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Andre Johnson called it “the biggest game in the history of the franchise,” and that isn’t just hyperbole.
The Texans might be 11-1 with a two-game lead in the race for homefield advantage, but Johnson’s comment shows they won’t feel they have truly arrived unless they knock off the Patriots — the biggest bullies on the AFC’s block for the past 10 years.
Houston will have a prime-time opportunity to do exactly that tomorrow night when they square off against Tom Brady and 9-3 New England at Gillette Stadium in what looks to be a scintillating heavyweight matchup.
As well helping to forge the Texans’ credentials as legitimate Super Bowl contenders, a victory tonight would also help Gary Kubiak’s team stay in front of a suddenly hard-charging handful of three-loss teams — the Patriots, Broncos and Ravens — vying for the conference’s No. 1 seed.
Houston is 6-0 away from home this season, including impressive victories at Denver and Chicago, but this would be no ordinary road win. New England is 37-7 (841) at home since 2007, by far the NFL’s best record, and 4-1 at Gillette this season.
The Texans’ formidable defense, led by AFC sack leader J.J. Watt (15 1/2 sacks), will be facing its stiffest test of the year in Brady and the relentless New England attack. The Patriots’ supercharged no-huddle, inspired by Oregon coach Chip Kelly, is producing the most average points in the league (35.8) and the most yards per game (426.3).
Brady (25 touchdowns against just four interceptions) is on such a roll that it’s hard to believe the Patriots were 1-2 after three games — including an inexplicable home loss to the Cardinals — and later 3-3 before an Oct. 21 overtime victory over the Jets jump-started their current six-game win streak.
Though Brady will test Watt and his fellow defenders, the Texans’ offense will pose an equally stiff test for a New England defense — especially the secondary — that has struggled for much of this season. Defensive tackle Vince Wilfork is having a terrific year, but the Patriots are 26th in the league in yards allowed and an unsightly 29th in pass defense.
That doesn’t sound like a good recipe for success against a Houston offense that isn’t as explosive but is frequently rewarded for its patience. Arian Foster leads the way with 1,102 rushing yards (most in the AFC) and a league-leading 13 TDs, and an effective running game is a big reason why quarterback Matt Schaub is 15-1 with a 97.4 passer rating in his past 16 starts.
But as good as the Texans have been (and still are), opponents stealing a victory from the Patriots in Foxborough late in the season just doesn’t happen very often when Brady is under center. Home field will be the difference in this one.
PICK: Patriots, 30-21.
CONTENDERS
Ravens (9-3) at Redskins (6-6): Fresh off a thrilling, Monday night win over the Giants, Washington remains in unfamiliar territory — playing meaningful games in December. That can happen when you have a budding superstar like Robert Griffin III, who already owns the all-time NFL rookie rushing record for a quarterback and who has posted a passer rating of better than 100 in each contest of the Redskins’ current three-game win streak. Baltimore’s defense looks like a big test for Griffin on paper, but you have to wonder where the Ravens’ heads are after last week’s crushing home loss to the Charlie Batch-led Steelers.
PICK: Redskins, 19-16.
Cowboys (6-6) at Bengals (7-5): Don’t look now, but Cincinnati is on a roll and looking like a playoff team after reeling off four wins in a row. Both the Bengals’ 3-5 start and what looked like a serious sophomore slump from Andy Dalton suddenly are distant memories as Dalton has now thrown 24 TD passes — third-most in the AFC. The Cowboys also are staying alive, thanks to a soft stretch in their schedule that has allowed them to climb back into the NFC East chase. But Dallas’ defense, which is struggling, isn’t a good match against Dalton, who has thrown for 409 yards, seven TDs and zero interceptions in his past two home games combined.
PICK: Bengals, 24-13.
bhubbuch@nypost.com