2012 NFL Power Rankings, Week 6: Undefeated Texans on top

Experts across the web are pegging the Texans as the NFL's best team.

Tuesday Morning Hangover: Grading The Win Over The New York Jets

It wasn't pretty, but the Texans defense and running game made enough plays to push their record to 5-0

Texans vs. Jets 2012: Arian Foster, J.J. Watt carry Houston to victory

With wins of 20 or more points in three of their first four games of the season, the Texans entered Monday's game as large favorites. They won, but didn't managed to cover the spread, as the Jets used about as much deception as possible to give Houston all they could handle in a 23-17 game.

In particular, the Jets had no answer for Texans running back Arian Foster and struggled all day on offense thanks largely to defensive end J.J. Watt. Vega of Texans SB Nation blog, Battle Red Blog, unsurprisingly gave those two players the game balls for their performances:

Game Balls:

Offense: Arian Foster, though James Casey still has my heart

Defense: J.J. Watt. Brice McCain had a hell of a game, but c'mon... Watt is just a monster.

Foster's 152 yards were the most he's gained in a game so far during the 2012 season, pushing him to second in the NFL in rushing yards. He also added a rushing touchdown, which he's done in 12 of the last 14 games he's played in with the Texans.

The buzz from the game, though, primarily revolved around Watt, the 2011 first-round pick that was a dominant force all night. With a sack in the fourth quarter, Watt took the NFL-lead away from the Packers' Clay Matthews. He was also a disruptive force all night, batting down several Mark Sanchez throws.

Texans vs. Jets final score: Houston improves to 5-0 with 23-17 win over New York

The Houston Texans defeated the New York Jets Monday night, 23-17. The Jets stayed in the game and had momentum late in the fourth quarter, but a crucial interception by Kareem Jackson with less than two minutes left sealed the game for the Texans.

Houston's defense was able to make the Jets running game a non-factor, holding Shonn Greene to 26 yards on eight carries and the team to 69 rushing yards as a whole. Mark Sanchez was left to carry the Jets, but that proved to be a tall task with J.J. Watt and the Texans' pass rush in his face. He finished the night 14-for-31 for 230 yards with only one touchdown and two interceptions. Watt had a phenomenal night, repeatedly tipping passes at the line as well as picking up a sack and two quarterback hits.

The offense made the most of New York's weak run defense, with Arian Foster collecting 152 yards on 29 carries. That opened a lot of opportunities for Matt Schaub, who was 14-for-28 for 209 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Owen Daniels, James Casey and Kevin Walter all had four receptions, for 79, 53 and 46 yards.

The Texans improve to 5-0 with the win, and will prepare for a short week that ends with facing the Green Bay Packers on Week 6's Sunday night game.

Texans vs. Jets: Houston leads after 3 quarters, 23-14

After three quarters of action, the Houston Texans are in the lead against the New York Jets, 23-14. The third quarter saw Houston make a long touchdown drive of 52 yards on three running plays, but then give up a touchdown on the following kick return. The Jets then attempted an onside kick, but Houston was able to pick it up and drive for a field goal.

Foster is having a fine night, gaining 132 yards on 20 carries against the Jets defense. Matt Schaub has taken advantage of that, making heavy use of the play action pass on his way to 14-for-27 for 209 yards through three quarters. The Houston defense has been able to shut down the Jets' rushing offense, with Shonn Greene gaining less than 20 yards so far, and with Mark Sanchez hovering around a 50 percent completion rate.

Brian Cushing left the game with a leg injury and is questionable to return.

Brian Cushing injury: Texans LB leaves game after low block

Brian Cushing headed to the locker room in the second quarter of the Houston's game against the New York Jets. He went down with a leg injury after a low block by Matt Slauson.

Texans vs. Jets: Houston leads at the half, 17-7

The Houston Texans lead the New York Jets at halftime of their Monday night game, 17-7. Houston's offense has found success, especially with Arian Foster rushing and the play-action pass.

The big news from the half was linebacker Brian Cushing's injury. Cushing went down clutching his leg midway through the second quarter, reeling from a low block by Matt Slauson. He was able to leave the field under his own power, but shortly after that he left the field for the locker room. He is questionable to return.

Foster has 100 yards on nine carries in the first half, including a long run of 46 yards. That's left the door open for Matt Schaub to make use of the play-action pass. Schaub is 10-for-20 for 134 yards through two quarters, and Owen Daniels has three receptions for 60 yards and one touchdown.

The Jets' offense has looked better against Houston than it did last week against the San Francisco 49ers, but the Texans' defense has managed to hold them in check. Mark Sanchez managed one four-play, 57-yard touchdown drive, but a successful two-minute drill was disrupted when J.J. Watt tipped a ball into Brice McCain's hands for a Houston interception that resulted in a field goal.

Houston has also shut down the Jets' rushing attack, limiting Shonn Greene to 13 yards on six carries and the team overall to 31 yards on 13 carries.

