Before last week, the Houston Texans appeared to be the best team in the AFC.

That's no longer a foregone conclusion, and Sunday's game against the Ravens will determine which 5-1 team gets the nod.

While the Ravens struggled to hold on for a 31-29 win vs. the Dallas Cowboys in giving up a franchise-record 227 yards rushing at home, the Texans were embarrassed by the Green Bay Packers 42-24 at Reliant Stadium.

Is there anything to learn from what Green Bay did that can help Baltimore's chances?

"Everybody has them games where a team just has your number. Green Bay came in with a great plan and executed it," Ravens running back Ray Rice said. "That's not to say they won't show up ready to play on Sunday. … (Winning) this game puts us at the top and everybody else two or three games behind."

The Texans not only were coming off a short week after having played on a Monday night, but they were playing their first game without linebacker Brian Cushing who went down with a season-ending knee ligament tear.

While J.J. Watt gets a bulk of the attention, adjusting without Cushing probably factored into why Aaron Rodgers threw for six touchdowns as the Packers' offense dominated.

"He's such a huge presence. I felt like he anchored that defense because he got everything rolling. He covered just as good as he rushed," Rice said. "I'm good friends with him. I wish him a speedy recovery.

"The other linebackers -- no knock on them -- they're filling in great. I don't think you can replace a guy like Cushing right away because what (coordinator) Wade Phillips has done with that defense is essentially based around (Cushing) doing what he has to do."

Center Matt Birk points out that there's no shame in losing to Green Bay.

"Certainly they were at the top of their game. That's what it takes to beat this team. They're no fluke," Birk said of the Texans. "They're a great team. Being down at their place just adds to the challenge, adds to the degree of difficulty."