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  • Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub (8) watches from the sidelines during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Dec. 23, 2012, in Houston. The Vikings won 23-6. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

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December 28, 2012

NFL: Texans want to build momentum going into playoffs

By KRISTIE RIEKEN Associated Press

HOUSTON — The Houston Texans need a win this weekend at Indianapolis to secure a bye and home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs.

They also want to build some momentum instead of limping into the postseason, a weird place to be for a team that is 12-3. Houston had a chance to secure home-field advantage with a win last week, only to post its worst offensive performance of the season in a 23-6 loss to the Vikings.

“It’s not important, it’s crucial, because in order for you to get to where you want to be, you have to be playing your best ball,” veteran linebacker Bradie James said. “And that’s what we’ve been working on this week. Guys have been frowning during the holiday time. So that means we should respond well.”

They now have to win at Indianapolis, where the Texans are 0-10. The Colts, who went 2-14 last season, are 10-5 this season and have already secured a playoff spot.

“This is like a playoff game for us,” quarterback Matt Schaub said. “This is a team that is in the playoff themselves and we’re in their building. With all that we can gain from playing well and getting a win on the road, it’s definitely a playoff-type game.”

Schaub and the offense should get a lift from the return of running back Arian Foster, who missed most of the second half of Sunday’s game because of an irregular heartbeat in a game where Houston rushed for a season-low 34 yards. He has practiced all week and coach Gary Kubiak said he will play Sunday.

He said since it had happened to him before, the medical staff knew exactly how to handle it on Sunday.

“Anytime something like that happens that’s unusual, so it concerns you,” Kubiak said. “At least it’s something that they had a little history with and they could deal with.”

This is Houston’s second meeting with the Colts in the last three weeks. Houston’s only win in the last three games came in a 29-17 victory over the Colts two weeks ago.

“I think that’s the biggest thing is to get the confidence,” offensive coordinator Rick Dennison said. “We have a very confident team when we get things going in the right way. I think we will. I think our guys will respond.”

Though much of the focus this week has been on the poor play of the offense, the defense is also looking to get better in its last game before the postseason. Defensive end J.J. Watt liked how the unit played in the first meeting against the Colts, but hasn’t been happy with its performance in other recent games.

He has already set a franchise record with 20 ½ sacks, leaving him just 2 ½ shy of breaking Michael Strahan’s single-season sack record.

“It’s on my mind,” Watt said of the sack mark, “but winning is number one by far. I had someone ask me (Tuesday), would you rather win the game or get the sack record? There is no debate whatsoever. I’d much rather win the game, but then I said I would love to win the game and get the sack record.”

Watt had 10 tackles, including three sacks and forced a fumble in Houston’s first game against Indianapolis.

 

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