by Adam Schein

The Eagles managed to embarrass the Giants.

Rex Ryan can't manage a game.

And I'm drinking the Texans' Kool-Aid.

Our weekly Scheiners, Schein 9 style ...

NFL Week 11

Week 11 action (all times ET)

MIA 24, CAR 17 -- Recap | Box
IND 17, BAL 15 -- Recap | Box
DAL 7, WSH 6 -- Recap | Box
GB 30, SF 24 -- Recap | Box
MIN 35, SEA 9 -- Recap | Box
NYG 34, ATL 31 (OT) -- Recap | Box
NO 38, TB 7 -- Recap | Box
JAX 18, BUF 15 -- Recap | Box
KC 27, PIT 24 (OT) -- Recap | Box
DET 38, CLE 37 -- Recap | Box
ARZ 21, STL 13 -- Recap | Box
SD 32, DEN 3 -- Recap | Box
NE 31, NYJ 14 -- Recap | Box
OAK 20, CIN 17 -- Recap | Box
PHI 24, CHI 20 -- Recap | Box
TEN-HOU, 8:30 p.m. (Mon.) -- Preview


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1. Foaming at the mouth

Don't look now, but the Houston Texans are for real. Seriously.

Houston (5-3) had a big statement win in Buffalo. Yeah, that's right. It's a victory against a team that had won two straight, in a difficult place to play. And let's be honest: These aren't your nephew's Texans (it would be tough to call them your father's Texans or even your sister's Texans because they have only been around this decade). In the past, if you have bothered to follow the mediocre history of this club, Houston loses these games. They tease you and slip back to .500. Don't look now, but the Texans have strung together three straight strong games, in Cincy, at home against the Niners and this past weekend against the Bills.

It sets up a golden opportunity to make a gigantic statement in Indy against the undefeated Colts. And I think they have a very realistic chance to win the game. Again, seriously.

The Buffalo game was one where Houston had to deal with adversity. Matt Schaub, who has had a spectacular season, threw a pair of picks. Steve Slaton was fumbling the ball and rightly was glued to the bench. Stud tight end Owen Daniels left the game with a season-ending injury. The Texans, in prior years, would've lost and limped home at 4-4, and the fans, if they channeled their inner New York attitude, would be saying, relatively speaking, "Same, old Texans."

But this year, it's about efficiency and resilience. Star linebacker DeMeco Ryans told us on Monday that the Texans are playing with a lot of moxie. Ryans said: "We are finishing games. We are confident. We don't let things affect us like we did in the past. If we turn the ball over or give up big plays, we regroup. That's the big difference." And that's not player speak. That's a fact, compared with previous Texans teams. Houston now takes the field expecting to win, in a year when the owner predicted the playoffs.

During a wide-ranging interview on Sirius NFL Radio, Ryans also praised Gary Kubiak for his approach and new defensive coordinator Frank Bush for his aggressive style. And Ryans is truly appreciative of the effort of new linebacker Brian Cushing, who has been a tackling machine en route to being the early favorite (sorry, Jairus Byrd) for the Defensive Rookie of the Year. Finally, Houston has a legit defense!

And with Slaton on the pine, it gave Ryan Moats the opportunity to dazzle. The former Eagles draft pick has always had the talent, but injuries held him back. Moats gashed the Bills for three touchdowns and a stunning 126 yards. While we were all surprised, Ryans says the Texans see this talent on display in practice daily. Ryans anticipates that while Slaton will be given another opportunity (and he should be, with his talent), Moats will still get a lot of action in the game against Indy.

Ah yes, Indy.

You mean the team that owns a 13-1 record against the Texans, who treats them like the freshman squad? Yes, those Colts.

But for the first time in franchise history, there is a swagger to the Texans. Schaub, though at a disadvantage sans Owen Daniels on Sunday, can officially go point for point with Peyton Manning. Andre Johnson is Reggie Wayne. The Texans offensive line has played surprisingly well. Mario Williams is the answer to Dwight Freeney. And Houston did a great job against the Bengals' high-powered attack earlier in the year.

Now, the Colts are the Colts. Jim Caldwell told us on Sirius NFL Radio on Monday that he doesn't worry about his team ever getting ahead of itself because it has had the gaudy record before and the leadership on the team is too strong.

But Houston, no longer the red-headed stepchild of the AFC South, is primed to win 10 games this season no matter what happens in Indy.

Seriously.

It might be worth your time to pay attention.

2. Rise and Schein

Brad Childress deserves all the credit in the world for the Vikings' 7-1 start. He put his job on the line with his persistence to bring in Brett Favre. Childress trusted his locker room leadership and his staff, and Favre has truly delivered for him. It's an amazing accomplishment to sweep the Packers. And Childress met with Percy Harvin before the draft when there were major off-field questions. Childress did his due diligence on his overall character and football character. Harvin dazzled once again Sunday, with five catches for 84 yards and five difference-making returns for 175 yards.

Steven Jackson keeps running hard, despite the Rams' record. (Gregory Shamus / Getty Images)

Steven Jackson finally got a touchdown and a win in the same week. It was St. Louis' first victory of the season after being embarrassed week after week. Marc Bulger said he felt great for Jackson, who "would be getting recognized every week for being one of the best in the game if we could get some wins." And Bulger rightly gave Steve Spagnuolo a lot of credit for staying level and keeping outside distractions (the potential of going 0-16 and the sale of the team) out of the locker room.

3. Hide the women, children and Matt Millen

There was a lot of ugliness in the NFL this weekend.

