inning, Francoeur made a perfect no-hop throw to the plate

HOUSTON -- When the Houston Texans host the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, it will be the first time since 2010 theyll play without J.J. Watt.A person familiar with Watts condition said the star defensive lineman he had back surgery Thursday and it is expected to miss the rest of the season. The person spoke to The Associated Press on Thursday night on condition of anonymity because the team hasnt announced the surgery.Watt was placed on the injured reserve Wednesday. Its his second back surgery in two months after he missed training camp and Houstons four preseason games after surgery in July to repair a herniated disk. He will miss a game for the first time in his career after starting 83 straight games since he was drafted in 2011.Watts loss is a huge blow to a team looking to bounce back after a 27-0 loss to New England last week. The Texans know that one person cant replace what Watt brought to their team, but coach Bill OBrien expects everyone to pitch in to help make up for his absence.OBrien was with the Patriots in 2008 when they went 11-5 despite playing without Tom Brady for all but one game.Ive been around teams where a top player goes down and the mentality of the team, which needs to be the mentality of a team, is that if a good player goes down -- if any player goes down -- the next guy has to step up, he said. Thats the mentality of this team.Defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel wouldnt say who would start in Watts place. But he did say that other stars of his defense like Jadeveon Clowney and Whitney Mercilus will have to continue to improve to keep the defense afloat.Tennessee coach Mike Mularkey said their game plan wont change with Watt out and knows Houstons defense has plenty of other threats the Titans will have to deal with.They have a pretty good front there, so we have a lot of guys we have to handle up there, he said.The Titans have struggled against Houston the past two seasons and have lost four in a row in the series. Tennessee defensive tackle Jurrell Casey knows that if they hope to contend in the AFC South theyll have to figure out a way to beat the Texans.Its something thats been haunting us for the last couple years ... its a ... divisional opponent thats been on top of our division for a long time, he said. If we want to take our division by storm, its got to start this week.Some things to know about the Titans-Texans game:ROAD WARRIOR: Marcus Mariota has been at his best away from Tennessee so far in his young NFL career. In seven games on the road, Mariota has thrown for 1,612 yards with 12 touchdowns with only two interceptions for a 104.9 passer rating. He also has a rushing TD and caught a TD catch on the road. This will be his first game in Houston, and Mariota has five TD passes with a 92.6 passer rating in his last three games against divisional opponents. Mariota isnt sure why hes played so much better on the road, where three of his four career victories have come.Thats going to have to change, Mariota said. Really, again, Ive got to continue just to prepare like any other game, focus on what I have to do and what this team asks me to do, and just continue to be a better player each and every single day.NO EXCUSES: Houston quarterback Brock Osweiler is in his fourth year in the NFL, but spent most of that time as a backup and has just 10 career starts. Hes struggled so far this season, throwing four interceptions and three touchdown passes. He isnt using his inexperience as an excuse.I dont use my lack of starts as an excuse for anything, he said. I expect myself to play at an extremely high level. I have great confidence in my abilities and what I can do, and I have great confidence in the teammates around me to help me do my job. Im never going to use my lack of starts for an excuse or say: `Ill figure it out eventually or anything like that.OFFENSIVE BOOST: The Titans are hoping tight end Delanie Walker is back against the Texans; he missed the Oakland game with a right hamstring injury. He had a career season last year with 94 catches for 1,088 yards, and Walker has been the Titans biggest deep threat so far, with the longest reception this season at 32 yards. Barring a setback, wide receiver Kendall Wright also should make his season debut in Houston. Wright caught Mariotas first career touchdown pass but has been hampered by injuries over the past season. His return would provide a speedy boost to the offense.RETURNING TO HOUSTON: This will be the second straight season Andre Johnson has returned to the town where he played his first 12 NFL seasons and still keeps a home. Johnson had six catches for 77 yards and two TDs when he played the Texans as a member of the Indianapolis Colts last season, and he said its fun to go back home.Itll be good to go back and see some faces I havent seen in a little while, Johnson said.