Notes worth noting as the Texans (3-1) prepare to take on the Oakland Raiders (2-2) in Week 5 at Reliant Stadium – streaks, milestones within reach and other tidbits about the team, its players and its opponent.
Kudos to the Texans' communications staff for providing much of the information.
Team Notes
The Texans are looking to go 4-1 for the first time in team history. They have never been three games over .500.
The Texans are 5-8 all-time without All-Pro wide receiver Andre Johnson. They were 2-1 last season, including a 31-24 victory at Oakland.
The Texans are one of three teams (Baltimore, Detroit) in the NFL in the top 10 in scoring offense (eighth/26.8) and scoring defense (fourth/17.5).
The Texans are one of three teams (Dallas, San Diego) in the top 10 in yards on offense (10th/380.0) and defense (10th/323.0).
The Texans have outscored opponents 76-13 in the first half of games this season. They have the largest first-half scoring differential ( 63) in the NFL. They have scored more points in the first half of games than total points they have allowed all season (70).
Matchup Notes
The Texans are 5-1 all-time against the Raiders, including 2-0 at Reliant Stadium. They beat the Raiders 31-24 at Oakland in 2010.
The Texans and Raiders have the top two rushing offenses in the AFC. Oakland leads the NFL with 178.5 rushing yards per game. Houston ranks second in the AFC and fourth in the NFL with 148.5 rushing yards per game.
The Raiders rank 29th in rushing defense (136.0 yards/game) and 32nd in yards allowed per carry (5.91). The Texans are tied for 18th in rushing defense (108.8 yards/game) and 27th in yards allowed per carry (4.94)
Since the start of the 2010 season, no two NFL running backs have averaged more yards per game than Houston's Arian Foster (100.2) and Oakland's Darren McFadden (95.6).
McFadden has run for at least 150 yards in both of the Raiders' victories. In their two losses, he has a combined 147 rushing yards.
Offense Notes
The Texans lead the league in rushing attempts (137) and rank fourth in time of possession (33:10).
Texans quarterback Matt Schaub is 7-1 at home in October since 2008. He is 18-10 overall at Reliant Stadium with the Texans.
Schaub ranks 26th in pass attempts this season (113) – he was fifth in pass attempts in 2010 (574) and first in 2009 (583) – but his 8.5 yards per attempt and 101.7 passer rating are career-highs. Schaub ranks eighth in the NFL with a 66.5 completion percentage.
Schaub can throw a touchdown pass in his 13th consecutive game this week. That would break the longest streak team history. Schaub also had touchdowns in 12 consecutive games from 11/8/09-10/3/10.
Schaub can record his fourth consecutive game with a passer rating of better than 100, which would be a career first.
Foster can tie Domanick Williams for the most career rushing touchdowns in franchise history with three. Williams rushed for 23 touchdowns from 2003-05. Foster has 20 career rushing touchdowns.
Wide receiver Jacoby Jones started three games for Johnson last season. He had 11 catches for 200 yards (18.2 per catch) in those games, including a career-best 115 yards on five receptions at Denver in Week 16.
Defense Notes
The Texans are tied for fifth in the NFL with 12 sacks, putting them on pace for 48 this season. They had 30 sacks in both 2009 and 2010.
The Texans have the NFL's top red-zone defense. They have held opponents to an NFL-low 60.0 percent efficiency (9-of-15).
The Texans can hold an opponent to less than 20 points for the fourth time. In 2010, they allowed at least 24 points in 14 of 16 games.
Defensive end/Ninja Assassin Antonio Smith can extend his personal-record streak of consecutive games with a sack to five. Smith has recorded a sack in every game this season. He has 4.0 sacks, already just 1.5 short of his career-high (5.5) set in 2007 with the Arizona Cardinals.
Special teams Notes
The Texans have two blocked field goals this season, already tying a franchise season record set in 2003.
Kicker Neil Rackers can move into third place on the Texans' all-time scoring list past Domanick Williams (168 points from 2003-05) with four points.
Rackers can move into 41st place on the NFL's all-time scoring list past Garo Yepremian (1,074 points from 1966-81) with five points.
Rackers can move into 34th place on the NFL's all-time field goals made list past Jim Breech (243 from 1979-92) with one point.
Punter Brett Hartmann (a.k.a. "The Hitman") can set the Texans' record for kickoff touchbacks in a season with one. He has 13 touchbacks this season, tying Rackers' team record set in 2010.
