Tim Tebow didn't throw a pass in the 2012 season opener.
Tim Tebow has thrown one pass in 2012. Reuters

Week 5 of the 2012 NFL Season concludes as the New York Jets and Houston Texans square off on Monday Night Football.

The contest is set to get underway at 8:30 p.m. ET at MetLife Stadium. The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN. If you can’t get to a TV, you can watch a free live stream online at espn3.com.

While the Texans are making a claim to be the best team in football, the Jets could be on the verge of a disastrous season. Houston is one of two undefeated teams in the league. New York is 2-2, coming off a 34-0 loss to San Francisco. As a result, the Jets are very big underdogs, despite playing at home.

The Jets will try to pull off the upset without a few of their best players. Darrelle Revis went down for the season, two weeks ago, when he tore his ACL against the Dolphins. Now, the team begins playing without their best offensive playmaker. Wide receiver Santonio Holmes will miss the rest of the year with a foot injury.

In Holmes’ absence, Jeremy Kerley will be Mark Sanchez’s No.1 option. He has 10 catches for 197 yards on the season.

It won’t be easy for the Jets wide outs to step up on Monday. They’ll be going against the third-best passing defense in the Texans. J.J. Watt hasn’t given opposing receivers much time to get open, picking up 7.5 sacks in just four games.

If New York has trouble moving the ball, Rex Ryan could decide to feature Tim Tebow in several packages. Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News reports that Tebow will get a lot of reps in the contest. The news comes just days after a report said owner Woody Johnson would push for Tebow to take over as the team’s starting quarterback.

Unlike the Jets, the Texans have one of the most dangerous offenses in the AFC. Led by Arian Foster and Ben Tate, Houston’s rushing attack has been dominant, averaging 136.5 yards on the ground per game.

Matt Schaub leads the top scoring offense in the AFC. The Texans score 31.5 points per game. His top option has remained healthy so far. Andre Johnson leads the team with 380 receiving yards and two touchdowns.

Betting Line: Houston-9, 40.5

Prediction: The Jets would have a tough time beating anyone now, let alone, arguably, the best team in the NFL. Sanchez and the offense had a hard time moving the ball against the 49ers. Look for the same to happen against the Texans.

Predicted Score: Houston 31, New York 10

National Football League