Houston @ Washington preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 7, 2014 ) Washington 6, Houston 17

The Houston Texans bid to match a franchise record by winning seven in a row for the first time since 2011 on Sunday when they face the Washington Redskins at FedEx Field. The well-rested Texans hope to continue their magic following their bye, led by a determined defense that has not allowed more than two touchdowns in five consecutive contests.

"To go from 0-3 to 6-3 is very difficult. There's no magic potion," three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt told the Houston Chronicle. "Our first two wins were (in) overtime. When you have to go through those, you learn to never give up hope." Deshaun Watson has thrown seven touchdown passes with zero interceptions during the last two contests of the six-game winning streak, while DeAndre Hopkins has found the end zone five times in his last four. The two will test their mettle against a Washington defense that has surrendered 17 points or fewer in four of the last five contests to help build a two-game lead atop the NFC East. "We're obviously not satisfied or sitting in the lounge chair with our feet up right now relaxing," Redskins head coach Jay Gruden said. "... I'm glad that we're winning without a doubt."

TV: 1 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Texans -3. O/U: 42.5

ABOUT THE TEXANS (6-3): While Hopkins leads the team in receptions (63), receiving yards (894) and touchdowns (seven) by a wide margin, new acquisition Demaryius Thomas brings a wealth of experience and provides Watson with yet another large target on the outside. The bye week afforded Houston additional time to get the 30-year-old up to speed after he grabbed all three of his targets for 61 yards in a 19-17 win against his former team (Denver). Lamar Miller was limited to just 21 yards on 12 carries versus the Broncos after recording 233 yards and two touchdowns in his previous two outings.

ABOUT THE REDSKINS (6-3): Adrian Peterson has been the unquestioned bell cow of the Washington's 10th-ranked rushing game, but the 33-year-old struggled to find holes behind a makeshift offensive line and finished with 68 yards on 19 carries in Sunday's 16-3 win over Tampa Bay. Peterson resides 52 yards shy of becoming the ninth player in NFL history to record 13,000 yards rushing, but he'll face a Texans defense that has held opposing backs to just 3.6 yards per carry. Alex Smith has thrown for 178 yards or fewer in four of his last five games, although he has tossed a touchdown pass to Josh Doctson in back-to-back outings.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Washington S D.J. Swearinger (team-leading four interceptions) pointed the finger squarely at Texans coach Bill O'Brien, telling reporters this week that "Houston bashed my name pretty bad" after being released by the club after his first two NFL seasons.

2. The Texans have dropped 10 in a row on the road against NFC representatives since defeating Detroit in overtime on Thanksgiving Day 2012.

3. Redskins P Tress Way was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week after booting five kicks for a net average of 47.8 yards per punt against the Buccaneers.

PREDICTION: Texans 23, Redskins 17