Schaub- Rodgers duel may hinge on blocking
IfMatt Schaub can’t get Andre Johnson more involved in the passing gamed, whatwill he do? Johnson had one catch for 15 yards against the Jets. He has 17 catches for 283 yards and two touchdowns this season. If the Packers are able to shut down Johnson, Schaub still has a lot of weapons. Tight end Owen Daniels is off to the best start of his career, with 23 receptions for 311 yards and three touchdowns. He looks quicker, faster and more sure of himself than any time since he underwent major knee surgery in the 2009 season. Daniels has been blocking a lot because the running game has been so productive. He excels on crossing routes and finding open spots in zone coverage. He has been excellent after the catch, too. Get the University ofWisconsin graduate the ball as much as possible. Will the Texans be able to run the ball against the Packers like they ran against the Jets? Even though coach Gary Kubiak likes to come out with Matt Schaub throwing to get him into a nice rhythm, his first priority is to run the ball to control the clock. The Texans rank sixth in rushing with 143 yards a game, and they’re first with a 35: 29 average time of possession. The Packers are 17th against the run, allowing 114.2 yards. Defensive coordinator Dom Capers, the former Texans head coach, will have a game plan to try to contain Arian Foster, who has averaged 99.2 yards a game rushing over the last three seasons. He’s on a pace for an NFL- record 422 carries. The key is for Ben Tate to take some of the load off Foster like he did in the rout of Jacksonville. If the game comes down to a passing duel betweenMatt Schaub andAaron Rodgers, who do you think will win? Schaub is on a roll, with nine consecutive victories dating to last season. He has 13 touchdown passes and three interceptions in that span. This season, Schaub has been exceptional with the ball. He’s throwing it away when receivers aren’t open. He has two interceptions and has been sacked three times. If the blockers can keep players like outside linebacker Clay Matthews off Schaub, he could have an exceptional game. Rodgers is coming off the greatest season in history— 45 touchdowns, six interceptions and a 122 rating. This season, he’s hindered by injuries to receiver Greg Jennings, a porous offensive line and a running game that generated only 95 yards per game before losing Cedric Benson for the year. Rodgers has been sacked 21 times. The Texans have a plus- 13 sack differential. Expect Rodgers to make big plays as a runner, too. Will left tackle Duane Brown be able to contain ClayMatthews? Brown is having another outstanding season. He has allowed only two sacks in two seasons. Matthews, who leads the NFL with eight sacks, is a relentless edge rusher who never lets up. He has developedmoves, and he also moves around. Matthews has the same kind of motor as J. J. Watt, who has 7 ½ sacks. Brown is smart, quick and experienced. He can move his feet and he has great hands. He doesn’t get bull- rushed because he plants his feet solidly and doesn’t get knocked off balance. If he gets beat with an initial move, he’s good at redirecting. This is going to be the best and most interesting matchup of the game. With Trindon Holliday being waived and claimed by Denver, what canwe expect fromthe Texans’ return teams? If the blocking isn’t better for rookie receiver Keshawn Martin, who’ll return kickoffs and punts, than it was for Holliday, the Texans still will be among the worst return teams in the league. One reason the Texans drafted Martin is because they believe he can become a terrific return man. They planned to use him in preseason, but Holliday was extraordinary, with three touchdowns. They don’t have to have touchdowns, but they do want better field position. The Packers have been outstanding on punt coverage, allowing an average of 6 yards. Their kickoff coverage has been mediocre, surrendering an average of 27 yards. Special- teams coordinator Joe Marciano said the Texans returned to the basics in practice. We’ll find out if that works any better.