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Texans Wide Receiver Andre Johnson
DOLPHINS VS. TEXANS
GAME FACTS
Date: Sunday, Dec. 20
Time: 1:00 p.m. ET
Site: Land Shark Stadium; Miami, Fla.
TV: CBS
THE SERIES
SERIES RECORD: Houston leads 4-0
AT MIAMI: Texans lead 1-0
AT HOUSTON: Texans lead 3-0
LAST MEETING: 2008 at Houston; Texans 29, Dolphins 28
SERIES HIGHLIGHT: This series has been about nothing but heartache for the Dolphins, but the one positive we can find was the breakout performance of running back Patrick Cobbs in last year's game. He scored on touchdown receptions of 53 yards (on a flea-flicker out of the Wildcat) and 80 yards (on a screen pass) as he established himself as another weapon on the Dolphins offense.
SERIES LOWLIGHT: The loss in the 2003 season opener in Miami not only was heartbreaking, it was shocking on top of it. The Dolphins had won their previous 11 openers while the Texans were coming off a 4-12 showing in their first year in the NFL, so no one saw this one coming. The Dolphins seemed in control leading 14-6 in the third quarter before David Carr connected with Corey Bradford for a 78-yard touchdown pass, and then a Jay Fiedler interception set up Kris Brown's game-winning field goal with 25 seconds left.
SCOUTING REPORT
HOUSTON'S RECORD: 7-7
LAST GAME: Beat St. Louis, 16-13
OVERVIEW: The Texans still have a shot at producing the first winning season since entering the NFL in 2002, but this has been a season of wasted opportunities. Houston, in fact, should be in much better shape in terms of the playoff picture had the Texans been able to make plays at the end of games. Kicker Kris Brown missed game-tying field goals in losses to Indianapolis and Tennessee, and the Texans lost to Jacksonville and Arizona on a fumble at the goal line and on a goal-line stand, respectively.
THE HOUSTON OFFENSE: This clearly is the strength of this team, and it's all about the passing game. Quarterback Matt Schaub already has passed for more than 4,000 yards (4,181) and he has an impressive passing rating of 98.9. Of course, it helps that he has at his disposal wide receiver Andre Johnson. The former University of Miami star has 90 catches for 1,433 yards and eight touchdowns and he continues to make a case as the best receiver in the NFL. He's been particularly devastating the last two weeks, with 193 yards against Seattle and 196 against St. Louis. He burned the Dolphins for 10 catches and 178 yards in last year's matchup and kept alive Houston's game-winning drive with a fourth-down catch. With tight end Owen Daniels on injured reserve, the Texans don't have another receiver who demands anywhere near the amount of attention as Johnson, so double-teaming him the entire game would make sense. Houston had a solid running game last year when Steve Slaton starred as a rookie, but it's been nonexistent in 2009. Slaton is on injured reserve, the Texans have problems in short-yardage situations, and they rank tied for last in both rushing yards per game and rushing yards per attempt.
THE HOUSTON DEFENSE: This is where the Texans have made great strides since last season. After finishing 22nd in total defense in 2008, they rank 12th after 14 games this year. The Texans' run defense was massacred early in the season as the Jets, Titans and Jaguars racked up 190, 240 and 185 yards, respectively. But it has been very good since then, with the one exception being the rematch against Tennessee. Houston has active linebackers in former NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year DeMeco Ryans and 2009 first-round pick Brian Cushing, and former Dolphins defensive tackle Jeff Zgonina also has played a significant role. The Texans rank near the middle in run defense, and the same holds true for the pass defense. Safety Bernard Pollard and Cushing are tied for the team lead with three interceptions apiece. Former first overall pick Mario Williams easily is the team's best pass rusher - he has eight sacks on the season. He had two sacks in last year's meeting, so left tackle Jake Long will have his hands full with him. Houston is on a nice roll overall with its pass rush, with 12 sacks in the last four games.
THE HOUSTON SPECIAL TEAMS: The Dolphins are all too familiar with returner Jacoby Jones, who turned last year's game around with a punt return for a touchdown. Jones hasn't scored on a punt return this year, but he has scored on a kickoff return (95 yards against Oakland). Still, Jones is averaging an impressive 11 yards per punt return this season. Houston punter Matt Turk, who had two different stints with the Dolphins, has helped the Texans' punt coverage with good hang time all season.
LOOKING AHEAD
JAN. 3 - PITTSBURGH AT MIAMI
The Dolphins face a tough assignment to close out the regular season as they play host to the defending Super Bowl champions in a game that could have major playoff implications. A five-game losing streak put the Steelers on the brink of playoff elimination, but their miraculous last-second victory over Green Bay on Sunday kept them alive heading into Week 16 action.
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