Where: Reliant Stadium, Houston (turf, roof expected to be open)
When: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (CBS)
Spread: Texans by 15.5
Forecast: Temperatures around 70 degrees with a 20 percent chance of precipitation.
Records: Texans (Overall: 8-1, AFC South: 2-0); Jaguars (Overall: 1-8, AFC South: 1-2)
Past results: Two most recent meetings -- Sept. 16, 2012: Texans 27, Jaguars 7; Nov. 27, 2011: Texans 20, Jaguars 13. Series record: Texans lead 12-9.
What matters: The Texans have the best record in the AFC and look to be well on their way to a No. 1 seed in the playoffs. This is Houston’s final home game before hitting the road for three straight, starting with a trip to Detroit next week on Thanksgiving. It might be easy for the Texans to overlook the Jaguars considering what is on the horizon. Jacksonville is tied for the worst record in the league at 1-8 and lost to Houston at home 27-7 in Week 2.
Who matters: RB Arian Foster has been fantastic again this season. Last week against Chicago, he carried the offense with 29 rushes for 102 yards and a receiving touchdown. In Week 2 against the Jaguars, Foster ran for 110 yards and a score while catching six passes for 37 yards. He leads the NFL with 24.6 rushing attempts per game, three more than the next man on the list, Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch (21.2), and five more than Vikings RB Adrian Peterson (19.5).
Key matchups: The Texans defense caused a lot of problems for second-year Jaguars QB Blaine Gabbert in the first meeting. Gabbert was just 7 of 19 for 53 yards and a touchdown, and Jacksonville managed just 117 yards of total offense, a Houston franchise record for fewest yards allowed. Texans DE J.J. Watt gave Jacksonville’s offensive line fits with five tackles, 1.5 sacks, and a fumble recovery.
Injuries of note: RB Ben Tate (hamstring), TE Owen Daniels (back), and NT Shaun Cody (ribs/back) missed last week’s game at Chicago. All have practiced this week at some point, but Tate missed Thursday’s practice after his hamstring injury flared up. DE Antonio Smith missed practice Thursday with an illness.
Inside stuff: Houston’s defense has forced 33 three-and-outs this season and is allowing opponents to convert just 25.2 percent of their third downs. Both of those stats help explain why the Texans lead the league in time of possession at 34:46.
Connections: Texans WR coach Larry Kirksey was on the coaching staff at Jacksonville in 2003. Texans offensive assistant Jim Ryan played at William & Mary in 1974 with Jaguars LB coach Mark Duffner. Texans QB coach Karl Dorrell was the head coach at UCLA when Jaguars RB Maurice Jones-Drew, TE Marcedes Lewis, and LB Kyle Bosworth were there.
Stat you should know: The Jaguars rank dead last in total offense, averaging 263.6 yards per game. That is more than 30 yards fewer than anyone else in the league. Jacksonville has just two rushing touchdowns, which is tied for the fewest in the NFL. Houston is the only team that has not allowed a rushing touchdown this season.
Bulletin board quote: Foster on if this is a trap game for the Texans: “I don't even know who invented that term. They obviously have never played in the NFL before. Jacksonville is a talented team and we're focused. We have a goal in mind. The first part of that goal is this Sunday against Jacksonville.”
Looking ahead: The Texans hit the road for their next three games. Next week, Houston has to travel on a short week to face Detroit on Thanksgiving. The Texans then play at Tennessee on Dec. 2 and at New England on Monday, Dec. 10.
Prediction: Texans 27, Jaguars 13
Follow Texans blogger Sean Bielawski on Twitter @CBSTexans.
