NFL Week 17: Houston Texans vs. Chicago Bears

Houston Texans tickets feature the offensive onslaught of the Houston Texans taking on the Chicago Bears’ classic D.

Texans vs. Bears Overview:
The Houston Texans defeated their hated rival Tennessee Titans in NFL Week 15 but then got their heads handed to them by the lowly Oakland Raiders. The Chicago Bears need a Christmas miracle to stay in the playoff hunt and a win on Monday Night Football before they head to Houston. The Houston Texans are playing to finish at .500 for the second time in their short franchise history, and that is just as important to fans with Houston Texans tickets as a playoff berth is to the fans of the Chicago Bears. A classic offensive fire vs. defensive steel battle will rage in Reliant Stadium.

Houston Texans Offense:
When running back Steve Slaton and wide receiver Andre Johnson are clicking, nothing can stop the Houston Texans offense, and fans with Houston Texans tickets have seen this first hand. Steve Slaton may already be one of the best RBs in the NFL even as a rookie and is a difference maker on the ground or through the air. Houston Texans tickets will showcase Andre Johnson once again as he makes the Houston Texans offense by demanding double coverage and stretching the field. TE Owen Daniels has really become a great talent and is a perfect compliment to Andre Johnson and Steve Slaton. Quarterback Matt Schaub has Pro Bowl potential as well if he can stay healthy.

Houston Texans Defense:
Fans with Houston Texans tickets have seen their team rise up the defensive ranks in the past few games as aggressive schemes have helped change the tempo of the whole unit. Pro Bowl defensive end Mario Williams has evolved into the true force he was projected to be and is a nightmare for QBs and RBs alike. Houston Texans tickets will feature MLB DeMeco Ryans, who is playing through multiple injuries but will still crack 100 tackles. CBs Dunta Robinson and Jacques Reeves are a solid tandem and the presence of safety Eugene Wilson behind them allows them to take chances.

Chicago Bears Offense:
The Chicago Bears offense also relies on a great rookie RB to make their offense hum, and Matt Forte is a perfect fit for their style. Matt Forte may not have the blazing speed of Steve Slaton, but he is a hammer up the middle and can wear down smaller defenses easily. TEs Desmond Clark and Greg Olsen are a dominant force in the blocking and receiving game. QB Kyle Orton manages the game perfectly and rarely makes a mistake. A fantastic offensive line headlined by C Olin Kreutz can overpower any defensive front they face.

Chicago Bears Defense:
The Chicago Bears run the Tampa-2 defense, and few teams in the NFL run the speedy turnover-hungry protection as well as Da Bears. MLB Brian Urlacher has not lost a step and can control the entire center of the field. OLB Lance Briggs is just as talented as his partner at the second level and hunts down RBs in the open field. The speed trend continues on the defensive line where quick linemen like Alex Brown and Tommie Harris excel at getting penetration on runs and passes. Veteran S Mike Brown reigns as one of the most feared hitters in the NFL.

Houston Texans Keys to Victory:
The loss to the Oakland Raiders showed fans with Houston Texans tickets exactly how important WR Andre Johnson is to the offense. Andre Johnson has to get the ball early and often to open the rest of the offense up. Against the difficult Tampa-2 coverage, both Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson must be on the same page to avoid throwing picks. The small defense of the Chicago Bears can be pushed off the line and FB Vonta Leach could get himself a game ball if he can lower the boom on MLB Brian Urlacher on runs. Fans with Houston Texans tickets know that Steve Slaton needs to break 100 yards on the ground for a victory.

Since there are no real outside receiving threats, the Houston Texans can focus on stopping Matt Forte. LB DeMeco Ryans needs to be protected so he can punish the big runner in the hole. To do this, DTs Amobi Okoye and Travis Johnson have to maintain their gaps and not give up ground. The two TE sets of the Chicago Bears are their most effective passing formations, and safeties Nick Ferguson and Eugene Wilson cannot get burnt by the TEs coming over the middle. CB Jacques Reeves must make sure WR Devin Hester does not make the big play.

Chicago Bears Keys to Victory:
It is a good thing the Chicago Bears love to run because their talent at WR is thin except for the enigma that is Devin Hester. The Chicago Bears will follow the blueprint laid down by the Oakland Raiders and should be able to bully the Houston Texans’ front seven all day with their offensive line. An injured DeMeco Ryans and weak DTs in the center will be a bull’s eye for RB Matt Forte, and the rookie could put up 200 yards if everything fall together. Keeping two men on DE Mario Williams will allow QB Kyle Orton enough time to find his TEs in the middle of the field.

The Chicago Bears may have to abandon their Tampa-2 principles in order to contain WR Andre Johnson. A constant double team on Andre Johnson will force Matt Schaub to go for his mediocre supporting cast in the receiving corps. OLB Lance Briggs and TE Owen Daniels could be the matchup of the game as the TE is the only legitimate second receiver on the Houston Texans roster. Containing Steve Slaton is the second priority on the list, and the overall team speed of the Chicago Bears should keep the rookie from running wild. QB Matt Schaub will turn the ball over if pressured.

Texans vs. Bears Outlook:
The venue of Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas, will be filled with a rare energy as the Houston Texans try to make history while the Chicago Bears hang on to fading playoff hopes. Fans with Houston Texans tickets will be cheering on their offense in hopes of seeing a thrilling victory like that over the Tennessee Titans. Both teams are very physical in the running game, and there will be plenty of three-and-outs to be had. The Chicago Bears and Houston Texans will exchange body blows for all four quarters, and the icemakers in the training rooms will be on overdrive.

The one advantage the Houston Texans have over the Chicago Bears in an otherwise dead-even matchup is Andre Johnson, and fans with Houston Texans tickets know this. The Houston Texans wide out has more talent himself than the entire Chicago Bears receiving crops combined. This makes the Houston Texans a two-dimensional offense that can hit every part of the field. The Chicago Bears offense is great at the run, but they simply do not have weapons on the outside to match the back-and-forth offensive slugfest with the Houston Texans. Fans with Houston Texans tickets should see their team reach .500 for the second-consecutive season.