on the road, defeating Detroit and Cleveland.
It's obvious which team is hoping for a change of fortune when the teams kick off at the New Meadowlands Stadium on Sunday at noon CT.
The Texans were on the wrong end of a Hail Mary last week against Jacksonville, losing on the final play of regulation when David Garrard's pass was knocked down, straight into the arms of Mike Thomas as time expired for the deciding points in a 31-24 loss at Jacksonville. The fashion in which the Texans lost only added insult to injury in the team's third defeat in a row.
Houston will look to get back on track against the Jets, who have one of the NFL's toughest defenses, ranking fifth overall and giving up 306.7 yards per game. The Texans tout the NFL's sixth-ranked offense behind the league's best rushing-receiving duo in RB Arian Foster and WR Andre Johnson.
Foster leads the NFL in rushing with 920 yards, scoring among non-kickers with 66 and 1,239 yards from scrimmage. Johnson leads the team with 52 receptions and ranks fourth in the league with 781 yards receiving. He has recorded at least 100 yards receiving in three of the last four games.
The Texans defense will face the NFL's No. 4 rushing attack. Led by veteran RB LaDainian Tomlinson and RB Shonn Greene, the Jets average 150.7 yards on the ground per game. The Jets also lead the NFL with a 28.6 average on kickoff returns and have one of the league's top returners in WR Brad Smith, who ranks second in the NFL with a 29.8 kickoff return average.
Houston is 0-4 in the all-time series against the Jets, including 0-2 on the road. The teams last met in the 2009 season opener, a 24-7 Jets win at Reliant Stadium. Houston last played the Jets in New Jersey in 2006, losing 26-11.
