Opening Line: Broncos by 9½.
Record vs. Spread: Denver, 9-5; Houston, 2-12.
Series Record: Tied 2-2.
Last Meeting: Texans beat the Broncos 31-25, Sept. 23, 2012.
Last Week: Broncos lost to the Chargers 27-20; Texans lost to the Colts 25-3.
AP Pro32 Ranking: Broncos, No. 2; Texans, No. 32.
Broncos Offense: overall (1), rush (14), pass (1).
Broncos Defense: overall (23), rush (11), pass (28).
Texans Offense: overall (11), rush (17), pass (13).
Texans Defense: overall (4), rush (24), pass (2).
Streaks, Stats & Notes
The Broncos have clinched a playoff spot and will get the AFC West title with a win and a Kansas City loss. Denver will clinch home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs with a win and losses by Kansas City and New England.
Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning’s 4,811 yards passing are the most in NFL history through 14 games. Manning’s 47 touchdown passes are fourth in NFL history and three away from Tom Brady’s single-season NFL record set in 2007.
Manning is 16-3 against Houston with 44 touchdowns.
Broncos running back Knowshon Moreno is 61 yards shy of reaching 1,000 yards rushing for the first time in his career.
Broncos tight end Julius Thomas has the most touchdown receptions by a tight end in franchise history with 11.
Broncos defensive end Shaun Phillips needs two sacks to outdo his career high of 11½ in 2006.
Broncos wide receiver Wes Welker had eight receptions for 131 yards for New England against Houston in the divisional playoffs last season. He’s recovering from a concussion, however, and will not play.
Texans’ quarterback Matt Schaub will start for the first time since Oct. 13 in place of the injured Case Keenum. Schaub threw four touchdown passes in Houston’s win over the Broncos last season.
Texans running back Ben Tate was placed on injured reserve Wednesday with a rib injury. Undrafted rookie Dennis Johnson will start in his place.
Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson is one catch from reaching 100 receptions for the fifth time in career.
Texans cornerback Johnathan Joseph has two interceptions in his last three games.
Texans defensive end J.J. Watt leads the NFL with 30 sacks, including 2012 and ’13, and had 2½ sacks in his last game against Denver.
Associated Press