New England's starting running back found himself on the bench for the final four quarters of action last week after fumbling for the third straight week. Ridley's role on the offense moving forward is worth keeping an eye on, and that starts this Sunday afternoon in Houston.

The reigning AFC Defensive Player of the Month is one of the key figures on a banged up Patriots front. Jones has recorded a sack in six of the last seven games and the last three in a row. He'll be looking to stay on a role against Case Keenum and Co.

Marcus Cannon did not practice this week, so it's likely Tom Brady will have his third different starting right tackle this season. The veteran Svitek could see a lot of J.J. Watt, so saying he has his work cut out for him is an understatement.

New England's passing back has set and then tied a career-high with eight catches in each of the last two games. Vereen has been a productive force in all three games he's played in this season and will be looking to keep that streak rolling in Texas.

Every week it seems that New England's No. 1 cornerback has a elite, Pro Bowl receiver to deal with. As he continues to work through his hip injury that will be the case once again, with Talib chasing Andre Johnson all around Reliant Stadium, a matchup we saw twice last year.

Thanks to his team's dismal record, no one is noticing that the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year is having another pretty impressive season. Watt leads the Texans in tackles, sacks and just about everything else. He's certainly not playing out the string on a lost season.

The Texans passing attack hasn't exactly lit up the Texas sky, but Johnson is having another Pro Bowl season. The veteran has nearly twice the receptions as the next closest Houston target, and is really the home team's best chances of making big plays against the Patriots.

The first-year starting quarterback is not only trying to lead his offense to victory, he may also be trying to prove himself for future NFL employment. Depending on how things shake out for the Texans at the QB position, Keenum's performance down the stretch may decide if/where he's employed next season.

The rookie receiver ranks second on the Texans with 39 receptions for 554 yards and two scores. If Aqib Talib can keep Andre Johnson in check, Houston may look to its rookie to make things happen against a hobbling Patriots secondary.

While J.J. Watt is the star of the Texans front, Smith is another formidable force that the Patriots offensive line will have to deal with. The veteran Pro Bowler has five sacks on the season and helps balance out the defense opposite Watt.