Texans-Panthers Capsule

HOUSTON (0-1) at CAROLINA (1-0)

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS

OPENING LINE - Panthers by 3

RECORD VS. SPREAD -Texans 0-1, Panthers 1-0

SERIES RECORD -Texans lead series 2-1

LAST MEETING - Panthers beat Texans 28-13, Dec. 18, 2011

LAST WEEK - Texans lost to Chiefs 27-20; Panthers beat Jaguars 20-9

AP PRO32 RANKING - Texans No. 26, Panthers No. 16

TEXANS OFFENSE - OVERALL (8t), RUSH (16), PASS (7)

TEXANS DEFENSE - OVERALL (15), RUSH (16), PASS (19t)

PANTHERS OFFENSE - OVERALL (27), RUSH (12t), PASS (30t)

PANTHERS DEFENSE - OVERALL (7), RUSH (15), PASS (5)

STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES - Texans coach Bill O'Brien chose Ryan Mallett over last week's starter, Brian Hoyer, at QB. ... RB Alfred Blue has 359 yards from scrimmage in four career starts. ... WR DeAndre Hopkins had six nine catches for 98 yards and two TDs vs. Chiefs in Week 1. ... In past six games, DE J.J. Watt has 13 sacks, two forced fumbles, a safety and a TD catch. Watt had six tackles for a loss and two sacks vs. Chiefs. ... Texans have 10 first-round picks on roster. ... Panthers looking to start 2-0 for second straight year. ... Panthers' leading tackler LB Luke Kuechly suffered concussion vs. Jaguars, leaving status unclear for Sunday. If Kuechly doesn't play, A.J. Klein starts at MLB and rookie Shaq Thompson starts at SLB. ... Carolina had three drops against Jacksonville, two by WR Ted Ginn Jr. ... RB Jonathan Stewart averaging 91.9 yards rushing in past eight games. Panthers offensive coordinator Mike Shula expects Stewart to average about 18 carries per game. ... DE Charles Johnson has fifth-most sacks (53 1/2) in NFL since 2010. ... CB Josh Norman had INT return for TD, forced fumble and fumble recovery in Week 1. ... Nine Panthers caught passes in Week 1. ... K Graham Gano missed 53-yard FG and had 43-yard FG blocked vs. Jacksonville.

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