Texans vs. Ravens: TV Info, Spread, Injury Updates, Game Time and More

The Baltimore Ravens have limped out of the gate to start the 2013 season, and the defending Super Bowl champs don't have an easy opponent lined up in Week 3. 

Baltimore hosts the formidable Houston Texans this Sunday afternoon at M&T Bank Stadium. 

Houston is 2-0 after coming from behind to beat both the San Diego Chargers and Tennessee Titans in consecutive weeks. This is a team that has the pieces in place to forge a championship run under the right circumstances.

The Ravens, embarrassingly, were blown out by the Denver Broncos in Week 1. The team did manage to win against Cleveland in Week 2, but it won't beat the Texans this week without some major improvements on both sides of the ball. 

It's too early in the season to panic about poor starts, but you have to imagine the Ravens need this win far more than the Texans do. Even though the AFC North is a mess all the way around, starting the season with a record of 1-2 would make it difficult to get back to the playoffs this year. 

Here's what you need to know about this upcoming matchup.

When: Sunday, Sept. 22, at 1 p.m. ET

Where: M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, Md. 

Watch: CBS

Live Stream: NFL Sunday Ticket

Betting Lines (via Bovada) 

• Over/Under: 45 pts.
• Spread: Baltimore (+3)

Texans Injury Report (via NFL.com) 

Arian Foster	RB	Calf	Full Participation in Practice	Probable
Johnathan Joseph	CB	Not Injury Related	Full Participation in Practice	Probable
Derek Newton	T	Knee	Full Participation in Practice	Probable
Wade Smith	G	Knee	Limited Participation in Practice	Probable
DeVier Posey	WR	Achilles	Full Participation in Practice	Probable
Ed Reed	S	Hip	Limited Participation in Practice	Questionable
Duane Brown	T	Toe	Did Not Participate In Practice	Questionable
Brian Cushing	LB	Knee	Full Participation in Practice	Probable
Owen Daniels	TE	Not Injury Related	Full Participation in Practice	Probable
Garrett Graham	TE	Hip	Limited Participation in Practice	Questionable
Chris Myers	C	Back	Full Participation in Practice	Probable
Joe Mays	LB	Quadriceps	Full Participation in Practice	Probable
Ben Tate	RB	Shoulder	Full Participation in Practice	Probable
Brice McCain	CB	Knee	Full Participation in Practice	Probable
Andre Johnson	WR	Concussion	Full Participation in Practice	Probable
Darryl Sharpton	LB	Hip	Full Participation in Practice	Probable

Ravens Injury Report (via NFL.com) 

Chykie Brown	CB	Knee	Limited Participation in Practice	Questionable
Deonte Thompson	WR	Foot	Did Not Participate In Practice	Doubtful
Brandon Williams	DT	Toe	Limited Participation in Practice	Doubtful
Jacoby Jones	WR	Knee	Out (Definitely Will Not Play)	Out
Arthur Brown	LB	Chest	Did Not Participate In Practice	Doubtful
Chris Canty	DE	Thigh	Did Not Participate In Practice	Doubtful
Ray Rice	RB	Hip	Did Not Participate In Practice	Doubtful
Ryan Jensen	C	Foot	Did Not Participate In Practice	Out

Can Houston Run the Ball Against Baltimore?

Rookie wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins is looking more and more like a legitimate superstar in the making. Combined with Andre Johnson, the Texans have a formidable duo at the receiver position. 

That said, Houston is now—and always will be, as long as Matt Schaub is the quarterback—a run-first team on offense. 

Arian Foster isn't as explosive as he once was, but he's still capable of hitting a hole with authority and driving his legs to move a pile. He's been trying to get back to his elite form, but a nagging back/leg injury kept him out of training camp and the preseason—and it shows. 

As he's struggled to find running lanes (3.7 yards per carry), Ben Tate has picked up the slack. Tate leads Houston's rushing attack with 148 yards on 18 carries (8.2 yards per carry). 

Head coach Gary Kubiak recently spoke about distributing carries between his two stars, as noted by HoustonTexans.com:

"

I think they’re both playing real well, I think Arian is catching up so to speak from what the time he has missed, but I think Ben’s playing at an extremely high level right now. It’s important that we continue to give him his touches and we will.

"

The Texans will need both men to play at a high level this week. 

Baltimore features the No. 8-ranked rush defense in the NFL through two weeks, allowing just 130 yards on 43 carries (three yards per attempt).  

Prediction

Baltimore's offense has been about as impressive through two games as a frozen burrito you'd purchase at a local gas station. 

Ray Rice might not even practice this week as he rehabs a hip strain, as noted by the Baltimore Ravens:

If he can't play, then the Ravens will be in even deeper trouble against the Texans this week. Houston's front seven on defense can be downright dominant against even the best offensive teams.

The home crowd will aid Baltimore early in the contest, but Houston's overwhelming edge in both talent and depth will carry it through to victory. 

Final Score 

Texans win 28-17

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