Houston Texans

The Houston Texans are, in many ways, a different team than the one the Ravens prepared for when they hosted them back in Week 6. But the fact that the Texans will return to M&T Bank Stadium on Sunday, Jan. 15 for an AFC Divisional Round game speaks volumes about their depth — and determination. When the Ravens defeated the Texans, 29-14, back in October, Houston had already lost its top pass rusher (Mario Williams) to a season-ending pectoral injury and its dangerous wide receiver (Andre Johnson)

Wide receiver Jacoby Jones, who signed a two-year deal earlier this month, is excited to join a Ravens team that knocked his former team, the Houston Texans, out of the playoffs in January. “Who wouldn't take this opportunity to come play for this team?” the 27-year-old said. “It's always good for a breath of fresh air, something new, so I'm taking my breaths slowly but surely.” Jones has started in 21 of his 75 career games, making 127 receptions for 1,741 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Are you getting the feeling things are breaking really well for the Ravens? Like the moon is in the Seventh House and Jupiter's aligned with Mars and all that? Now they get to play the Houston Texans in the AFC divisional-round game Sunday. The same Texans they beat 29-14 at M&T Bank Stadium back in October. The ones led by a third-string rookie quarterback. Who was a fifth-round draft pick. And has a separated left shoulder. Yeah, those Texans. And the Ravens get to play them at home, too. Where they're only 8-0 this season.

The Ravens landed the veteran wide receiver and kick returner that they have been seeking, agreeing to a two-year, $7 million deal today with former Houston Texans wide receiver Jacoby Jones. Jones visited with Ravens officials over the past couple of days. The news was first revealed on Twitter by current Ravens, Vonta Leach and Bernard Pollard who were teammates of Jones' in Houston, and it was confirmed by industry sources. Jones, who caught 31 balls for 512 yards and also served as Houston's primary punt returner, was released by the Texans last week.

The Ravens landed the veteran wide receiver and kick returner that they have been seeking, agreeing to a two-year, $7 million deal today with former Houston Texans wide receiver Jacoby Jones. Jones visited with Ravens officials over the past couple of days. The news was first revealed on Twitter by current Ravens, Vonta Leach and Bernard Pollard who were teammates of Jones' in Houston, and it was confirmed by industry sources. Jones, who caught 31 balls for 512 yards and also served as Houston's primary punt returner, was released by the Texans last week.

Wide receiver Jacoby Jones, who signed a two-year deal earlier this month, is excited to join a Ravens team that knocked his former team, the Houston Texans, out of the playoffs in January. “Who wouldn't take this opportunity to come play for this team?” the 27-year-old said. “It's always good for a breath of fresh air, something new, so I'm taking my breaths slowly but surely.” Jones has started in 21 of his 75 career games, making 127 receptions for 1,741 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Now that the regular season has come to an end with the Ravens winning the AFC North, their schedule for next season is all but set. Obviously, the game days and times will be determined at a later date, but below is a look at the teams that will be on the Ravens' 16-game schedule. The Ravens will face the NFC East and the AFC West next season to go along with matchups against Houston and New England, the fellow first-place teams from the AFC East and the AFC South. The Ravens' eight home games: Pittsburgh Steelers, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, New England Patriots.

2011 regular season schedule Week 1: Ravens 35, Pittsburgh Steelers 7 Week 2: Tennessee Titans 26, Ravens 13 Week 3: Ravens 37, St. Louis Rams 7 Week 4: Ravens 34, New York Jets 17 Week 5: BYE WEEK Week 6: Ravens 29, Houston Texans 14 Week 7: Jacksonville Jaguars 12, Ravens 7 Week 8: Ravens 30, Arizona Cardinals 27 ...

From the stands, fans watching the tackles and the touchdowns might think football is a game of sheer brawn. But up close, football is a game you grab with both hands - however fragile they might be. These photographs are from last week's game, in which the Ravens beat the Houston Texans, 16-15.

