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Stanford Routt, right, saw action in seven games for the Chiefs this season before being released. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

With their defensive backfield atrophying in the past few weeks, the Texans added a veteran cornerback to their roster Tuesday.

The Texans signed Stanford Routt, a 29-year-old native of Austin, to a one-year deal about a month after the Kansas City Chiefs released him.

“I had a strong feeling that something would definitely come out of it,” said Routt, who worked out with the Texans prior to signing. “This is great. Me being originally from the state of Texas, going to school at the University of Houston right here in the city — it’s definitely a nice fit.”

Signs after workout

Routt was scheduled to take an evening flight to Pittsburgh after working out with the Texans but instead signed with them and canceled that trip.

He has had one other workout since his release from the Chiefs, and that was with the Detroit Lions. Otherwise, Routt has been working out in Houston, sometimes on his own, sometimes with a trainer.

“I’m not even worried about next year. I’m not worried about even next month,” Routt said when asked if he thinks the relationship could go beyond this season. “I just worry about what’s in front of me. I’m on a new team, I’m in a place that I’m familiar with, and I know that we’ve got a big game coming up against the New England Patriots Monday night.

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The Texans' decisive win over the Titans keeps them in the No. 1 spot. (Smiley N. Pool/Houston Chronicle)

1. TEXANS (11-1): The Texans have scored 351 points (2nd) and allowed 221 (4th). They’re the only team in the top 5 in both statistics.    LW: 1

2. FALCONS (11-1): In 5 seasons with the Falcons, RB Michael Turner has scored 58 touchdowns, a franchise record.    LW: 2

3. PATRIOTS (9-3): Tom Brady is first QB to lead his team to 10 division titles. Pats have won AFC East in 4 consecutive seasons.   LW: 3

4. BRONCOS (9-3): In his 14 seasons, Peyton Manning has 4,986 completions, second in NFL history to Brett Favre’s 6,300.     LW: 4

5. PACKERS (8-4): Aaron Rodgers has thrown a TD pass in 35 consecutive games at Lambeau Field, a record for any QB in any stadium.    LW: 9

6. 49ERS (8-3-1): Outside linebacker Aldon Smith has 17.5 sacks. He set a league record with 31.5 in his first 30 games.     LW: 5

7. RAVENS (9-3): Since 2007, FS Ed Reed has a league-high 13 interceptions in regular-season games played in December and January.    LW: 6

8. STEELERS (7-5): In their last 11 games played in December, the Steelers have a 9-2 record.    LW: 12

9. COLTS (8-4): Andrew Luck has thrown for 3,596 yards, the most in NFL history by a rookie in  his first 12 games.     LW: 10

10. BENGALS (7-5): In a roller-coaster season, Bengals won 3 in a row early, lost 4 in a row, and now have won 4 in a row.    LW: 11

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Stanford Routt (26), a former Coog, played seven seasons with the Raiders. (Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press)

After losing Brice McCain with a fractured foot and seeing Johnathan Joseph and Alan Ball miss Sunday’s 24-10 victory at Tennessee, the Texans were in the market for another cornerback before they play Monday night at New England.

The Texans worked out heavily criticized veteran Stanford Routt this morning. Then they met with him and interviewed him and have elected to sign him to a one-year, pro-rated deal.

Routt, 29, played at the University of Houston. Oakland selected him in the second round of the 2005 draft after he ran a 4.27 40-yard dash at the scouting combine. He played seven seasons with the Raiders.

Routt (6-2, 195) signed with Kansas City in the offseason. He was so bad with the Chiefs they placed him on waivers on Nov. 5.

Routt has been given perhaps a last chance to show the NFL that he’s coachable and not the problem child he’s been portrayed as. He’ll have to overcome that reputation with the Texans, who are 11-1 with a six-game winning streak.

Today, the Texans have three healthy cornerbacks – Kareem Jackson, Brandon Harris and Roc Carmichael. They’re hoping Joseph and Ball will be healthy enough to play against the Patriots.

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Wade Phillips and the Texans' defense could use some more manpower for the matchup against the Patriots. (Smiley N. Pool/Houston Chronicle)

Imagine what New England quarterback Tom Brady might do to the Texans’ defense if cornerbacks Johnathan Joseph and Alan Ball miss a second consecutive game because of injuries.

The Texans found out Monday that cornerback Brice McCain, who has done a tremendous job covering slot receivers over the last two seasons, suffered a fractured bone in his left foot in the 24-10 victory at Tennessee.

McCain, who started against the Titans because Joseph and Ball were sidelined, underwent surgery. The Texans designated for him to return, but under the league’s first-year rule, he has to be out for eight weeks, the last two for practice. If we see McCain on the field again this season, it won’t be until the Super Bowl in New Orleans.

The Texans are playing the Patriots, the highest-scoring team in the league. So far, they’ve survived injuries to linebacker Brian Cushing and Brooks Reed. They’re 6-1 since Cushing was lost for the season. They won their first game without Reed, who’ll be out another two or three weeks.

The Texans went to Tennessee without Cushing, Reed and Bradie James, three of their four starters, and they beat the Titans by 14 points to elevate their record to 11-1, including a six-game winning streak.

