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NEW ORLEANS (4-6) at HOUSTON (5-5) Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Fox OPENING LINE -- Texans by 2 1/2 RECORD VS. SPREAD -- Saints 4-5-1, Texans 5-5 SERIES RECORD -- Saints lead 2-1 LAST MEETING -- Saints beat Texans 40-33, Sept. 25, 2011 LAST WEEK -- Saints had bye, lost to Redskins 47-17 on Nov. 15; Texans beat Jets 24-17 AP PRO32 RANKING -- Saints No. 26, Texans No. 15 SAINTS OFFENSE -- OVERALL (2), RUSH (17), PASS (2). SAINTS DEFENSE -- OVERALL (32), RUSH (29), PASS (31). TEXANS OFFENSE -- OVERALL (13), RUSH (29), PASS (6). TEXANS DEFENSE -- OVERALL (8), RUSH (20), PASS (5). STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES -- New Orleans QB Drew Brees has thrown for 1,574 yards with 13 touchdowns and three interceptions in past five games against AFC. ... RB Mark Ingram had career-long 70-yard run in last game. Needs 2 yards to reach 1,000 all-purpose yards for second straight seasons. ... WR Brandin Cooks has five TDs in last three games combined. ... TE Benjamin Watson is second on team with 46 catches. ... WR Marques Colston had 118 yards receiving in last game against Houston. ... DE Cameron Jordan has five sacks, forced fumble and fumble recovery in last five games. ... S Jairus Byrd had two interceptions against Houston in 2009 with Buffalo. ... Rookie LB Stephone Anthony leads Saints with 72 tackles. ... LB Hau'oli Kikaha is tied for rookie lead with four sacks. ... Texans QB Brian Hoyer will start after sitting out last week with concussion. He has at least two touchdown passes in five of last six games. ... WR DeAndre Hopkins is third in NFL with 1,045 yards receiving and his nine receiving TDs are second in league and tie franchise record. ... WR Nate Washington has three TD receptions in past four games. ... DE J.J. Watt leads NFL with 11 1/2 sacks. He has had multiple sacks in three of last four games. ... S Eddie Pleasant had first career interception last week. ... S Andre Hal has three interceptions in last five games. ... LB Whitney Mercilus has 6 1/2 sacks in past five games. ... Fantasy Tip: Texans WR Cecil Shorts could be good pickup after Houston unveiled him in wildcat formation last week and he finished with 98 total yards of offense and threw TD pass against Jets. --- AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL
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