[HPF Bob]

What the above review is talking about is the gambling side of it - the point spread. I actually agree. The Texans have done nothing to deserve a 2.5 favorite status against the Ravens on the road. But the Texans *could* win by one or two points and this reviewer would still "win" by picking the Ravens.

But I don't follow the idea that the Texans are looking past last year's SB champions who could have a head-to-head tie-breaker over playoff seeding against them because they are looking ahead to two NFC opponents. I was ready to agree up to that talking point, which is stupid.

In the NFL, you play one week at a time. The Texans may lead the AFC South but their biggest rival just added a stud RB so do you think the Texans are going to relax?

The Ravens, I'm sure, feel just as comfortable that their biggest rival is a game behind them and they can tell themselves their one loss was against the probable "class" of the conference that needed to get revenge for last year's playoff blunder.

While the Texans stomped the Ravens at home last year, I'll bet many of them remember their last trip to Baltimore (playoffs '11) and feel they still have something to prove. At least I hope so.

But, in reality, the game boils down to match-ups which is why it matters if Duane Brown, Andre Johnson and Ed Reed are healthy. Can Myers hold down Ngata? Can our RG/RT keep out Thuggs? Will our FG kicker find himself in time or keep adding to his own pressure?

The Ravens also have injury issues to key players and will their guys be ready or will their backups? There are also some former Texans (Jones, Leach) who are probably going to be pumped for this game.

Gamblers try to look for numerical trends to base their decisions. That's what this review is basing their decision on. I'm sure by the same logic, they were betting on the Eagles to cover last night because almost everything they are saying about the Ravens could have been said about the Eagles (home game, need the win, fired up to play ex-coach, more explosive offense, etc.) and most of what they are saying about the Texans applied to Chiefs (on the road, lucky to be 2-0, etc.). EDIT: BTW, Philly was -3 to -3.5 favorite last night.

I just hope it doesn't come down to field goals.