HOUSTON -- The first time Houston faced the Patriots, top cornerback Johnathan Joseph played while still struggling to get healthy, and outside linebacker Brooks Reed sat out with an injury. . That game turned into an embarrassing 42-14 loss to New England. Now both are back to full strength, and the Texans believe that makes their defence much stronger this time around. "Right now, I can probably say this is the best Ive felt all year," Joseph said. He was slowed by a hamstring injury that kept him out the two games before the first matchup against the Patriots. "Obviously, back then I was good enough to play but I wasnt at my best," he said. "Right now I can say Im 100 per cent." Joseph, who often shadows the opponents best receiver, knows that he and the rest of the secondary will have their hands full. Not only must they deal with New Englands wide receivers, but also its tight end duo of Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski. Gronkowski didnt play in the first game against Houston. "They can place the ball on his back side or throw it up top and those guys both have great hands where they can make the difficult catch in traffic," Joseph said. "For us, it will be a task, but I think that we have the guys here that are up for the challenge. Its just about making plays." Reed, a second-year player, started 12 games in the regular season. Defensive co-ordinator Wade Phillips called him a "physical force." "Hes obviously a good player, but I think just his physicality really helps us as far as our mental toughness overall as a defensive unit," Phillips said. A frustrated Reed had to watch the team struggle against the Patriots and not be able to help out. "Now, its a little bit different," he said. "So Ill be out there and try to make plays of my own." Reed had a sack last week against the Bengals; he now has at least one in each the three post-season games in Texans history. His best playoff performance came last season against the Ravens when he had 2 1/2 sacks. Joseph appreciates Reeds versatility. "He can play the run and the pass, so hes a two-sided guy," Joseph said. "I think he had just experience from last year coming in ... so just having Brooks back and those guys rotating and whatever theyre doing up front, I think it just helps those guys from a health standpoint and just being fresh all the time." Houston is hoping to build on last weeks dominant defensive performance in its 19-13 wild-card win over the Bengals. The Texans limited them to 198 yards, which was the lowest yardage total in the first round of the playoffs, and only 53 before halftime. They also cleaned up their problems on third down, not allowing Cincinnati to convert any of its nine third-down chances. This week the Texans know they must get pressure on Tom Brady and make him uncomfortable in the pocket. Theyll look to defensive star J.J. Watt to lead that charge. Watt led the NFL with a franchise-record 20 1/2 sacks in the regular season. He also had 107 tackles, including 39 for losses, 16 passes defended and forced four fumbles. In Watts rookie season, the Texans lost to the Ravens in the divisional round. "We were happy to make it as far as we did, but this year, new year, new goals," he said. "Biggest goal of them all, Super Bowl, and this is a big step for us, and were really excited about the challenge." Phillips, who began coaching in the NFL in 1976, believes Watt is clearly the best defensive player in the NFL this season. "He had the best season ever," Phillips said. "I mean, nobody has had a season like that. Nobody has made that many tackles, that many sacks, that many pass breakups and that many tackles for loss or tackles for no gain in the history of football. Nobody has had a year like that. Its the best Ive ever seen, sure." [url=http://www.cowboysofficialteamstore.com/autographed-jason-witten-jersey-ea-... Witten Jersey . The UCI said Friday that the three-member independent commission will be chaired by retired British judge Philip Otton. His sports legal cases include a Premier League relegation dispute centred on Carlos Tevez, and Chelseas tactics in trying to lure Ashley Cole from Arsenal. . Gio Gonzalez followed Stephen Strasburgs strong effort a night earlier by pitching 6 1-3 effective innings to carry the Nationals to a 4-2 win over the Boston Red Sox on Saturday. [url=http://www.cowboysofficialteamstore.com/autographed-emmitt-smith-jersey-dx-... . However, re-writing the Winnipeg Goldeyes record book on your archrivals field is a satisfying alternative. [url=http://www.cowboysofficialteamstore.com/autographed-miles-austin-jersey-jp-... Austin Jersey . Coach Heyneke Meyer gave a first test cap to flanker Jacques Potgieter after Willem Alberts was ruled out of Saturdays game in Port Elizabeth following a knee ligament injury in the Springboks 36-27 win in the second test last weekend. . Starks, signed by the Steelers just before the start of training camp, missed the first two weeks of practice while rehabbing from a torn ACL in his right knee. The eight-year veteran is expected to battle for the starting left tackle spot.METZ, France -- Seventh-seeded Gael Monfils of France made a successful return after several months out with a knee injury, beating Olivier Rochus of Belgium 6-3, 6-2 in the first round of the Moselle Open on Tuesday. It was the 26-year-old Monfils first match since he lost to American player Brian Baker at the Open de Nice in May. The former Metz champion hit 21 aces as he won in a little more than an hour to set up a match against either countryman Nicolas Mahut or Daniel Brands of Germany. Earlier, eighth-seeded Nikokaly Davydenko of Russia overcame a shaky start to beat Mischa Zverev of Germany 2-6, 6-3, 6-3. Davydenko had his serve broken three times in the first set against Zverev, who hit seven aces in the match. [url=http://www.cowboysofficialteamstore.com/autographed-brandon-carr-jersey-sl-... Carr Jersey. Davydenko stepped things up in the second set and converted his three break points. He next plays either Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu or Gilles Muller of Luxembourg. Also, Clement Reix beat Edouard Roger-Vasselin 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 in an all-French match and next meets defending champion and top-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. In other first-round play, Ivo Karlovic of Croatia won 7-6 (5), 7-6 (3) against qualifier Kenny de Schepper, Vincent Millot of France beat Igor Sijsling 6-4, 6-4, and Frenchman Benoit Paire won 6-1, 6-4 against Xavier Malisse. ' ' '