Update: Arian Foster receives 29 touches in Week 12 win

[Vin+ 3,121]

TIME: 01:00 P.M. EST

VENUE: EverBank Field

 

 

 

With Matt Schaub out for the season, it will likely fall on Matt Leinart to lead the Houston Texans to their first playoff berth.

 

Leinart might have some help in his first start for the team, as All-Pro wide receiver Andre Johnson is expected to return from injury for Sunday's road meeting with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

 

Leinart didn't take a snap in 2010 after signing with Houston and hasn't started consecutive games since 2007 while with Arizona, which drafted him No. 10 overall the previous year. That will likely change for the former Heisman Trophy winner after Schaub was placed on injured reserve Wednesday and the Texans signed Kellen Clemens.

 

Schaub will need surgery after hurting his right foot during a 37-9 win in Tampa on Nov. 13.

 

"I've just got a job to do, be efficient and get the guys and this team in the right situation," Leinart said. "I'm extremely bummed for Matt, just because of what he's put into this organization and to get us to this point. At the same time, it's an opportunity for myself to step up."

 

Leinart takes over with Houston (7-3) leading the AFC South by two games over Tennessee and seeking the first five-game win streak in team history.

 

Houston and its new quarterback will likely get some help in that quest with Johnson expected to play for the first time since Oct. 2.

 

Johnson, who missed the past six games because of an injured hamstring, had nine catches for 146 yards and a touchdown in his previous matchup with Jacksonville last November.

 

"It's a great offense to be a part of," Leinart said, "and now we get the best receiver in the NFL back, which is awesome to have. That's going to be great."

 

Johnson wasn't in the lineup during a 24-14 victory over the Jaguars (3-7) on Oct. 30. Schaub passed for a touchdown and ran for another in that game, and Arian Foster rushed for 112 yards and a TD.

 

Houston, seeking its first three-game win streak in this series and first victory in Jacksonville since 2006, will face a Jaguars team that's coming off a bitter defeat.

 

Instead of handing the ball to Maurice Jones-Drew, the Jaguars chose to let rookie quarterback Blaine Gabbert try two passes from the 1-yard line in the final seconds of a 14-10 loss in Cleveland last Sunday. They also let 28 seconds elapse after Jones-Drew picked up a first down inside the 5-yard line on that same drive.

 

"If I could do it again, I'd like that play to be pulled off a little quicker so that we would get a fourth down there," coach Jack Del Rio said. "In the end, we had two really, really good looks at the end zone - well-designed plays that gave us a chance."

 

Gabbert topped 200 yards for the second time last week but didn't fare nearly as well last month in Houston. He connected on a career-worst 33.3 percent of his passes (10 of 30) for 97 yards and was picked off twice.

 

Gabbert might have another tough game this weekend, as the Texans are giving up a league-low 269.7 yards per game and are second in the NFL with averages of 16.6 points and 178.4 passing yards allowed.

 

In addition to its strong performance against Gabbert, Houston held Jones-Drew - the NFL's second-leading rusher with 941 yards - to a season-low 63 on 18 carries.

 

Jones-Drew averaged 98.3 rushing yards and scored five touchdowns while leading Jacksonville to three straight victories over the Texans before the consecutive losses in the series.

 

Foster, averaging a league-best 148.1 yards from scrimmage, has run for 292 yards and scored three TDs in those back-to-back wins for Houston. However, he was held to 56 yards on 15 carries during the previous visit to Jacksonville.

 

The Jaguars won that game 31-24 when Mike Thomas caught a deflected 50-yard touchdown pass as time expired.

 

Jacksonville has won four in a row at home over Houston with the last three games decided by seven points or fewer.

 

Copyright 2011 by STATS LLC and The Associated Press.

Edited November 27, 2011 by BLUE

[RazorStar 4,025]

Matt Leinart shows he can manage a game part one:

 

24

14

[CARDINAL 205]

27

 

14

[Vin+ 3,121]

Andre Johnson is active and in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against Jacksonville.

 

He's all systems go and should be played with confidence in fantasy leagues.

 

The Texans' inactives are QB Kellen Clemens, CB Brandon Harris, OG Thomas Austin, FB Lawrence Vickers, DE Tim Bulman, TE Garrett Graham, and OT Andrew Gardner.

 

 

 

Jaguars declared NT Terrance Knighton, DE Aaron Kampman, DE Matt Roth, QB Dan LeFevour, WR Brian Robiskie, TE Fendi Onobun, and C John Estes inactive for Week 12 against the Texans.

 

The Jags are also without starting CBs Rashean Mathis and Derek Cox, who have both been placed on injured reserve over the past two weeks. As was WLB Clint Session. Ultimately, the Jaguars will be without five starting defenders on Sunday plus their top situational rusher in Aaron Kampman. The Texans' rushing offense should be able to overwhelm them in this game.

[RazorStar 4,025]

TJ Yates is in. Wow, the Texans have to bank their first playoff chances of the year on a rookie QB.

[BLUE 1,026]

Per Rotoworld.com:

 

Arian Foster managed just 65 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries, but caught seven passes for 24 yards in the Texans' Week 12 win over the Jaguars.

In PPR, it was a 22-point game. Foster benefited from Matt Leinart's check-down tendencies early, but struggled to find room to run against a Jaguars front seven that performed surprisingly well despite the absences of NT Terrance Knighton, WLB Clint Session, and DEs Matt Roth and Aaron Kampman. Keep Foster rolling when the Texans face the Falcons in Week 13. Nov 27 - 4:23 PM