Ravens vs. Texans Game Day Primer

The Ravens play their second straight prime time game, this week on the road, versus the Houston Texans.  Houston should be well rested since a road loss to the Eagles on December 2nd. 

Baltimore looks to get its offense into high gear for a run at the post season and faces a defense that has allowed more than 24 points in all but one game this season. Meanwhile, the defense must contain a team that scores in the Red Zone 62.5% of the time. 

The Ravens lead the all-time series 3-0 and last faced the Texans on November 9^th, 2008. In that game rookie QB Joe Flacco was 15 of 23 with two TDs; running back Willis McGahee added another two touchdowns and the defense intercepted QB Sage Rosenfels four times en route to a 41-13 win.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Four of the Texans’ five victories have come at Reliant, including impressive wins over Tennessee (20-0 on 11/28), Kansas City (35-31 on 10/17) and the Colts, 34-24, on opening day (9/12).

• The Ravens are 6-8 all time on Monday Night Football, including a 10-9 victory over the NY Jets in Week 1. Including this week’s game, all five of the Ravens’ MNF games over the past three seasons have been on the road (Ravens are 2-2 in contests played).

• This Monday marks the seventh prime-time game the Ravens will play on the road under John Harbaugh. Baltimore has been scheduled for 10 prime-time games in the Harbaugh Era, and the Ravens are 3-3 in those away contests.

• The Ravens’s defense has a history of playing well on Monday Night Football. Since 2000, when the Ravens have played in 14 MNF games, Baltimore’s “D” has allowed just 17.9 points and 274.6 yards per contest on Monday night. In Week 1 this season at the Jets, the Ravens limited New York to just 9 points and 176 total yards in the 10-9 victory.

• QB Matt Schaub ranks in the NFL’s top 10 in completions (258), attempts (403), completion percentage (64.0) and yards (3,089). He has also thrown 17 TDs to just 8 INTs. RB Arian Foster leads the league with 1,230 rushing yards and 13 rushing TDs. The Texans’ 16 rushing TDs are also an NFL high. WR Andre Johnson is one of just four players in 2010 to surpass the 1,000 receiving yards mark (1,018) and has 71 catches with 5 TDs.

• Houston has allowed a league-high 298.3 passing yards per game and 27 TDs, while the run defense ranks 10th, permitting just 101.4 yards per game. Although Houston’s 19 sacks are the league’s fourth-fewest, DE Mario Williams has accounted for 8.5 QB drops this season.

Below you will find player and team stats comparisons. Check back here each week for the BTN Game Day Primer.