In today's chilly matchup of two of the worst teams in the NFL, the heat will be on the quarterbacks, the Ravens' Kyle Boller and the Houston Texans' David Carr. The symbol of the Texans' painful 1-10 season, Carr will try to survive a desperate Ravens pass rush behind the league's most porous line. Texans@Ravens Today, 1 p.m., Ch. 13, 1300 AM, 102.7 FM Line: Ravens by 8 1/2

With left guard Ben Grubbs visiting the New Orleans Saints and a reportedly long list of suitors waiting to talk to him if he leaves New Orleans without a deal, the Ravens will host guard Evan Mathis on Wednesday, according to multiple reports. Mathis started 15 games at guard for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2011. Mathis, 30, a former third-round pick, has played for four teams in his seven NFL seasons, including the Eagles (2011), Cincinnati Bengals (2008-10), Miami Dolphins (2008)

The confetti has been vacuumed up in Indianapolis, so the sports book at MGM Grand in Las Vegas released its Super Bowl odds for the 2012 season. Apparently, their oddsmakers think the Ravens' championship window is narrowly open. Two weeks after losing a close one to the New England Patriots, 23-20, in the AFC championship game, the Ravens were given 20-1 odds to win Super Bowl 47. That's tied for 13th in the NFL with the New York Jets and the Dallas Cowboys, two teams that didn't even make the playoffs in 2011.

2011 regular season schedule Week 1: Ravens 35, Pittsburgh Steelers 7 Week 2: Tennessee Titans 26, Ravens 13 Week 3: Ravens 37, St. Louis Rams 7 Week 4: Ravens 34, New York Jets 17 Week 5: BYE WEEK Week 6: Ravens 29, Houston Texans 14 Week 7: Jacksonville Jaguars 12, Ravens 7 Week 8: Ravens 30, Arizona Cardinals 27 ...

Let's get something straight right from the start. I'm thrilled that Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs is stocking his trophy cabinet and continuing to do graduate work at Ball So Hard University. He's fun to watch and fun to listen to and he's clearly got the attention of the people who hand out the hardware to the best players in the game. Monday, he was named 2011 NFL Defensive Player of the Year by Pro Football Weekly. Tuesday, he was named NFL 101 AFC Defensive Player of the Year, which creates a nice juxtaposition with the NFL 101 Offensive Player of the Year - a guy named Brady whom Suggs will be able to congratulate in person this Sunday.

Say this for Joe Flacco - and this certainly bodes well for the Ravens heading into their showdown with the New England Patriots Sunday in the AFC Championship game - the much-maligned quarterback has certainly been at his best in his team's biggest games this season. The Ravens are 7-0 this season against 2011 playoff teams and one of the reasons for that is Flacco has been able to make plays and keep the ball out of harm's way. In those seven games, Flacco has thrown 10 touchdown passes and just two interceptions.

Lee Evans provided a glimpse of what he can provide when he hauled in a lob from quarterback Joe Flacco with only his left hand, a completion that was good enough for 30 yards - the offense's longest play in the Ravens' 20-13 win against the Houston Texans Sunday. But the wide receiver knows that one catch won't change the minds of many fans who question his value to the team after he finished an injury-plagued regular season with just four receptions for 74 yards. “It's one play,” Evans said.

It's apparent that Ravens coach John Harbaugh won his battle with tight end Todd Heap. Harbaugh was unhappy with Heap's absences in training camp practices and told him so. He also told Heap he had to learn how to block better. Notice that Heap didn't get many passes thrown his way. Last week against the Houston Texans, he had his best game ever as a blocker. He also caught some passes. ( For more, go to baltimoresun.com/ravensinsider)

The Ravens enjoyed a franchise first when they emerged from Sunday's 20-13 win against the Houston Texans without committing a single penalty. Coach John Harbaugh applauded the players' ability to refrain from getting flagged. “I think our guys understand how to direct their passion really well into football, and that's what they've done a great job of throughout the season,” he said. “… It's critically important. To me, it's emotional smarts, it's playing smart football, it's understanding when to be aggressive and when not to be. Basically, it's between the whistles, and the rest of it doesn't matter.”