The Pro Bowl running back did not practice at all this week, which the Ravens indicated was the plan to get his hip injury plenty of rest. Rice has not missed a game in the last five seasons, and the hope is that he will be healthy enough to play when the Ravens take the field Sunday. Under Head Coach John Harbaugh, players who do not practice during the week typically do not play Sunday, but Rice is an established veteran that could get by without the practice reps. If Rice is unable to play, then the Ravens will turn to second-year back Bernard Pierce and recently-signed back Shaun Draughn to carry the running game.

Even if Rice is able to play, Offensive Coordinator Jim Caldwell indicated that Pierce will have to "carry a little bit more of a load." Pierce has shown plenty of potential during his young career, but has never had to be the workhorse running back with Rice in front of him. He may get that chance on Sunday. Teammates and coaches have praised Pierce and said they are confident he's up to the job, and he will get a tough test against a talented Texans front. The Ravens mustered just 55 rushing yards against the Texans last season, so Pierce and the Ravens have a challenge in front of them if they are going to establish the run this week.

The future Hall of Famer will be back in Baltimore this week for his first game since signing with the Texans. Reed is keeping everyone guessing as to whether he's actually going to play, telling reporters this week that he still has "some work to do" before he returns to game action. The Ravens have said they don't expect Reed to miss an opportunity to play against his old team, but Reed emphasized he's not confident he will be ready. Regardless of whether he's able to play, returning to Baltimore will be a "special day" for the safety who spent the first 11 years of a historic career in a Ravens jersey.

The play of tight ends Ed Dickson and Dallas Clark through the first two weeks of the season has not been the kind of the performance the Ravens want to see. Both players have struggled with drops, and Harbaugh said this week that the team wants to get more out of their tight ends. Dickson, who came into the season expecting to have a big year, has just one catch. He acknowledged that he's frustrated by his play and has spent extra time after practice this week to work on his hands and get on the same page with quarterback Joe Flacco. The Ravens are counting on Dickson and Clark in the passing game, and getting more production out of the tight ends could help ease the burden on a young receiving corps.

Kicker Justin Tucker had an uncharacteristically rough outing against the Browns, missing two field goals for the first time of his career. Tucker had previously never missed back-to-back field goals. Tucker has stressed he is not worried about the misses and that he is confident in his ability to bounce back. His coaches have also said that they liked his attitude during the week of practice and that he was eager to return to work after last week's game. Tucker has been clutch during his young career, and the Ravens are counting on him to get back on track this week.

The biggest injury concern for the Texans this week might be the toe injury to starting left tackle Duane Brown. He spent the week in a walking boot and may have to miss Sunday's game. If Brown is unable to play, then look for outside linebackers Terrell Suggs and Elvis Dumervil to capitalize on backup Ryan Harris. Suggs and Dumervil are pushing each other in the sack race this season, and both have two. Overall, the Ravens have eight sacks through the first two games and this week could be another opportunity for them to get after the quarterback.

Rookie wide receiver Marlon Brown has scored a touchdown in the last four games (including the preseason), and he became the first Raven to ever find the end zone in his first two career games. Fellow receiver Torrey Smith is still looking for his first touchdown of the season. The Texans have allowed four receiving touchdowns through the first two weeks, so this could be an opportunity for the receivers to put up points when they get into the red zone.

Texans defensive end J.J. Watt is the NFL's reigning Defensive Player of the Year, and he's gotten the best of the Ravens in the past. In last year's 30-point victory over the Ravens, Watt deflected two of Flacco's passes and one of those led to a 52-yard interception return for a touchdown. The 6-foot-5 defensive end has earned the nickname "J.J. Swat" for his ability to bat down passes at the line of scrimmage, and the Ravens will have to find a way to keep his hands off the football.

The Texans have one of the NFL's best dual-threat ground attacks with running backs Arian Foster and Ben Tate. Foster thrives in the Texans' stretch zone running attack, and he has been a 1,000-yard rusher for the last three seasons. Houston's offensive approach starts with establishing the run, and then they utilize play action to keep defenses from crowding the line of scrimmage. The Ravens have shown a strong run defense the past two weeks, and it will be important to continue that trend against Houston.

Ray Lewis will make his return to M&T Bank Stadium to get inducted into the team's Ring of Honor during a halftime ceremony. Lewis has said he's unsure if he will address the team before the game with one of his classic pep talks, but just having No. 52 back in the building should create an electric atmosphere. Regardless of whether the team gathers around Lewis before the game, he will likely have the chance to visit with some of his former teammates individually to provide some encouraging words of inspiration.