Texans at Patriots
7:25 p.m., CBS/NFLN LINE — Texans by 1
SERIES — Patriots lead 6-1; Patriots beat Texans 27-6, Dec. 13, 2015
TEXANS TO WATCH While with the Denver Broncos last season, QB Brock Osweiler won in only previous start against New England, 30-24 in Denver. He was 23-of-42 passing for 270 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT. … Rookie WR Will Fuller is third player in NFL history with 100-plus receiving yards in each of first two career games. DE J.J. Watt has 6 sacks, 9 tackles for loss and 1 fumble return for a TD in nine Thursday games.
PATRIOTS TO WATCH If QB Jacoby Brissett starts for the injured Jimmy Garoppolo, it would be the first time New England has started a rookie QB since Drew Bledsoe in 1993. … Coach Bill Belichick has started only one rookie QB as a head coach: Eric Zeier during Belichick’s final season with the Cleveland Browns in 1995. … TE Martellus Bennett has 271 catches since 2012, fourth most by an NFL tight end.
FANTASY TIP The Texans are tied for the fifth-highest scoring fantasy defense through two weeks, and whether a banged up Garoppolo or rookie Brissett starts at QB for New England, this is a rare time to start a defense against the Patriots.
INJURY REPORT OUT Texans OT Duane Brown; LB Brian Cushing; WR Braxton Miller DOUBTFUL Patriots QB Jimmy Garoppolo QUESTIONABLE Patriots G Jonathan Cooper; DL Trey Flowers; LB Jonathan Freeny; TE Rob Gronkowski; LB Dont’a Hightower; CB Eric Rowe