You know I believe in the Packers, and for the record I still think they can and will make the playoffs. But the Green Bay offensive line has to take a major hit. It was dominated, especially in the first half. The pass protection was awful. And as Troy Aikman pointed out during the FOX broadcast, my guy Aaron Rodgers did a poor job with his internal clock.

Philly destroyed the Giants on offense, defense and special teams. Donovan McNabb made C.C. Brown look like the street free agent he was before Kenny Phillips got hurt. Leonard Weaver was barreling through the New York defense. The Giants' special teams was wretched on every level. And defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan looked overmatched.

4. Backseat coaching

I was going nuts in the SNY newsroom on Sunday. I was yelling, pacing, sweating, going bonkers when Rex Ryan opted to continuously go for the two-point conversion in the third quarter! It went against logic, math, football and common sense. And to hear Rex on our SNY postgame show say he did it because he had confidence in his defense, well, my head almost exploded — as if there weren't going to be another point in the entire game.

Rex, bank the points. Don't coach the team like you are still a defensive coordinator.

And as bad as Rex was with his two-point tries, what the heck was Tony Sparano doing with his try for two at 30-19? Oy vey!

5. Schein's Anatomy

Owen Daniels is done for the year after tearing a knee ligament. He was the best tight end in football this year, and this hurts the diversity of the Texans' passing attack.

Moment of silence please for Daniels' fantasy football owners.

6. Weekly hot seat

Ken Whisenhunt has to find the right button to turn the Cardinals' toughness back on. (Christian Petersen / Getty Images)

I never thought I would write this a week ago, but welcome Ken Whisenhunt.

If you read my columns or watch my videos on FOXSports.com, you know the ultimate respect level I have for Whisenhunt. And I am totally floored his team had a no-show against the Panthers at home after dominating the Giants. But now the onus is on Whisenhunt, who is usually a master motivator, to get his team to re-establish that toughness in Chicago before his Cards start going on a slide. And it starts by establishing the run and some needed balance on offense. Arizona will win the division, but it needs to be more consistent to be taken seriously as one of the elite teams in the NFC.

7. My Guys

Brett Favre

That's not a misprint! I've never denied his place in history or the level he has played at through the years. I just hate what he did to the Packers and questioned after last year whether he could play at an elite level. Well, he was outstanding in an emotional return to Lambeau Field, and Favre is third on my ballot for league MVP behind Peyton Manning and Drew Brees.

Keith Brooking

The linebacker has added a toughness and a pulse to the Dallas defense. Brooking was once again a tackling machine for the Cowboys. And as we predicted preseason, Wade Phillips' defense would be vastly improved once he added some of his guys like Brooking and Igor Olshansky, who played for him in Atlanta and San Diego, respectively. Brooking is the perfect leader for a Dallas defense that was totally devoid of leadership last season. It's why Dallas will be in the playoff mix all season.

Ted Ginn Jr.

Call it the ultimate response after getting benched at receiver. Ginn returned an astonishing two kickoffs for 100-yard+ touchdowns in Miami's 30-25 win over the Jets, in a game where the Jets outplayed the Dolphins in every area but special teams.

Reggie Wayne

Wayne made an incredible grab on the go-ahead score for Indy in the fourth quarter on a halfback toss from Joseph Addai that seemed destined to fall incomplete. I would call Wayne the steadiest receiver in the NFL, with only Andre Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald better wideouts. Wayne had his usual 12 catches for 147 yards.

LeSean McCoy

No Brian Westbrook, no problem. McCoy had a majestic 66-yard touchdown run to humble the Giants defense.

8. My Goats

Randy Lerner

So the Browns owner announces he won't fire Eric Mangini during the bye week. It means he will likely fire the overmatched coach after the season. But that's on Lerner, who should've never hired Mangini in the first place after the Jets' epic collapse to end the season. And the Browns make my guy, George Kokinis, the scapegoat? Kokinis, unlike Mangini, has a legit and respected track record from Kokinis' days in Baltimore. He was the only person with a clue in the entire organization.

Eli Manning

What happened to the quarterback playing the best stretch of his NFL career? Eli was miserable for the third straight week, tossing two more picks in Philly. And he constantly missed his receivers with passes that sailed high. Manning seemed to force the issue more than usual.

Kurt Warner

Five picks against the Panthers just cannot happen.

Bart Scott

Enough with the postgame sarcasm on the Dolphins. They beat you twice this year after your Jets couldn't get enough of talking trash. Take the high road for a change.

Lions fans

Really? You want to boo Matthew Stafford and start comparing him to Joey "Blue Skies" Harrington? Sure, the loss to St. Louis was awful. But let's be serious, people. Stafford is the Anti-Harrington in his prep, arm strength, dedication and leadership. And these lumps will make him better for 2010 and beyond.

9. Three and out

Colts coach Jim Caldwell becomes the first rookie coach to win his first seven games. Remember when I called Caldwell a hypothetical before the season? We've learned his intelligence, patience, passion and knowledge is perfect for Indy.

Vincent Jackson once again put on a display at receiver for the Chargers. With the way the Giants are playing in the secondary, I have no idea how the Giants will stop him this coming Sunday.

Baltimore did an excellent job dialing up pressure against Kyle Orton and the Broncos in an impressive win. The Ravens must do the same thing this week against Cincy to win a huge road division game. I think the Ravens can get revenge on the Bengals.

You can watch Schein and Chris Carlin on Loud Mouths, weeknights at 6 ET on SNY (DIRECT-TV 639).

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E-mail Schein at adamjschein@hotmail.com.