The Jets need a victory to stay in the AFC wild card chase, while the Texans can take control of the AFC South with a victory. Houston knocked the Bengals from the undefeated ranks on Monday night and could be poised to wrestle control over a weak division. They’ll have to do it with backup to the backup quarterback T.J. Yates, who gets the start over concussed Brian Hoyer.
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ODDS ANALYSIS
Given the uncertainty at the quarterback position for both sides, the line and total have yet to hit the board. Hoyer has been ruled out for Houston with a concussion, while the Jets say Ryan Fitzpatrick will start despite having thumb surgery on his non-throwing hand Nov. 13.
KEY INJURIES
Sheldon Richardson – Is questionable to play after injuring his hamstring in the Jets most recent game, a win over the Bills on Nov. 12. Leonard Wilkerson or Leger Douzable could slide into the defensive end spot vacated by Richardson.
Brian Hoyer – Is out with a concussion. The Texans’ quarterback was injured on a sack in the third quarter Monday night. Recently signed T.J. Yates took over and will start Sunday. The Texans claimed Brandon Weeden off waivers from the Cowboys and have Zac Dysert on the practice squad to take over the backup role.
KEY MISMATCH
The Texans claimed Weeden off the waiver wire but it’s Yates who gets the starting nod against New York. Originally selected by Houston in the fifth round of the 2011 NFL draft, Yates played three years with the team before signing with the Falcons a season ago. He returned to Houston when the club parted ways with Ryan Mallett. A career backup, Yates has attempted 181 passes in his five year career, completing 109 of them. He’s thrown for 1,233 yards with four touchdowns and seven interceptions and has a quarterback rating of 71.9. Yates stepped up Monday night in a surprising win over the previously unbeaten Bengals, throwing the game-winning touchdown pass to DeAndre Hopkins. But while he does have a playoff victory to his name, Yates is an unproven NFL quarterback. His first start this season will be a challenging one, facing the Jets defense which is one of the best in the league. Look for New York to amp up the pressure and Darrelle Revis will be glued to Hopkins much of the night. It could be ugly for Yates and the Texans.
KEY STAT
20.4 – Houston’s 26th-ranked points per game average. The Texans take on the No. 4 overall defense and the ninth-ranked scoring defense at 20.4 points per game.
BETTING ANGLE
While with the Texans last season, Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick went 3-0 against two of his former teams, Buffalo and Tennessee. It’s not that he’s vindictive or anything, but the bearded one admits “being cut or sent away definitely matters to me a little bit.” If so, the Texans should be worried. Houston didn’t cut Fitzpatrick, but they sent him away, trading him to the Jets. Texans coach Bill O’Brien was moving on to Brian Hoyer, who he just acquired as a Cleveland castoff, or Ryan Mallett, both believed by O’Brien to be better fits in his offense. Now Mallett is gone and Hoyer is in concussion protocol. Fitzpatrick will start nine days removed from surgery on his thumb. So what, it was only his left one. Fitzpatrick wasn’t going to pass on this opportunity.
ANALYSIS AND ODDS PREDICTION
The Texans are inspired and confident after knocking off the Bengals last week and grabbing a share of first place in the AFC South. But they aren’t that good of a football team. Let’s face it, Cincy gift-wrapped last week’s victory with some costly mistakes. Houston was just good enough to take advantage against a team that had an off-night. Though Yates had the game-clinching scoring pass last week, it’s hard to imagine him leading the Texans to a win over a desperate, and pretty good, Jets club. And this is just the opponent for the Jets, who desperately need a win. New York’s defense should dominate while forcing Yates into some costly mistakes. The Texans will never establish a running game and Fitzpatrick will play with a chip on his shoulder.
New York 24, Houston 10
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