Texans-Bills Preview

VIDEO PLAYLIST

• Countdown Daily Recap: Texans-Bills

SCOUTING REPORT

Texans-Bills: 10 observations After breaking down film of both teams, Scouts Inc. offers 10 things to watch in this week's Texans-Bills matchup. 1. Don't let the Bills' running game beat you: Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson have been impressive. They both run with power and have very solid all-around natural running skills. Still, Jackson is the better player of the two and the Bills do not seem to realize this. Lynch and Jackson also are very good receivers out of the backfield. Expect to see Buffalo run a lot of screens to DE Mario Williams' side of the field in an attempt to slow down his threatening blind-side rush.

· Full Scouting Report

Matchup
	W-L	PF	PA	HOME	ROAD	DIV	CONF
HOU	5-5	232	208	2-3	3-2	1-3	4-4
BUF	3-7	155	228	1-3	2-4	1-2	1-6
· Complete Standings

Individual Leaders

Houston Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Schaub 67.1 2958 19 9

Buffalo Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Edward... 60.2 1170 6 7 Fitzpa... 51.9 659 3 6

Houston Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Slaton 121 380 3.1 3 Moats 54 220 4.1 3

Buffalo Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Jackso... 129 528 4.1 0 Lynch 87 272 3.1 1

Houston Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Johnso... 58 878 15.1 5 Daniel... 40 519 13.0 5

Buffalo Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Owens 35 563 16.1 2 Evans 28 396 14.1 5

Full Player Stats: Houston | Buffalo

TEAM AVERAGES & NFL RANKS
TEAM OFFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Total Yards	HOU	371.0
	BUF	276.0
Yards Passing	HOU	284.0
	BUF	173.5
Yards Rushing	HOU	87.4
	BUF	102.2
TEAM DEFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Yards Allowed	HOU	333.4
	BUF	366.7
Pass Yds Allowed	HOU	212.8
	BUF	200.8
Rush Yds Allowed	HOU	120.6
	BUF	165.9

HEAD TO HEAD MATCHUPS (SINCE 2001)
Buffalo leads 3-2
Nov 19, 2006	HOU 21, @BUF 24
Sep 11, 2005	HOU 7, BUF 22
Nov 16, 2003	HOU 12, BUF 10
Oct 13, 2002	HOU 24, @BUF 31

Andre Johnson's injury could allow somebody else to step up and make plays for the high-scoring Houston Texans. Ryan Fitzpatrick has been doing that for the Buffalo Bills, taking advantage of the opportunity he got when Trent Edwards went down.

With both teams seeking their third straight win, the Texans may be without their Pro Bowl receiver Sunday against the Bills, who have gotten some much-needed steady play at quarterback from Fitzpatrick.

Houston (4-3) won for the third time in four games last Sunday, 24-21 over San Francisco, but Johnson suffered a bruised lung and is listed as day to day. He will undergo several blood tests to make sure he is recovering properly.

The three-time Pro Bowler has 38 catches for 634 yards and four touchdowns. If he misses any time, Kevin Walter and David Anderson will get more opportunities in an offense that is averaging 26.6 points per game since a season-opening 24-7 loss to the New York Jets on Sept. 13.

Tight end Owen Daniels' role would likely also increase. He has had a strong season, with 38 catches for 497 yards and a team-high five TDs.

"He's finding the holes in the defense and I've been trying to get him the ball so we can make plays, and he's been doing an excellent job," quarterback Matt Schaub said.

It would take a group effort to make up for the loss of a top target such as Johnson. Buffalo (3-4), meanwhile, probably could have used a change at quarterback far before Edwards suffered a concussion in the second quarter of a 16-13 win over the Jets on Oct. 18.

Edwards, who will miss his second straight game, has struggled, losing nine of the last 12 games in which he has taken the majority of the snaps. Fitzgerald, signed by the Bills as a free agent in the offseason, has won five straight, including three to close last season with Cincinnati while replacing injured starter Carson Palmer.

Fitzpatrick has helped Buffalo win two in a row, the most recent a 20-9 victory over Carolina last Sunday, and coach Dick Jauron has refused to commit to who will start once Edwards is healthy. Fitzpatrick doesn't have gaudy passing numbers, but has mostly avoided turnovers while still taking occasional shots down the field.

