Week 11 preview: Houston Texans vs Oakland Raiders

The Houston Texans enter week 11 with a 7 game losing streak. Both Arian Foster and Brian Cushing are out for the season, they have made a QB change that has helped but hasn't turned into wins, and just released their biggest offseason acquisition over this past week. Seems like the wheels are falling off in Houston, but the Texans still want to play as if the playoffs were in sight. Sure having 7 losses already really hurts, but if they win out they could make the playoffs and that's the teams goal.  Next up for Houston, the Oakland Raiders a team struggling as well. The 2-7 Texans need a win badly, it's been 2 months since they've won a game. Here are  3 keys to the Texans getting a win this week.

Running the ball: The Texans are going to be without their star RB Arian Foster for the rest of the year. Ben Tate will have to pick up the workload now in the backfield. The Texans haven't had a 100 yard rusher since the Seattle Seahawks came to Houston in week 4 of the season. That's going to have to change if they plan on ending this 7 game losing streak on Sunday. It would help QB Case Keenum by forcing the Raiders to actually respect the run and not key in on pressuring the QB. If the Texans are able to actually get the ground game going this week might end in a win.

Protect Case Keenum: After starting just about every game he's played in on fire Texans QB Case Keenum starts to struggle when teams start bringing the heat. The Texans were a team known for their ability to run the ball, but since Keenum's took over as the starter they've been using more pistol and shotgun formations. This has directly effected of the gamelan of the Texans. The offensive line has struggled to pick up the blitzes and protect Keenum as of late, and that must change if the Texans hope to beat a Raiders defense that's finally coming around as a unit. Keenum can make plays if he's given time to, the Texans must make keeping him clean a priority this week.

Keep Terrell Pryor contained: Terrell Pryor has been exactly what I thought he would be as a QB. He's agile, makes plays with his feet, and can throw nice passes on the run. The Texans can't allow him to show any of these abilities this week if they hope to win this game. Much like the Seahawks game I expect Wade Phillips will spy Pryor with OLB Whitney Mercilus to keep him from taking its out of the pocket. While Pryor has shown some great flashes he's yet to show he can beat a team with just his arm this season. The Texans have to make him do that to win this game Sunday. If the Texans can keep Pryor in the pocket and force him to use his arm and mot his legs it'll be in their favor.  The more time Pryor's in the pocket the more time the front 7 has to get to him and make plays, something they've struggled with this season.

Week 9 preview: Houston Texans vs Colts

Keys to the offense:

Case Keenum: With Matt Schaub now healthy enough to play the Texans have decided to stick with the 2nd year QB as their starter. Keenum through for nearly 300 yards and a TD in his last outing against a stingy Chiefs defense. If Keenum can play another turnover free game the Texans should have a good chance at winning a tough home game against the Colts this week. The key will be keeping Keenum clean in the pocket against Robert Mathis and a Colts defense that's been pretty good at putting pressure opposing QB's.

RB play: Last time the Texans played they ended their game without a healthy RB. Both Arian Foster and Ben Tate were hurt during the game and they were down to using FB Greg Jones. Foster has been listed as a game time decision, and though Tate plans to play he'll be nursing broken ribs. The Texans signed a a couple players they had through the preseason in Deji Karim and Dennis Johnson this past week. Though they both might be somewhat familiar with the Texans playbook they'll be limited in action this week for sure. The Texans are going to need to be able to run the ball effectively to keep the Colts defense guessing, and help keep Keenum upright in the pocket.

Keys on defense:

Getting after Andrew Luck: If the Texans aren't able to put pressure on Andrew Luck on Sunday it's going to be a long day for the defense. The Texans didn't record a sack in the last game they played before their bye. That team was the Rams and their QB then was Sam Bradford. Playing Colts team without injured veteran WR Reggie Wayne the Texans will be looking to bring extra pressure and force Luck into some bad passes. Luck hasn't been sacked more than twice in a game since week 2, the Texans will be looking to get to Luck this week and attempt to change that.

Stopping the run: With Brian Cushing hurt for the year the Texans will be looking for solid games from both Joe Mays and Daryl Sharpton this week. The Texans waived veteran LB Tim Dobbins last week.and now have just Mays, Sharpton, and rookie Justin Tuggle playing ILB. With the injury to Reggie Wayne it'll be big to limit the Colts on the ground and force them to use those WR's to make plays. The Texans have yet to allow a 100 yard rusher this season and will be looking to keep that streak alive facing RB Trent Richardson and this Colts rushing attack.