Dolphins vs. Texans: TV Schedule, Live Stream, Spread Info, Radio, Game Time

In a battle of two opposite sides of the franchise-building spectrum, the Miami Dolphins head west for a Week 1 matchup against the Houston Texans on Sunday.

For Miami, this week will mark the beginning of the Joe Philbin era as head coach and the Ryan Tannehill era at quarterback.

Philbin takes over for Tony Sparano as the franchise's fifth head coach over the past 12 seasons. While that number certainly signals a franchise in disarray, Tannehill is the Dolphins' 17th starting quarterback since Dan Marino retired in 1999.

On the other hand, Houston has become a bastion of consistency in the AFC South. Head coach Gary Kubiak is headed into his seventh season at the helm, all but one of which he's had Matt Schaub as his starting quarterback.

If the NFL teaches us anything, it's the fate of a franchise is almost always atop a precarious high-wire.

With that in mind, here's everything you need to know about Houston vs. Miami. 

Where: Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas

When: Sunday, Sept. 9 at 1 p.m. ET

Watch: CBS

Listen: SportsRadio KILT 610 AM (Houston), 940 WINZ (Miami)

Live Streaming: NFL Sunday Ticket

Betting Line: Texans (-12), according to Bovada.lv

Over/Under: 43, according to Bovada.lv

What's At Stake?

The Dolphins come into Sunday's contest starting Tannehill, hoping to see some indication of a first-round pick well spent. If Tannehill can come away from Week 1 unbattered and still confident after a matchup against the Texans' pass rush, it should be an encouraging sign going forward.

On the other hand, Houston's eyes are set squarely on the Super Bowl. There were many who thought the Texans were the best team in football before Schaub got hurt last season, and the team will go out Sunday looking to pay that faith forward.

Regardless, it's Week 1 in the NFL. Anything goes, and both teams feel they have a shot at Super Bowl glory this season. We'll get our first glimpse of whether that's true or not. 

Dolphins Injury Report (via CBS Sports)

WR Brian Hartline, calf, questionable

LB Karlos Dansby, knee, probable 

Texans Injury Report (via CBS Sports)

WR Andre Johnson, groin, probable

DL J.J. Watt, elbow, questionable

Fantasy Player to Watch: QB Matt Schaub

Coming into Week 1 as the 14th quarterback taken in ESPN.com standard leagues, Schaub could be a steal if he stays healthy.

With the Texans quarterback sitting at 100 percent heading into Sunday, he could be among the highest scorers at the position this week.

The Dolphins recently shipped off top corner Vontae Davis to the Indianapolis Colts, leaving the secondary bare and ripe for the picking. Equipped with two running backs who can catch the ball out of the backfield and the always spectacular Andre Johnson lining up on the edge, Sunday could be Schaub's chance to recapture fantasy relevancy.

What They're Saying

Other than losing Davis via trade, the Dolphins defense went through one other massive overhaul this offseason: A scheme change.

After finishing in the top half of the NFL using a 3-4 scheme in 2011, Miami will switch to a 4-3 look under new defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle.

In the Miami Herald's season preview for the Dolphins, reporter Michael Rushton noted that Coyle couldn't be happier with how the team handled the transition. 

Via the Miami Herald: 

"

Coyle, who gets his first coordinator job after serving as the Cincinnati Bengals' defensive backs coach from 2003-11, has seen a smooth transition so far.

"Excellent, excellent," he said of the switch. "I think that they are embracing it and for some of them, it lends to their skill sets maybe a little better, but not necessarily. They played darn good defense a year ago in the 3-4, and as I told you guys [the media] in the beginning, there weren't that many true 3-4 snaps."

"

While the Texans aren't going through such a major overhaul, this offseason was one of turmoil for Schaub. The quarterback missed the final six regular season games and the playoffs after suffering a Lisfranc injury to his right foot.

After an arduous rehabilitation, Schaub comes into 2012 motivated to pick up where he left off last season, according to the Houston Chronicle.  

Here is Schaub talking to the Houston Chronicle's John McClain on Monday: 

"

I’m very hungry. I’ve been chomping at the bit to get this season going since the spring. I’m so excited about what we bring to the table and what we’re capable of doing. We understand the job we have to get done.

Going into the season, I feel as good physically as I ever have. With the weapons we have — the way the offense is moving and how good the defense is — we’re as good as we’ve been going into Week 1. I feel really confident about where we’re headed.

"

Dolphins Key Player: QB Ryan Tannehill

With David Garrard officially jettisoned out of Miami, the key to the franchise car is in the former Aggie's hands now. 

With very little firepower surrounding him, it would be understandable for a fender bender or two on Sunday.  Philbin likely schemed conservatively against the Texans this week, so it will be about Tannehill keeping ball control and working the play clock.

His team could probably survive one or two turnovers and still have a shot heading into the fourth quarter. However, if Tannehill falls on his face, the game could get ugly.

Texans Key Player: LB Connor Barwin

Houston defensive coordinator Wade Phillips will likely come early and often with blitzes against Tannehill in hopes of rattling the young quarterback.

Considering Watt is questionable with an elbow injury, that likely means the pass-rushing onus will fall to Barwin on Sunday. The fourth-year linebacker led the Texans with 11.5 sacks in 2011 and the team will look for a repeat performance after losing Mario Williams to free agency.

The former Cincinnati Bearcat is the type of player who closes pockets quickly and uses quick bursts to fly through the offensive line. Tannehill has four-time Pro Bowler Jake Long protecting his blindside, but look for Barwin and his defensive cohorts to make it a long day for the Dolphins quarterback in the pocket. 

Prediction

It's possible that Tannehill someday breaks out into a superstar NFL quarterback, but Sunday will not be that day. 

The Texans' pass rush spent all of 2011 flustering far more experienced quarterbacks and will do the same to the Miami signal-caller this week. There is too much overpowering strength defensively and too much explosion offensively for the Dolphins to make this game remotely close. 

On the bright side for Dolphins fans, it could be a huge day for any Houston player on your fantasy team.

Score Prediction: Texans 34. Dolphins 13