St. Louis Rams at Houston Texans: Game preview, odds, and predictions

Oct 6, 2013; San Francisco, CA, USA; Houston Texans running back Arian Foster (23) runs with the ball after making a catch against the San Francisco 49ers in the third quarter at Candlestick Park. The 49ers defeated the Texans 34-3. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 6, 2013; San Francisco, CA, USA; Houston Texans running back Arian Foster (23) runs with the ball after making a catch against the San Francisco 49ers in the third quarter at Candlestick Park. The 49ers defeated the Texans 34-3. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 6, 2013; San Francisco, CA, USA; Houston Texans running back Arian Foster (23) runs with the ball after making a catch against the San Francisco 49ers in the third quarter at Candlestick Park. The 49ers defeated the Texans 34-3. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 6, 2013; San Francisco, CA, USA; Houston Texans running back Arian Foster (23) runs with the ball after making a catch against the San Francisco 49ers in the third quarter at Candlestick Park. The 49ers defeated the Texans 34-3. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

The St. Louis Rams got a feel-good win over the hapless Jacksonville Jaguars last week, but they’ll be facing a much stiffer challenge this week in the Houston Texans. Ignore the Texans’ 2-3 record, as this team has made the playoffs for two straight years, and will be approaching this as a must-win game if they want to make it three-straight.

Both teams sit at 2-3, and this could be a game that ultimately decides who falls out of the playoff race before the midpoint of the season, while the winner stays in the hunt for the long-run.

Both teams sport a prolific offense capable of lighting up the scoreboard, so this may be one of the more entertaining Week 6 games on the schedule. The Rams’ offense is more geared toward the passing attack, led by quarterback Sam Bradford and a bevy of talented receivers.

Line: -9
Over/Under: 43

The Texans have a more balanced offense that’s centered around one of the league’s best ground games, led by running backs Arian Foster and Ben Tate, but with receivers Andre Johnson and DeAndre Hopkins, are also capable of airing-it-out.

That is, if QB Matt Schaub can overcome his recent slump that’s seen him throw a pick-six in four straight games. It will be five straight if he makes any errand throws towards the like of Pro Bowl cornerback Cortland Finnegan, as well as promising second-year CB Janoris Jenkins.