"Mario Williams has been at his best in prime time, so maybe this is the week he turns back into Super Mario.

"I think the bigger the game, the more important it is to him," Texans middle linebacker DeMeco Ryans said. "He just seems to step up when he's put on the big stage."

A few lockers down, cornerback Dunta Robinson made a prediction.

"I think you can expect a big game out of Mario Monday," he said. "Some guys are just better on the big stage when they feel like it counts the most."

Let's hope it's that simple and not something more. Months from now, we may find out Williams was playing this season with more pain than anyone will admit.

Those aren't things players admit in the grind of a regular season. All we know for sure is that Williams has a shoulder injury that has limited him at times in practice and surely has limited him in games. "