Texans vs. Jets: Houston, New York tied after first quarter, 7-7

The Houston Texans and the New York Jets are tied, 7-7, after one quarter of action at Metlife Stadium. The Texans have looked to be in control at times, opening the game with an 85-yard touchdown drive and successfully stuffing the Jets' run game, but New York has managed to stay competitive.

The Houston offense has had some trouble with the fronts shown by the Jets' defense. Aside from the opening touchdown drive, the Texans have two punts and an interception.

The Jets offense has struggled in recent weeks, but they were able to put together a four-play, 57-yard touchdown drive with just under six minutes remaining in the quarter. The following kickoff pinned Houston deep, and Arian Foster responded by breaking off a 46-yard run to advance the team to midfield. The drive sputtered there, and Houston had to punt.

Matt Schaub is 5-for-10 for 72 yards in the first quarter, with one touchdown and one interception. Arian Foster has 4 carries for 51 yards.

Texans vs. Jets 2012 inactives

The New York Jets will be without two key defensive starters as they try to slow down the potent offense of the Houston Texans on Monday night.

The Jets have lost cornerback Darrelle Revis for the season, as Revis required surgery to repair a torn knee ligament. But absent from the middle of the defense will be nose tackle Sione Pouha. The 6'3, 325-pound lineman has recorded eight tackles and one sack this season, but is out with back problems.

Ben Tate, Arian Foster's backup at running back, is out for the Texans with a toe injury. Tate has 117 yards and two touchdowns this season. Houston's defense will also be playing without defensive back Quintin Demps, the team's seventh-leading tackler. Demps underwent surgery on a broken forearm last week.

Here are the full list of inactives for both teams:

Houston Texans:
G Brandon Brooks, DB Roc Carmichael, DB Quintin Demps, T Andrew Gardner, DB Brandon Harris, WR Lestar Jean, RB Ben Tate.

New York Jets:
FB John Conner, WR Stephen Hill, TE Dustin Keller, QB Greg McElroy, NT Sione Pouha, CB Darrelle Revis, G Caleb Schlauderaff

This story originally appeared on SBNation.com.

Jets vs. Texans injury report: TE Dustin Keller, WR Stephen Hill doubtful with hamstring injury

The Jets injury list has two dozen players listed. Key players who are doubtful are Stephen Hill, Dustin Keller and Sione Po'uha.

Texans vs. Jets injury report: 17 Houston players listed, most are probable

The Texans do have 17 players listed on their injury report, but 14 of those are probable against the Jets for Monday Night Football.

Ben Tate injury: Texans RB expected to play, says Gary Kubiak

Backup running back did not practice on Thursday or Friday and is listed as questionable for Monday

Texans vs. Jets injury report: New York is full of injured players

The New York Jets have just under half of their roster listed on their Friday's injury report

Texans vs. Jets injury report: WR Andre Johnson limited on Friday

The Texans had 16 players listed on the injury report released on Friday.

Houston Texans vs. New York Jets: Preview And Prediction

They're a big favorite once again, can they live up to the hype?

Texans vs. Jets injury report: New York has 23 players listed

In the Jets preparation against the Texans they had 23 players listed on their Thursday's injury report.

Texans vs. Jets: Ben Tate misses practice, Gary Kubiak addresses 'Tebow Time'

Houston Texans running back Ben Tate has a sprained toe and is an "end-of-the-week" decision for Monday night's game against the New York Jets.

Fantasy Football: Houston Texans Week Five Start 'Em/Sit 'Em

The Jets have looked awful in recent weeks, does that point to success for Texans players?

2012 NFL Schedule: Texans get Monday night showdown with New York

It has been a tough year so far for the New York Jets, who are coming off a blanking by the San Francisco 49ers. It won't get much easier for them, though. The 4-0 Houston Texans are next up on Monday night at MetLife Stadium. The Texans will be hoping for another primetime victory to push them to 5-0 to start the season.

Here's the full NFL Schedule for Week 5 action, all times are central:

Thursday

• Cardinals vs. Rams, 7:20 p.m., NFLN
  

Sunday

• Falcons vs. Redskins, noon, FOX
• Ravens vs. Chiefs, noon, CBS
• Eagles vs. Steelers, noon, FOX
• Packers vs. Colts, noon, FOX
• Dolphins vs. Bengals, noon, CBS
• Browns vs. Giants, noon, CBS
• Seahawks vs. Panthers, 3:05 p.m., FOX
• Bears vs. Jaguars, 3:05 p.m., FOX
• Bills vs. 49ers, 3:25 p.m., CBS
• Broncos vs. Patriots, 3:25 p.m., CBS
• Titans vs. Vikings, 3:25 p.m., CBS
• Chargers vs. Saints, 7:20 p.m., NBC

Monday

• Texans vs. Jets, 7:30 p.m., ESPN

Make sure to check out SI.com for the full 2012 NFL schedule.

Houston Texans Forecast: Early Preview Of The New York Jets Game

Should we expect another blowout win?