Houston Texans: Why They Will Upset the New Orleans Saints in Week 3

The Houston Texans (2-0) are taking a trip to visit Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints (1-1) in a game where I would not be shocked if the Texans upset the Saints.

I know it is in New Orleans and it is Drew Brees. I get it. They are a very good football team.

However, so is Houston.

Here are four reasons Houston can upset New Orleans.

4. New Orleans Home Field Advantage

Over the passed couple of years, the Saints have not shown us they play any better at home than they do on the road.

Last year, they lost three games at home. They lost five games all last year.

In 2009, two of their three losses were at home.

Yes, they still play very well, home or away.

However, to say the Saints will have a home-field advantage, would not be backed up with proof. They have suffered their most losses at home in the past couple of seasons.

3. Texans Pass Rush

The Houston Texans have really gone after the QB to open the regular season.

Against the Colts, they sacked Kerry Collins three times and hit him seven more.

They made him wish he had never came out of retirement.

Against the Dolphins they sacked QB Chad Henne twice and hit him seven times.

They also deflected many passes at the line of scrimmage because they were able to get good penetration and win the battle of the trenches.

Mario Williams looks like he has made the transition to OLB from DE. He got to Collins twice and was breathing down Henne's neck the whole game, even though he came up short of getting a sack.

However, he had one of the pass deflections at the line of scrimmage and was credited for a QB hit.

DE Antonio Smith has been an unsung hero for this defense. He has a sack in each of the games this year and, like Williams, was getting after Henne very well.

However, Smith got a sack to go along with a pass deflected and QB hit in Miami.

Fellow OLB Connor Barwin had himself a game against Miami. He filled up the stat sheet.

Barwin had a sack, a tackle for loss, pass deflection and two QB hits. He has really been a force coming off the edge opposite Williams.

Houston already has some dangerous player at LB with DeMeco Ryans and Brian Cushing and Barwin is looking to add his name to that list of outstanding Texan LB.

2. Beating Saints Pass Rush

The Texans are going to have to find a way to slow down the Saints' pass rush, which has been on fire lately.

They have eight sacks as a team this season and have forced three fumbles.

Most of this damage came in the game against the Chicago Bears. They had six of those sacks against them. 

Before that, they gave up 399 yards to the Green Bay Packers in their opening game loss. They also gave up 415 yards against the Seattle Seahawks in their disappointing NFC Wild Card Playoff loss.

The Texans will have to do a number of things to slow down the pass rush.

First, they must get Ben Tate more active in the receiving game. He has four receptions early in the season and he must get more this week. 

If he can slip in behind the rush to get open, he can turn it up field with his quickness.

QB Matt Schaub is normally good at getting his RB involved in the passing game with the number of bootlegs and misdirections the Texans run.

Arian Foster had 66 receptions last year for 604 yards in 2010.

The Saints also allowed 10 receptions to Chicago Bears RB Matt Forte, good for 117 yards.

Houston's offensive game plan is to run the ball effectively and run misdirection plays with Schaub swinging to the outside.

Schaub is amongst the best in the NFL at finding his targets, especially on the run. 

Houston has many targets that Schaub can throw to short to beat the rush.

TE Owen Daniels is back and is slowly working his way back into the offensive game plan for Houston. He had three receptions last week to go with a TD.

He has the ability to be a big target for Schaub once the rush comes.

WR Kevin Walter looks like he is back. He is a quick receiver that is tough enough to go over the middle and play pitch and catch with Schaub to beat the rush.

Let us not forget Andre Johnson because he seems to find away to get open as the play breaks down for Schaub in the trenches.

1. Texans Running Game

RB Ben Tate is going to be very instrumental for the Texans in this football game.

He currently is third in the NFL in rushing yards and has played extremely well this year. 

For the Texans, this has meant a few things.

First, it makes the Texans better equipped to beat the pass rush as the linebackers cannot just sit on pass for most downs. 

Second, it will help keep Matt Schaub and the offense on the field for longer.

So, Drew Brees will be kept on the sidelines.

Because of the running game, the Texans have a +10:00 time of possession advantage on the competition this season. 

If Houston can run the ball and march the ball down the field, that will prevent Brees from getting into a rhythm and prevent a shootout that would favor the Saints.

Ben Tate is a very effective downhill runner and is really effective at finishing off runs for solid gains. He also has above average strength, allowing him to get yards after first contact and get first downs on short yardage situations.