The Patriots are playing for the #3 seed in the playoffs while the Texans still have a shot at making the playoffs with a win and a little help.  I have a feeling that the Patriots might not be going all out in this game content to be the #4 seed in the playoffs.  Tom Brady will likely not play very long in this football game.  Undrafted rookie QB Brian Hoyer will likely get his first extensive action in tomorrow’s game.  I can’t really see the Patriots letting Wes Welker or Randy Moss playing much on Sunday if at all in this game.  The Patriots will likely lean on the running game in tomorrow’s game with Laurence Maroney, Fred Taylor, Sammy Morris and Kevin Faulk splitting the load.

Defensively the Patriots will have to get after QB Matt Schaub or they will be in big trouble tomorrow.  Schaub is having a Pro Bowl type of year and he will be out to prove that he deserved it more than Tom Brady did this season.  The Patriots must double cover Andre Johnson the whole game or they will get burned early and often in this game.  Undrafted rookie RB Arian Foster is coming off a solid game for the Texans last week so the Patriots had better be ready to deal with him also.

PREDICTION:  TEXANS 30, PATRIOTS 17