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Former Oakland and Kansas City cornerback Stanford Routt will be among the cornerbacks working out for the Texans on Tuesday.

With Brice McCain going on injured reserve, a roster spot will be available if the Texans choose to sign a veteran corner to replace him.

Routt played at the University of Houston and was drafted in the second round by the Raiders. He signed as a free agent with the Chiefs and was placed on waivers.

The Texans may not sign another corner if the others are healthy. They have Johnathan Joseph and Kareem Jackson as starters, with Alan Ball, Brandon Harris and Roc Carmichael as reserves. Joseph and Ball missed the Tennessee game.

Jones impresses against Titans

Punter Donnie Jones continues to impress. The veteran free agent, who signed a one-year contract in the offseason, was given a game ball for his performance in the 24-10 victory at Tennessee.

Jones punted 10 times. He had a 48.8-yard gross average and a 40.3-yard net average. He put five punts inside the 20.

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Brice McCain, leaving the field in Tennessee after injuring his foot, is going on injured reserve and will have to miss eight weeks. (Smiley N. Pool / Chronicle)

Coach Gary Kubiak confirmed today that cornerback Brice McCain underwent surgery to repair a fractured foot this morning.

The last thing the Texans needed was to lose one of their top defensive backs before they visit the New England Patriots, the highest-scoring team in the NFL.

McCain has been designated to return from injured reserve, but he’ll have to miss eight weeks. Under the new rule this season, each team can designate one player to return, but he has to miss six weeks and then practice for two weeks before being activated. That means the earliest McCain could return would be the Super Bowl.

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Brice McCain uses crutches as he watches from the sidelines during the second half on Sunday. (Smiley N. Pool/Chronicle)

The Texans’ epidemic of injuries to their cornerbacks continued Sunday.

Texans cornerback Brice McCain had surgery this morning after breaking his left foot against the Tennessee Titans. McCain is expected to take six weeks to heal

The Texans placed McCain on injured reserve and designated him to return this season. He will be eligible to start practicing again in six weeks.

By then, the Texans would be deep into a playoff run.

McCain started at cornerback Sunday in Nashville with both Johnathan Joseph and Alan Ball out due to injuries. When the backfield is healthy, McCain is the Texans’ nickel corner.

The Texans face the New England Patriots, who lead the league in total yards, next Monday. They could get starter Joseph back for the game, but their depleted secondary will still be cause for concern as they’ll often need multiple corners to neutralize the Patriots’ potent passing attack.

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Poll

Which injured player will be missed most by his team?

• Texans cornerback Brice McCain
• Patriots receiver/returner Julian Edelman

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The Texans and the Patriots, the two best teams in the AFC, going at it in Foxboro?

This is going to be a fun week, as close to the playoffs as we will see until January.

And yes, these are the two best teams in the conference. Forget what anybody tries to tell you about Baltimore or Denver.

The Super Bowl is going through either Houston or Foxboro. Period.

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The Texans racked up six turnovers and six sacks against the Titans Sunday. ( Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle )

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Texans manufactured just enough offense Sunday at LP Field to extend their winning streak to six games, go to 11-1 and clinch a second consecutive playoff berth.

Unlike last season, when the Texans celebrated after clinching the first playoff appearance in team history, reporters were greeted with a businesslike atmosphere in the dressing room.

“We know we have a lot more to accomplish,” receiver Andre Johnson said.

The Texans haven’t lost since they were plastered 42-24 by Green Bay on Oct. 14. If the offense doesn’t improve Dec. 10 at New England from its second-half performance against the Titans, the Texans will be obliterated. After scoring three touchdowns in the first half of Sunday’s 24-10 victory, the offense decided to sleepwalk in the second half, getting nothing but Shayne Graham’s 50-yard field goal in two quarters.

“We played great defense all day, but offensively, we played well in the first half and very poorly in the second,” coach Gary Kubiak said.

Stout defense
The Texans overcame injuries on both sides of the ball to take control of the game early and hammer quarterback Jake Locker because of a defensive performance that included six sacks and six turnovers.

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With McCain out, Kareem Jackson played with Brandon Harris and Roc Carmichael, both second-year cornerbacks. ( Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle )

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The last thing the Texans needed in their 24-10 victory over Tennessee was another rash of injuries, the kind that left them short-handed on both sides of the ball for Sunday’s game at LP Field.

When left tackle Duane Brown limped off the field in the second quarter, teammates, coaches and fans held their breath. Three plays later, they breathed a sigh of relief.
“I got a helmet on my left knee,” Brown said. “It was numb for a few minutes, but I was able to walk it off.”

Cornerback Brice McCain and tight end Garrett Graham weren’t as fortunate.

McCain is usually the nickel cornerback who covers an inside receiver, but he was pressed into starting duty against the Titans because cornerback Johnathan Joseph was nursing hamstring and groin injuries.

Game over for two
McCain left the game with a left foot injury and didn’t return. Graham left with a concussion and didn’t return.

“Brice is being evaluated,” coach Gary Kubiak said. “Obviously, there’s a concern. Graham has a concussion. We’ll start the process (concussion protocol) from that standpoint.”