---AP Sports Writer Teresa Walker contributed to this report.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFLShane Bieber Jersey . Meanwhile, there were huge victories for Sunderland and West Ham over fellow relegation rivals, leaving the battle to avoid the drop up for grabs with the bottom 11 teams separated by just six points. Eden Hazard and Fernando Torres scored second-half goals to seal a fourth straight victory for Chelsea, which climbed above Arsenal and Manchester City in the standings ahead of their games on Monday and Sunday respectively. Eric Haase Indians Jersey . -- Nate Robinson has played for seven teams, so beating one of them is no longer a rare occurrence. https://www.cheapindiansonline.com/1528u-bob-ojeda-jersey-indians.html . But Bourque, who has missed three games with a lower-body injury, wont be in the lineup when the Habs travel to Buffalo to take on the Sabres on Wednesday. Jim Thome Indians Jersey . Miikka Kiprusoff had just announced his retirement after a decade-long run in Calgary and it would be up to Berra and Ramo to fill the void. Jose Mesa Indians Jersey . -- Anaheim Ducks defenceman Luca Sbisa will be out at least six weeks with a torn tendon in his right hand.PHILADELPHIA -- Arodys Vizcaino was one strike away from taking a lead into the ninth until Freddy Galvis caught up to his 99 mph fastball.Galvis hit a two-run homer with two outs in the eighth inning to lift the Philadelphia Phillies to a 4-3 win over the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday.Adonis Garcia hit a pair of RBI doubles for the Braves, including one in the eighth for a 3-2 lead. But Vizcaino, who has 10 saves, walked Maikel Franco to start the bottom half and allowed a single to Carlos Ruiz.After Tommy Joseph grounded into a double play, Galvis ripped Vizcainos 2-2 pitch into the seats in right field.Its a tough one anytime you lose a game like that on one swing, Braves left fielder Jeff Francoeur said. When you struggle, when it rains, it pours.Franco hit a homer for the fourth straight game to help the Phillies complete a three-game sweep and win for the eighth time in nine games.Braves starter Tyrell Jenkins allowed one run and four hits in 4 2/3 innings. He started in place of Julio Teheran, who returned to Atlanta to be treated for an infection on his right thigh.He did a great job stretching the game that far, Braves interim manager Brian Snitker said. He gave us everything he had. He was pitching. He was mixing pitches, keeping the ball down.Jenkins was converted from starter to reliever in the minors shortly before coming up. He made four relief appearances before getting his first start against the Phillies.It definitely gives me confidence, he said.Hector Neris (3-3) got the win despite allowing a go-aheaad run in the top of the eighth.dddddddddddd Jeanmar Gomez finished for his 23rd save in 25 tries.Phillies starter Jeremy Hellickson gave up two runs -- one earned -- and four hits in six innings.Garcia lined an RBI double to right-center to score Francoeur, giving the Braves a 2-1 lead in the sixth. Garcia hit a sharp grounder down the left-field line to put the Braves up 3-2.Franco tied it at 2 with an opposite-field shot to right off Chris Withrow in the sixth.Odubel Herrera sliced an RBI double down the left-field line with two outs in the fifth to tie it at 1. Earlier in the inning, Francoeur made a perfect no-hop throw to the plate from left field to get Galvis trying to score from second on a single.Jenkins waited at the top of the dugout to give Francoeur a hug.Nobody was surprised except me, Jenkins said of the throw.Hellickson walked Freddie Freeman with the bases loaded to force in a run in the third. A fielding error on second baseman Cesar Hernandez led to the unearned run.STANDINGSThe Braves (28-57) have the worst record in the majors while the Phillies (40-46) are inching closer to .500.CANNON ARMSince Francoeur made his debut in 2005, he leads all outfielders with 131 assists. Teammate Nick Markakis ranks second in that span with 100.UP NEXTBRAVES: RHP Lucas Harrell (1-0, 1.50 ERA) starts a makeup game at the Chicago Cubs before a three-game series at the Chicago White Sox. ' ' '