NFL Week 6: Houston Texans vs. Miami Dolphins

Texans look to change their fortunes as the turnaround Miami Dolphins come to town for a great matchup.

Texans vs. Dolphins Overview:

The Houston Texans (0-4) and Miami Dolphins (2-2) seem to be going in opposite directions. The Houston Texans are coming off one of the most stunning losses in NFL history thanks to a miracle victory by the Indianapolis Colts. In the meantime the Miami Dolphins were the worst team in the NFL in 2007 but are making a comeback after two upset wins over the New England Patriots and the San Diego Chargers. The Houston Texans have a historic advantage when playing the Miami Dolphins, and they hope history repeats in Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas.

Houston Texans Offense:

Rookie RB Steve Slaton is the heart of the Houston Texans offense and has been one of the few bright spots for the Houston Texans. Steve Slaton can run outside the tackles or right up the gut and is a master of the screen as well. WR Andre Johnson is the best player on the Houston Texans offense but needs to get the ball more. The Houston Texans offensive line has gone from a famous weakness to a strength thanks to rookie LT Duane Brown and Coach Alex Gibbs. The Houston Texans QBs Matt Schaub and Sage Rosenfels have both played poorly this season.

Houston Texans Defense:

Mario Williams already has four sacks, and the Houston Texans defensive end will rack up plenty more before the season is over. MLB DeMeco Ryans is a tough hombre and pairs with Mario Williams to give the Houston Texans a Pro Bowl defensive core to build around. DT Amobi Okoye was a fly in Peyton Manning’s ointment and will also be a big factor in chasing around Chad Pennington. The pass rush by Mario Williams helps out the young Houston Texans secondary immensely, taking pressure off of CBs Jacques Reeves and Fred Bennett.

Miami Dolphins Offense:

Running back Ronnie Brown has gone from injury-prone backup to NFL star in only a few weeks. Utilizing the direct snap in the Miami Dolphins “Wildcat” formation, Ronnie Brown has brought a new craze to football and is now the leader of the Miami Dolphins offense. RB Ricky Williams is also experiencing a career revival in the backfield along with fellow forgotten star QB Chad Pennington. WR Ted Ginn is also coming into his own and is a huge factor in the return game as well. First overall pick LT Jake Long has been the catalyst for the offensive turnaround.

Miami Dolphins Defense:

The 3-4 alignment of the Miami Dolphins defense has quickly caught on with their personnel after a painful growing period. OLBs Jerry Porter and Matt Roth have destroyed opposing quarterbacks in the previous two wins. Rookie DEs Kendall Langford and Philip Merling are also contributing big in the pass-rush game. SS Yeremiah Bell leads the Miami Dolphins secondary and is one of many new faces making a difference. The Miami Dolphins secondary has not forced many turnovers, but their front seven has made up for it.

Houston Texans Keys to Victory:

Steve Slaton would have carried the Houston Texans to victory over the Indianapolis Colts if it weren’t for the turnovers of Sage Rosenfels in the final minutes. Steve Slaton will again get plenty of touches in a effort to slow the pass rush. LT Duane Brown has struggled against the 3-4 so far and will have to do a great job against Joey Porter. TE Owen Daniels is a weapon and has to work the middle of the field for the Houston Texans to be successful. Matt Schaub or Sage Rosenfels must get the ball deep to Andre Johnson to free up Steve Slaton.

The Houston Texans need to stop the running game of the Miami Dolphins. The newness of the Wildcat formation has worn off, but that hasn’t stopped it from being successful. Mario Williams must continue to be a force in the running and pass games to allow DeMeco Ryans a chance to make plays on Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams. The lack of a true receiving threat means that the Houston Texans can stack the box against the run. The Houston Texans CBs must get a good bump on Ted Ginn to keep him from getting deep.

Miami Dolphins Keys to Victory:

The Miami Dolphins have ridden Ronnie Brown to victory thus far, and things shouldn’t change much. The surprise of the Wildcat may be gone, but it is still an effective formation and could get a lot of play-action work. The battle between first-overall picks in Houston Texans DE Mario Williams and Miami Dolphins LT Jake Long could be an epic battle and is where the game will be won and lost. QB Chad Pennington will have to make some key throws to keep the chains moving and to keep the Houston Texans honest.

The Miami Dolphins know that the Houston Texans offensive line is weak against the 3-4 and they will take advantage of it. Duane Brown did a great job against Dwight Freeney but is facing a different kind of monster in OLB Joey Porter. The new Miami Dolphins defense has yet to face a pure speed back like Steve Slaton and adjustments must be made to contain him. Constant exotic blitzes from the 3-4 defense should cause major pressure on the Houston Texans QBs. Both Matt Schaub and Sage Rosenfels have been prone to turnovers under pressure.

Texans vs. Dolphins Outlook:

At this stage in the NFL season the Houston Texans and Miami Dolphins are on very different paths. The Miami Dolphins have defeated two hated enemies soundly while the Houston Texans have back-to-back close losses to key rivals. The Houston Texans are also coming off the best year in franchise history while the Miami Dolphins are trying to forget a 1-15 season. The two teams do have running backs becoming stars in front of our eyes in Ronnie Brown and Steve Slaton.

The Miami Dolphins have a new culture of winning and most importantly they have momentum. The Houston Texans have a load of talent, but right now it is completely unrealized with the exceptions of Mario Williams, DeMeco Ryans, and Steve Slaton. The Houston Texans have also never lost to the Miami Dolphins and are playing at home. In a game of history vs. momentum it appears that momentum will win out. The Houston Texans will fight hard, the score should be close, and it could very well be a game that will shift the momentum to the Houston Texans camp.