NFL Week 10: Houston Texans vs. Baltimore Ravens

Houston Texans tickets feature the Houston Texans’ high-octane offense and Baltimore Ravens’ thundering defense!

Texans vs. Ravens Overview:
The Houston Texans and Baltimore Ravens are coming off very different games. The Houston Texans’ three-game winning streak came to an abrupt end against the Minnesota Vikings, while the Baltimore Ravens scored 17 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to beat the arch rival Cleveland Browns. Each team brings a different philosophy to the field of play, and momentum will also play a factor. Fans with Houston Texans tickets will see their team’s dynamic offense pitted against the complex defense of the Baltimore Ravens.

Houston Texans Offense:
Fans with Houston Texans tickets and the Houston Texans team do not know if Matt Schaub or Sage Rosenfels will start at quarterback in Week 10 due to injury. Both have similar skill sets, and both have also shown to be mediocre against good defenses. WR Andre Johnson is the true leader of the Houston Texans offense, and the October NFL Player of the Month is the best player at his position. With Andre Johnson occupying so many DBs, TE Owen Daniels is able to run amok in the center of the field. Houston Texans tickets feature rookie RB Steve Slaton, a speedy threat who can catch the ball and burn defenses when he finds the open field.

Houston Texans Defense:
The Houston Texans defense is led by DE Mario Williams who has seven sacks this season and is a monster in the running game as well. MLB DeMeco Ryans is a favorite of fans with Houston Texans tickets, but the Pro Bowl player has been beaten up all year thanks to poor defensive-tackle play. OLB Zach Diles has emerged as a great player and leads the Houston Texans in tackles. FS Eugene Wilson gives a new dimension to the Houston Texans secondary and can be a ballhawk. CB Dunta Robinson continues his epic return to the field from a devastating injury.

Baltimore Ravens Offense:
The Baltimore Ravens offense has always been based around the power run, and they continue to pound this philosophy and the rock straight down opponents’ throats. RBs Willis McGahee, Ray Rice, and Le’Ron McClain form a great trio of runners that runs the spectrum from speed to power. FB Lorenzo Neal is a human-battering ram and opens holes for all three. Rookie QB Joe Flacco has been gold since day one and rarely makes rookie mistakes. WR Derrick Mason is a veteran weapon that helps Joe Flacco. The Baltimore Ravens offensive line is huge and aggressive.

Baltimore Ravens Defense:
The Baltimore Ravens defense is run by master defensive coordinator Rex Ryan and balances between the 3-4 and 4-3. With differing alignments and blitzes, the Baltimore Ravens can catch offensive lines off guard. DE/DT Haloti Ngata is the best player on the Baltimore Ravens defensive line and takes multiple blockers to stop. OLB/DE Terrell Suggs is the chief pass rusher but also plays well in coverage. ILB Ray Lewis is on his way to the NFL Hall of Fame but still plays at a high level. The Baltimore Ravens secondary is injured, but depth lets them play at a high level.

Houston Texans Keys to Victory:
Week in and week out, fans with Houston Texans tickets know that when WR Andre Johnson plays well the team wins. The Houston Texans would like to get the ball to Andre Johnson deep, but to do so they must protect the quarterback. The Houston Texans offensive line has struggled against large linemen and the 3-4 defense, so Sage Rosenfels/Matt Schaub will be under pressure. RB Steve Slaton has to be a big factor in both the running game and on screens. If Steve Slaton can put up good numbers, then Andre Johnson and Owen Daniels can exploit the injured secondary.

The Baltimore Ravens make it no secret that they want to run the ball and the Houston Texans must stop this. The undersized DTs got pushed around by the Minnesota Vikings and were shoved right into the lap of DeMeco Ryans. The Houston Texans have to keep linemen off Zach Diles and DeMeco Ryans if they want to have any chance against the Baltimore Ravens run game. Mario Williams will get after Joe Flacco and should get a sack or two. If Mario Williams can force Joe Flacco into mistakes, Dunta Robinson, Jacques Reeves, and Eugene Wilson must capitalize.

Baltimore Ravens Keys to Victory:
Getting their blockers to the second level is the top priority of the Baltimore Ravens offense. If they can get blockers into the face of DeMeco Ryans, then the platoon of running backs should have no problem racking up big yards. The DTs of the Houston Texans have proven to be terrible against the run, and the middle will be wide open. Keeping account of Mario Williams is key for QB Joe Flacco, and he must stay aware in the pocket. Joe Flacco doesn’t need to be a hero but must be careful with the football and keep the chains moving.

Getting penetration against the Houston Texans offensive line on running plays will disrupt their zone-blocking scheme. RB Steve Slaton is dangerous in the open field and loves the cutback lanes, so ILBs Ray Lewis and Bart Scott must fill the gaps. The interior of the Houston Texans offensive line is weak and should get collapsed by the likes of Haloti Ngata and NT Justin Bannan. Blitzes from OLBs Terrell Suggs and Jarrett Johnson to the outside of the Houston Texans line will put pressure on the QB and will stunt the deep routes of Andre Johnson.

Texans vs. Ravens Outlook:
The Houston Texans and Baltimore Ravens have very different philosophies on defense and offense, and this always makes for an intriguing matchup for pure football fans. Fans with Houston Texans tickets know that their offense can cut up opposing secondaries thanks to great weapons. Against mediocre secondaries and pass rushes, the Houston Texans QBs can throw deep to Andre Johnson and into the flats to Owen Daniels with impunity. With talent at WR, TE, and RB, the Houston Texans offense has potential to be great.

The Houston Texans are undersized on both the defensive and offensive lines, and this spells disaster for them against the Baltimore Ravens. The Baltimore Ravens like to outmuscle their opponents in the trenches and usually win when they do. Fans with Houston Texans tickets have seen their favorite team fall apart in the battle of the lines all year, and this trend will likely continue. Coupled with a shaky QB situation, the Houston Texans will have a stark disadvantage against the marauding Baltimore Ravens.