Houston Texans (8-3)

<b>Remaining schedule</b>: vs. Atlanta (7-4); at Cincinnati; vs. Carolina (3-8); at Indianapolis; vs. Tennessee (6-5).<br>
<br>
<b>Their chances</b>: About three weeks ago, the <a class="taxInlineTagLink" id="ORSPT000043" title="Houston Texans" href="/topic/sports/football/houston-texans-ORSPT000043.topic">Texans</a> were anointed the team to beat in the <a class="taxInlineTagLink" id="ORSPT000000250" title="American Football Conference" href="/topic/sports/football/american-football-conference-ORSPT000000250.topic">AFC</a>. They had one of the league's top-ranked defenses, the reigning <a class="taxInlineTagLink" id="ORSPT000007" title="National Football League" href="/topic/sports/football/national-football-league-ORSPT000007.topic">NFL</a> rushing champion in <a class="taxInlineTagLink" id="PESPT000008974" title="Arian Foster" href="/topic/sports/football/arian-foster-PESPT000008974.topic">Arian Foster</a>, and a solid quarterback in <a class="taxInlineTagLink" id="PESPT00008908" title="Matt Schaub" href="/topic/sports/football/matt-schaub-PESPT00008908.topic">Matt Schaub</a>. <a class="taxInlineTagLink" id="PESPT00008939" title="Andre Johnson" href="/topic/sports/football/andre-johnson-PESPT00008939.topic">Andre Johnson</a>, one of the league's best wide receivers, was close to returning from a hamstring injury, further brightening the Texans' outlook.<br>
<br>
Then Schaub was lost for the season two weeks ago with a foot injury, and backup <a class="taxInlineTagLink" id="PESPT0012684" title="Matt Leinart" href="/topic/sports/football/matt-leinart-PESPT0012684.topic">Matt Leinart</a> broke his collarbone Sunday, leaving the quarterback position in the hands of T.J. Yates, a rookie fifth-round pick out of North Carolina.<br>
<br>
Houston appears set with Yates as the starter, and his first task will be trying to beat a <a class="taxInlineTagLink" id="ORSPT000032" title="Atlanta Falcons" href="/topic/sports/football/atlanta-falcons-ORSPT000032.topic">Falcons</a> team Sunday that has won five of its past six games.<br>
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The <a class="taxInlineTagLink" id="ORSPT000161" title="Baltimore Ravens" href="/topic/sports/football/baltimore-ravens-ORSPT000161.topic">Ravens</a> have already beaten the Texans this season -- a 29-14 decision in Week 6 -- and are 5-0 against them all time.
bal-uspw-20111127_lbm_9020111128182438

( US Presswire / November 27, 2011 )

Remaining schedule: vs. Atlanta (7-4); at Cincinnati; vs. Carolina (3-8); at Indianapolis; vs. Tennessee (6-5).

Their chances: About three weeks ago, the Texans were anointed the team to beat in the AFC. They had one of the league's top-ranked defenses, the reigning NFL rushing champion in Arian Foster, and a solid quarterback in Matt Schaub. Andre Johnson, one of the league's best wide receivers, was close to returning from a hamstring injury, further brightening the Texans' outlook.

Then Schaub was lost for the season two weeks ago with a foot injury, and backup Matt Leinart broke his collarbone Sunday, leaving the quarterback position in the hands of T.J. Yates, a rookie fifth-round pick out of North Carolina.

Houston appears set with Yates as the starter, and his first task will be trying to beat a Falcons team Sunday that has won five of its past six games.

The Ravens have already beaten the Texans this season -- a 29-14 decision in Week 6 -- and are 5-0 against them all time.

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