Where: Ford Field (turf, indoors)
When: Thursday, 12:30 p.m. ET (CBS)
Spread: Texans by 3.
Records: Texans (Overall: 9-1, AFC South: 3-0); Lions (Overall: 4-6, NFC North: 0-4)
Past results: Two most recent meetings -- Oct. 19, 2008: Texans 28, Lions 21. Sept. 19, 2004: Lions 28, Texans 16. Series record: Tied 1-1.
What matters: The Texans barely escaped a big upset Sunday, beating the Jaguars 43-37 at home in overtime. Now, Houston has to travel on a short week to take on the Lions on Thanksgiving. It is the first time a team from Houston has played on Thanksgiving since 1992, when the Oilers beat the Lions 24-21. The trip to Detroit begins a crucial three-game road stretch for the Texans as they try to maintain their lead for the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs, and, after Sunday’s performance, it is an opportunity on a national stage for Houston to reassert itself as one of the dominant teams in the league.
Who matters: Texans WR Andre Johnson played one of the best games of his career Sunday, catching 14 passes for 273 yards and the game-winning 48-yard touchdown pass in overtime against Jacksonville. QB Matt Schaub also had a career day, completing 43 of 55 passes for 527 yards, five touchdowns, and two interceptions. The 527 yards was tied for the second-highest single-game total in NFL history. DE J.J. Watt is second in the league with 11.5 sacks and has gotten to the quarterback in eight of Houston’s 10 games this season.
Key matchups: Houston’s secondary is coming off a disappointing performance against Jaguars backup QB Chad Henne, who threw for 354 yards and four touchdowns. The Lions lead the league with 301.8 passing yards per game. Lions WR Calvin Johnson has 1,117 receiving yards, tops in the NFL, and the Houston defensive backs will have their hands full trying to keep him in check. Texans CB Kareem Jackson, who struggled last week against Jaguars rookie WR Justin Blackmon, will have to step up if CB Johnathan Joseph is unable to play due to his hamstring strain.
Injuries of note: Joseph left Sunday’s game against Jacksonville in overtime with a hamstring strain. Coach Gary Kubiak said Monday that Joseph, LB Tim Dobbins (shoulder), NT Shaun Cody (ribs/back) and WR DeVier Posey (knee/hamstring) would probably be game-time decisions. RB Ben Tate (hamstring) did not practice Monday, but Kubiak believes he has a “good chance” of playing against Detroit after missing the last two games.
Inside stuff: Rookie WR Keshawn Martin has come on as of late. He scored his first career touchdown in the first quarter Sunday on a 9-yard pass from Schaub. Martin also made a big impact in the return game, averaging 32.4 yards on five kick returns and returning a punt 71 yards. He was close to breaking a couple of his returns for touchdowns, and it feels like it is just a matter of time before that happens.
Connections: Texans T Andrew Gardner and Lions WR Calvin Johnson played high school (Sandy Creek HS, Tyrone, Ga.) and college (Georgia Tech) football together.
Stat you should know: RB Arian Foster has rushed for more than 100 yards in five consecutive road games, dating back to last year. Foster leads the league with 10 rushing touchdowns, but the Lions have allowed just three rushing touchdowns all season, which is tied for second in the NFL.
Bulletin board quote: DE Antonio Smith on his Thanksgiving football memories: “The only game I would ever watch is Dallas. Sorry Texans, but I grew up a Dallas fan. I’m ashamed to say that now. I didn’t watch no Lions games. I only watched Dallas games. I just remember always seeing that, I used to think it was real, but now I know how they make it, the turkey with all the different legs on there. That was like one of my favorite things about Thanksgiving.”
Looking ahead: The Texans travel to take on Tennessee next week before a trip to New England for Monday Night Football on Dec. 10. This three-game stretch beginning in Detroit should be telling for the Texans.
Prediction: Texans 24, Lions 20
Follow Texans blogger Sean Bielawski on Twitter, @CBSTexans.