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Mercilus notched two sacks, making his season total five, two quarterback hurries and a fumble recovery. ( Smiley N. Pool / Houston Chronicle )

Titans quarterback Jake Locker and Texans defensive end Antonio Smith confronted each other after Sunday’s game.

“The little young whippersnapper tried to come and tell an old cat how to play football,” Smith said. “He just came up to me. He faked like he was gonna dap me up. And like grabbed my hand and said, ‘I just want to tell you that was a (dirty) block.’ I just told him … are we playing football, or is this something else?”

Locker took exception to a block Smith threw on Titans center Fernando Velasco with about two minutes remaining in the game during linebacker Darryl Sharpton’s interception return.

Smith was flagged for a personal foul on the play.

“I just made a block. I guess only offensive linemen can make hard blocks or whatever,” Smith said. “So they threw a flag on me. What they gotta understand is we’re all just trying to play football. Nobody’s trying to deliberately hurt anybody.”

Great first start for Mercilus
It took awhile for the Texans to become comfortable enough to use Whitney Mercilus much, but the first-round pick seems to have found a groove.

Starting for outside linebacker Brooks Reed, Mercilus notched two sacks (making his season total five), two quarterback hurries and a fumble recovery.

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Glover Quin makes a stop on Kenny Britt as the Texans used all hands on deck to stop the Titans. (Smiley N. Pool / Chronicle)

NASHVILLE — The list of injuries was long for the Texans’ defense heading into Sunday’s game, and it only got longer as the game wore on.

Battered as they were, the Texans sought to recover from two lackluster defensive performances against a struggling Titans offense.

“It’s funny how things work in football,” Texans coach Gary Kubiak said. “I just told the team, you come in here missing some key defensive players, and you think you have got to play really well offensively, and we turn around and may have played as good of a defensive game as we have played this year. That tells you you’re a team, that you don’t really care how you win, or you don’t have a preconceived notion of how you are going to win. You just go out and play.

“They were exceptional today.”

Stark turnaround
Ten days after giving up 525 yards to the Lions, the Texans notched six turnovers, setting a team record, and six sacks, one shy of a team record, in a 24-10 win.

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J.J. Watt salutes a sack of Jake Locker. (Smiley N. Pool / Chronicle)

NASHVILLE — Growing up in Wisconsin, J.J. Watt was raised a Packers fan who idolized Green Bay’s players.

Heading into Sunday’s game against the Tennessee Titans, Watt knew he had a chance to equal an achievement by one of the most iconic Packers. He was only half a sack away from matching Reggie White’s 1991 feat of 15 sacks and 13 pass breakups in one season.

Watt topped it Sunday with a one-sack, two-pass-breakup performance that made him the first player in NFL history to notch 15 sacks (he has 151/2) and 15 pass breakups in one season.

“Almost incomprehensible,” said Watt, whose parents have a framed photo of White hanging in their basement near a collection of Watt’s awards. “I almost can’t put it into words. It means a lot to me.”

Watt also had a team-high five solo tackles (three for losses), two quarterback hits and a forced fumble in the Texans’ 24-10 win.

“I think we are looking at a guy that is as good of a defensive player that I have seen on the field and continues to do it every week,” coach Gary Kubiak said. “A little sick this week and missed some time and goes out there and plays the way he plays. He is leading the way.”

Fumble marks a first
As Watt’s big games go, Sunday’s started a little differently. Not with a sack or a tipped pass but a forced fumble on Titans running back Chris Johnson. Watt knocked it out — his first career forced fumble — and fellow defensive end Antonio Smith picked it up and tried to score. An inadvertent whistle blew the play dead, but Smith ran to the end zone anyway.

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Barret Ruud and the Texans were up close and personal with Jake Locker for most of Sunday. (Smiley N. Pool / Chronicle)

By Tom Weir

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — While giving up six turnovers and six sacks on Sunday, the Tennessee Titans looked like a team that desperately needs to find a new offensive coordinator.

Oh, wait. They just did that.

But the debut of Dowell Loggains as Tennessee’s new play-caller provided nothing that suggested his promotion from quarterbacks coach will tilt the balance of power in the AFC South any time soon.

Jake Locker was the primary victim of a still-inept offense that couldn’t contain Houston’s pass rush as the Texans dominated in a 24-10 win at LP Field.

In addition to three interceptions, Locker coughed up a pair of turnovers on fumbles and at one point was spotted spitting blood after biting his tongue.

“It’s not ideally how you want to start,” was Locker’s understatement regarding the failed effort to get the offense rolling under Loggains. “But I think the one positive you want to take away is the resolve we showed not to lay down and quit.”

That was true, given that the Texans didn’t capitalize significantly after taking a 21-3 halftime lead. But Tennessee failed to seize upon the running game it had going early, as Chris Johnson scooted for 35 yards on five first-quarter carries but added only 16 yards after that.

Locker and other Titans said their playbook understandably hadn’t been revolutionized in the course of one week.

“It’s a little different, but it’s only a week,” Locker said. “It wasn’t like a whole new playbook we were getting, but there were some differences.”

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