He has completed 21 of 47 passes for 239 yards with two TDs and an interception.

Schaub, meanwhile, has keyed Houston's improvement. He has already set a franchise record with a career-high 16 TD passes this season.

Schaub had two touchdown throws versus the 49ers, and it was his first game without an interception since Week 2.

"He doesn't turn the ball over," coach Gary Kubiak said of Schaub, who has five INTs this year. "That's the difference in us winning and losing."

Houston's defense has allowed six passing TDs in the last three games, but it has gotten vastly improved play against the run. The Texans allowed an average of 48.5 yards rushing in their last four games after surrendering an NFL-worst 205.0 in their first three contests.

"It's been very good for the past month," Kubiak said. "I think that's going with the success of our team here in the past few weeks because our defense has stepped it up and played so well. We had a lot of ground to make up and hopefully we can keep going."

Houston, though, is still surrendering too many points, allowing an average of 22.0 in the last three games. The Texans gave up three touchdowns to San Francisco after quarterback Shaun Hill was benched for Alex Smith at halftime.

"We're good, but we still strive to be great," Houston linebacker DeMeco Ryans said. "We've got to get consistent and play the entire game. We do have the potential to be great. We have the right guys and the right goals."

This will be the first meeting between the Texans and Bills since Nov. 19, 2006, when Buffalo won 24-21 at home. Lee Evans had 205 yards and two 83-yard TDs in the first quarter for the Bills, finishing with 11 catches for 265 yards.

Evans had a season-high five catches for 75 yards and a touchdown last week.

Source: Martz interested in Bills coaching job

Finally, a Super Bowl coach has surfaced with genuine interest in becoming the Bills' next head coach. Mike Martz wants the gig, a league source told ESPN.com.

Bills' Wood still recuperating from broken leg

Bills rookie guard Eric Wood continues to recuperate in a Jacksonville hospital three days after breaking two bones in his left leg.

Texans lose Wilson for season with broken toes

Texans safety Eugene Wilson will have season-ending surgery to repair a pair of broken toes on his left foot.

Outsiders: Week 12 previews

Football Outsiders analyzes Week 12 in the NFL. Ideas: Oakland isn't THAT bad; Reggie Bush is poised for a big game vs. New England; Pittsburgh needs to play better in the second half; David Garrard gets knocked around too much and a plan for Houston.

June brings Texans leadership, big-game experience

Cato June's jewelry sets him apart from other players battling for roster spots with the Texans.

Solomon: Robinson has strange number, inspiring rise

Even after we saw him make plays, impact plays even, last season, something about DelJuan Robinson just doesn't look right on the Texans' defensive line.

Best wide receiver on planet, Andre Johnson, expected to get better

Missed Part 1? Check out the previous post here . ] The best addition to Texans All Access for those of us who have little desire to stand in large lines getting autographs was the "Coaches Corner" which were Q&As that 610's Rich Lord did with the Texans offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator and special teams coach.

Texans' Smith looks to bring rush opposite Williams

Mario Williams has become a ferocious pass rusher in his three NFL seasons. Too bad the Texans haven't had any pressure coming from the opposite end since he was drafted.

Texans hoping Smith supports Williams

HOUSTON - Mario Williams has become a ferocious pass rusher in his three NFL seasons.

Kim brings new tips to Bills' defenders

The Buffalo Bills have a martial arts expert working with their players this week.

Bills' Maybin offers path to success

Buffalo Bills rookie defensive end Aaron Maybin asked a question of about 180 high school football players getting ready to practice at the team's fieldhouse Tuesday evening.

BILLS: Road back for Bowen nearly complete

The road has always been long for Alvin Bowen. Originally, Bowen's football odyssey took him from New Jersey to a Kansas junior college, then later to Iowa State - a long way from a New York City suburb.

BILLS: Corner not afraid of competition

Good thing Reggie Corner isn't afraid to come back clawing and scratching after getting picked on.

To Help at Receiver, Buffalo Adds Fire to Ice

Count Lee Evans as a fan of Terrell Owens . With teams preparing for the coming season, keep up with all the off-season news on the Times's pro football blog.