Welcome to Week Two in this 2008 NFL season… er… I mean… Week 10.

The Ravens head to Houston this week to take on the Texans in the game rescheduled from Week Two,  postponed after Hurricane Ike barreled into southeast Texas and damaged the Texans’ Reliant Stadium. The schedule changes brings together two teams in very different situations than eight weeks ago.

Early in the season, the Texans had high hopes. They were supposed to breakout and perhaps even challenge the elite of the AFC South - if not for a playoff position than at least for some standing in the division. Meanwhile, the Ravens were entering this year as a rebuilding process behind a rookie coach, rookie quarterback and aging defensive unit.

How things have changed.

Entering Week 10, the Ravens are now fighting for an AFC North division title and a playoff spot. Their five wins already equals their total from last season. The Texans have been on a rollercoaster of their own, though. Following an ugly 0-4 start,  the Texans had won three straight until last week’s loss to the Minnesota Vikings.

As we head into the weekend, here are two key match-ups to keep an eye on as the Ravens and Texans finally get to square off.

Texans Offense vs. Ravens Defense

WR Andre Johnson vs. Ravens Secondary

There are two undeniable facts here. First, that Andre Johnson is proving to be a beast and having a career year in 2008. Second, that the Ravens secondary continues to be the defense’s greatest weakness.

Such a combination - great receiver against weakened defensive backs - seems to always spell trouble for a team that relies heavily on the success of its defense.

Let’s start with Andre Johnson. Johnson entered the 2008 season as a good wide receiver, bordering on greatness, but oft limited by his own team’s ineptitude. Last season, Johnson truly broke out in an injury-shortened season. In just nine games he had more than 850 yards receiving and eight touchdowns. This year, Johnson has continued to the trend from last season. Already in just eight games he has 60 receptions, more than 800 yards, and three touchdowns.

And as if the Ravens needed more trouble from receivers, it’s worth noting that Johnson does his absolute best work at home in Reliant Stadium.  In four home games this season, Johnson has led the Texans to a 3-1 record by averaging more than 10 receptions and 148 yards per game. 148 yards in eight home games alone is enough to give Johnson an 1100-yard season.

Johnson is the Texans primary threat because the Texans tend to make their living through the air. It sounds cliche, but Johnson opens things up for the Texans everywhere else by spreading the field and demanding extra attention. The trouble is that while he’s good at the long-ball, a la Randy Moss, he’s also exceptional in possession situations. And like any great receiver, he can make moves after the catch to really put defenses in trouble.

In other words, the Ravens are going to have to use a complete game plan to shut down Johnson. He’s good at going long, good at staying home, and good at making those short catches with long runs to follow we all hate so much…

But there is some good news for the Ravens. On the Texans side of the ball, QB Matt Shaub is out this week with a should injury, leaving back-up Sage Rosenfels at the reins (though, with Rosenfels at the reins again the Colts, Johnson still had more than 130 yards receiving). On the Ravens side of the ball, the  good news is that at least part of a banged-up secondary is coming back. Chris McAlister and Dawan Landry are still out, but Samari Rolle is back in.

The Ravens secondary has always had its hands full with good receivers. Even when completely healthy, the group made as many mistakes as it did big plays. The problem is due in part to a struggling pass rush, taking linebackers away from coverage. But the majority of the blame falls solely to the defensive backs themselves, who find themselves outsmarted or just plain beat on too many plays.

Controlling Johnson is going to take everything the Ravens have: a good pass rush, quality man-to-man coverage, and well-organized help from the safeties. In all likelihood, it will be Fabian Washington, not Rolle, working against Johnson for the Ravens. Washington will have to up his game from a week ago to stay with Johnson, but what he’ll really need is more support from safeties Jim Leonhard and Ed Reed. The Ravens don’t need big plays from this unit this week-they can stop the Texans without them-but they are going to need shutdown coverage most of the game.

Bottom line: If the Ravens get distracted by TE Owen Daniels and WR Kevin Walter, Johnson will take advantage. If they can truly focus on their coverages, though, the Ravens can shut down Johnson and subsequently harnass the entire Texans offense.

Ravens Offense vs. Texans Defense

QB Joe Flacco vs. DE Mario Williams

Don’t worry, I’ll try to keep this brief.

Joe Flacco is growing-up in front of our eyes. His play early in the season was mediocre, but good for a rookie. His play in Miami was fine. His play against the Raiders showed us his versatility. But last week against the Browns he lit things up and showed us why he was a 1st round draft pick at QB (as opposed to, say, a wide receiver).  He threw for a season-high 248 yards and two touchdowns passes.

In the last three weeks, against a few shaky defensive opponents, Flacco has really turned it on. He is learning to stretch the field, read defenses, and find new receivers. In all, the Ravens pass attack has actually looked formidable in those games.

But here’s the real key: pressure. During the Ravens three game losing streak, Flacco was sacked nine times. Really, that’s nine times in just two games, because he wasn’t ever officially sacked by the Titans. If you watch the tape, though, you’ll see he got hit aplenty. In the Ravens five wins, Flacco has been sacked just five times.

When Flacco is given time to work, we get to see him shine. He is able to make his reads, find his receivers, and concentrate on making the best throws he can. When put under pressure, Flacco gets ancy (as anyone would) and not only has trouble making his throws, but misses his reads as well.

Enter Mario Williams: Third year defensive end, former number one overall draft pick, Pro Bowler and all around monster on the Texans defensive line. Williams is averaging a sack a game so far this season and has forced three fumbles. He is every quarterback’s nightmare on the defensive line. At 6′6 and 280lb, Williams is especially big for an end. And scarier still, he’s equally as fast.

There’s no way around it here. Mario Williams is going to find his way through, over or around the Ravens offensive line. He’ll probably do it a number of times, even. And even when he’s not finding his way through, you can beat the Ravens are going to be giving him extra attention which could let another defender through elsewhere. Apologies to Jared Gaither, who has done a marvelous job this year and shut down Williams three years ago when they were both playing in the ACC, but you’re going to get beat a few times this weekend.

But that’s the worst of the news. Because elsewhere, the Texans are beatable. The Texans secondary is especially weak. They are young, they are soft, and they can be beat. As a unit, the Texans have just six interceptions all season (17th in the league), allow more than eight yards per pass attempt (30th) and a passer rating of 97.2 (27th).

Given the opportunity, Joe Flacco can pick them apart. Mark Clayton can burn them outside and Derrick Mason can beat them inside. But that can only happen if Joe is on his game and can handle the pressure that will be coming at him all game long.

And so the responsibility is going to fall to Joltin’ Joe… to make the right decisions, to make the right reads, to get rid of the ball, and  know what’s going on around him.