Houston Texans: 7 Keys to Victory over New Orleans

The Texans have cruised into Week 3 with a 2-0 record, but with their two wins coming against the Peyton Manning-less Colts and Chad Henne's Dolphins, they haven't been tested much.

Facing off against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday will be their first true test of the season.

The defense, which has allowed the least amount of passing yards in the league, will have to push their hardest if they want to be able to hold down Drew Brees. The Texans need this win to prove that they're for real and are ready to make a solid playoff run.

Here are seven areas in which the Texans need to be fully functioning for them to win on Sunday.

7. Offensive Line

The offensive line needs to be functioning very well.

They need to be able to give Matt Schaub plenty of time to make his choices on where to pass and also create holes for running back Ben Tate to gather up some big yardage.

Matt Schaub is a good quarterback but not one of the best, so he'll need all the help he can get to find ways to get the ball to Andre Johnson and his other receiving options.

6. Andre Johnson

Andre Johnson is one of if not the most effective tool in quarterback Matt Schaub's arsenal.

The Saints don't have any dominant cornerbacks, and Johnson will likely be matched up with Jabari Greer, as Tracy Porter is questionably out with a calf injury.

Johnson has fought off better cornerbacks than Greer, so Schaub should be able to use him a lot and the Texans need their offense at full force if they wish to compensate for the fantastic Saints offense.

Unless Greer is on his best game, Johnson should be able to score a couple of touchdowns.

5. Cornerbacks

The Texans will be facing one of the premier quarterbacks in the league on Sunday in Drew Brees.

Obviously with such a great quarterback comes a lot of passing, which will leave a lot up to the main cornerbacks, rookie Brandon Harris and veteran Jonathan Joseph. 

They need to be able to block Brees' passing game if the defensive line isn't able to interrupt the star quarterback's passes. Blocking Devery Henderson and Jimmy Graham won't be an easy task, but so far this year the Texans have had the best passing defense in all of the NFL.

If they somehow keep this up, then they'll finally prove that they're a playoff-ready team. A strong defensive game against one of the top five offenses is unlikely but key for tomorrow's success.

4. Matt Schaub

Matt Schaub isn't one best quarterbacks in the league, but puts up solid numbers every year. Schaub needs to step up and lead this team to a victory.

They have the talent, but need someone with a strong presence to wrap it all up and harness it into a win. Schaub needs to be on his top game tomorrow if the Texans want to have a chance. He needs to be able to find Johnson or go to his other options if Johnson is being covered heavily.

3. Running Game

With reigning rushing leader Arian Foster's status listed as a game-time decision because of injury, it's most likely that rookie Ben Tate will get the start against the Saints.

Tate has played very well this year and is currently third in the NFL in rushing yards. The more that Matt Schaub gives the ball to Tate, the more time that the Texans will have possession of the ball and less time that Drew Brees will be on the field.

Obviously, the less Houston sees of Brees, the better. Tate will go against newly-acquired run-stuffer Aubrayo Franklin, a match-up that I believe will result in a victory for Tate.

2. Mario Williams

Mario Williams has been great since moving from defensive end to outside linebacker. He's recorded two sacks in as many games, including a game-changing tip of Chad Henne's pass that resulted in an interception that set up a Houston touchdown.

It's that kind of pressure that has been key in Houston's past two victories and could be a big factor in pressuring Drew Brees into irrational decisions. If Mario Williams can keep the pressure on Brees and force him to pass sooner than he'd like or even sack or knock him down, then the Texans will have a chance to come away with the win.

1. Keep Their Cool

The Texans have gotten off to a 2-0 start for the third time in the last five years, but have never made the playoffs.

They need to be able to keep their cool unlike they have in the past.

Coach Gary Kubiak said, "We've got a lot more poise [than last season], nobody's in here jumping around, high-fiving each other. We're just in here, business as usual, trying to correct our mistakes, trying to understand what we're going to have to do better to win in New Orleans." 

Even if the Texans take a commanding lead against the Saints at the half, they need to keep playing as hard as ever and not get carried away or too excited. 

A win on Sunday will give the Texans their franchise-first 3-0 start and hopefully put them on the fast track to the playoffs.

Expect a fantastic game on Sunday.