TODAY, 1 P.M., RELIANT STADIUM, HOUSTON, CH. 13
SCOUTING REPORT
Ravens run offense vs. Texans run defense
EVEN -- Besides the fumbling problem, the Ravens' running game has been hit or miss recently. In the past eight games, running back Jamal Lewis has rushed for over 94 yards four times and been held under 49 yards four times. When Lewis averages over 4 yards per carry, the Ravens are 4-0. Houston's 22nd-ranked run defense is deceptive. Defensive linemen Gary Walker and Seth Payne are aggressive in the team's 3-4 scheme, and the Ravens know the skills of linebacker Jamie Sharper. The Texans are allowing just 4.1 yards per carry, which is 12th best in the league.
Key stat: 5. Opposing running backs who have cracked 85 yards in the Texans' 13 games.
TEXANS -- Ravens pass offense vs. Texans pass defense
Ravens quarterback Jeff Blake has been erratic, but the blame can be shared for the league's second-worst passing attack. Travis Taylor continues to disappear, Todd Heap continues to draw double coverage and Ron Johnson continues to drop passes. Against the opportunistic Texans, Blake has to make sound judgments. He has been picked off in five of seven starts. The backbone of the Texans' 11th-ranked pass defense is their cornerbacks, Aaron Glenn and Marcus Coleman, who won't be afraid to challenge the Ravens' receivers. Houston has seven interceptions in its past five games.
Key stat: 48. Percent of Blake's passes completed in the past four games.
Texans run offense vs. Ravens run defense
RAVENS -- Although the Ravens struggled in bringing down New Orleans running back Deuce McAllister last week, they face a less formidable challenge in Houston running backs Jonathan Wells and James Allen. The Texans have the 30th-ranked run offense in the league and are averaging 3.3 yards per carry. Houston has been held to 80 rushing yards or fewer in three of its past four games. The Ravens' defensive front, which has gotten pushed around lately, gets a chance to re-establish itself.
Key stat: 0. Number of Texans' 100-yard rushers.
Texans pass offense vs. Ravens pass defense
RAVENS -- A Ravens pass rush that has only four sacks in four games is looking to rev itself up against the Texans. Expect the Ravens to bring a lot of stunts and inside blitzes to confuse Houston. The Ravens' Peter Bouwlare should have a field day against the Texans' slow tackles, Ryan Young and Chester Pitts. Cornerback Chris McAlister needs to regain his focus against Houston receiver Corey Bradford, the Texans' only legitimate deep threat. Bradford has one catch in the past three games.
Key stat: 68. Sacks allowed by Houston, which is five away from the NFL single-season record.
Special teams
EVEN -- With two of the lowest ranked offenses, punts will play a major role. The Ravens' Dave Zastudil is having a solid rookie season despite two of his punts being blocked last Sunday, and Houston's Chad Stanley is having a Pro Bowl-type season, leading the league with 29 punts inside the 20-yard line. The Ravens catch a break with former teammate Jermaine Lewis sidelined with a sprained ankle. Avion Black and Jabar Gaffney will take over for Lewis.
Intangibles
RAVENS -- The Ravens are 3-1 against teams with losing records. Focus shouldn't be a problem since a loss would put the Ravens' long-shot playoff hopes in serious jeopardy. In games following a victory, the Texans have lost by an average 24 points and been held to only a field goal.
Prediction
RAVENS -- Although it's been an up-and-down season for the Ravens, they have consistently handled the league's lower-tier teams. But as usual, it won't be easy. Ravens, 20-13.
BREAK DOWN
Records
Ravens 6-7 Texans 4-9
Line
Ravens by 3
Vs. spread
Ravens 8-5 Texans 7-5-1
Series
First meeting
NFL rankings
Ravens offense: Rush (15), pass (31), overall (29).
Ravens defense: Rush (14), pass (24), overall (23).
Texans offense: Rush (30), pass (32), overall (32).
Texans defense: Rush (22), pass (11), overall (14).
Quick hits
The Ravens' defense ranks fifth in the NFL in average yards allowed per carry (3.7).
In 25 career NFL starts, Ravens RB Jamal Lewis is averaging 91.8 rushing yards per game.
Texans rookie David Carr is on pace to pass for 2,548 yards, which would be the third most by a quarterback of a first-year expansion team.
A victory today would give the Texans their first consecutive wins.
Injuries
RAVENS: Doubtful: CB Tom Knight (leg). Questionable: QB Chris Redman (back). Probable: C Mike Flynn (leg); CB Chris McAlister (shoulder); S Raymond Perryman (back).
TEXANS: Doubtful: WR Jermaine Lewis (ankle). Questionable: OT Ryan Young (knee). Probable: WR Atnaf Harris (hip).
STARTING LINEUPS
Ravens offense
WR 83 Ron Johnson
LT 75 Jonathan Ogden
LG 64 Edwin Mulitalo
C 62 Mike Flynn
RG 66 Bennie Anderson
RT 77 Ethan Brooks
TE 86 Todd Heap
WR 89 Travis Taylor
QB 11 Jeff Blake
FB 39 Alan Ricard
RB 31 Jamal Lewis
Texans defense
LE 96 Gary Walker
NT 91 Seth Payne
RE 95 Jerry DeLoach
OLB 52 Kailee Wong
ILB 56 Jay Foreman
ILB 55 Jamie Sharper
OLB 98 Jeff Posey
CB 31 Aaron Glenn
CB 42 Marcus Coleman
SS 24 Eric Brown
FS 26 Matt Stevens
Texans offense
WR 86 Jabar Gaffney
LT 69 Chester Pitts
LG 70 DeMingo Graham
C 76 Steve McKinney
RG 61 Fred Weary
RT 74 Ryan Young
TE 82 Billy Miller
WR 85 Corey Bradford
QB 8 David Carr
FB 47 Jarrod Baxter
RB 32 Jonathan Wells
Ravens defense
LE 98 Tony Weaver
NT 97 Kelly Gregg
RE 96 Adalius Thomas
OLB 90 Cornell Brown
ILB 56 Ed Hartwell
ILB 51 Bernardo Harris
OLB 58 Peter Boulware
CB 21 Chris McAlister
CB 28 Gary Baxter
SS 42 Anthony Mitchell
FS 20 Ed Reed
INSIDE SLANT
George Kokinis, the Ravens' assistant director of player personnel, sizes up the Texans:
Strength
Defense. Nine of 11 players started in the league last year. The defense is in the top 10 in third-down efficiency, yards per play and first downs given up.
Key matchup
Ravens' pass protection vs. Texans' blitzes. How the Ravens' running backs pick up the pressure and how quarterback Jeff Blake reacts to the blitz are keys. The Texans bring heat, and their linebackers can run. The outside guys can rush, with Jeff Posey (eight sacks, 17 QB pressures) and Kailee Wong (5 1/2 sacks, 21 pressures). And inside linebacker Jamie Sharper has picked up his game the past two weeks. Sharper has a knack for rushing the passer and can knock over running backs.
Play to watch
Trips Right 97 Y Shallow Pivot. It's a pass play designed to clear out room for tight end Billy Miller to go over the middle and give quarterback David Carr a quick read. Miller is lined in tight on the right side while three receivers flank to the left. The far receiver runs a go route down the left sideline. The inside receiver runs a 10-yard pattern on the left side to extend the defense as well. The slot receiver, who lines up in the middle of the other two receivers, runs a pivot -- a 5-yard route over the middle -- that should freeze the defenders. Miller now has space to run a shallow crossing route just beneath the slot receiver.