January 3, 2010
Finding a Clutch City Address
by Keith Weiland
Keith@IntheBullseye.com

Known mostly to date for finding creative ways to squander 17-point leads, the Texans entered unchartered territory on Sunday, overcoming a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter to beat the Patriots 34-27. The comeback, which was the team's ninth victory this season, gave the franchise its first-ever winning season.

The game itself seemed very much like a mini-version of the Texans' 2009 season. There was a decent enough start, followed by some toubles with the offense near the goalline, the emergence of the defense, a couple missed kicks, then a fumble, culminating with an impressive final push to close out the finish.

The fun started when quarterback Matt Schaub found tight end Joel Dreesen open for a 25-yard touchdown pass. The Patriots answered before the close of the first quarter when running back Fred Taylor ran off-tackle four yards to even the score. Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski then added a 51-yard field goal for the early 10-7 lead.

After a Texans drive stalled out on fourth down at the 1-yard line, the defense returned momentum to the home team. Linebacker Zac Diles forced Taylor to fumble, and safety Bernard Pollard pounced on the football for the defensive touchdown. Kicker Kris Brown's extra point attempt failed though, limiting the Texans to just a 13-10 advantage. Gostkowski tied the score at 13 with a 43-yard field goal in the final minute of the first half.

On their first possession of the second half, Schaub drove the offense down to the Patriot 15-yard line with a balanced attack supplemented by rookie running back Arian Foster. But a fumble by Ryan Moats nearly ruined the drive until receiver Jacoby Jones recovered. Alas, Jones' luck was short-lived, as he tipped a pass from Schaub that was intercepted by Darius Butler and returned 91 yards for a touchdown.

Brown then missed a 38-yard field goal attempt on the ensuing drive, allowing Patriots quarterback Tom Brady to engineer a scoring drive that ended with an 11-yard run by Taylor for the 27-13 lead.

Key Play

Down by two touchdowns with 14 minutes left in the regular season, the Texans had a gut check. Would this be the team to pack it up and accept another 8-8 season, or would it be a team that would turn the corner and fight for a winning season?

Having just taken a sack on second down to push the line of scrimmage back to the Patriot 46, Schaub faced a 3rd-and-15. Given the deficit, this might have been "four down territory", but the Texans quarterback wasn't ready to leave it to a single play. Instead, from the shotgun, he found Jones for a 17-yard completion that gave the offense a first down.

The play also seemed to give him a shot of confidence, as he went deep to Andre Davis on the next play, which resulted in a 26-yard pass interference. Following a false start penalty, Schaub then went back to Jones, who made an amazing 8-yard touchdown catch in the back of the endzone.

Following a three-and-out series by the defense highlighted by a sack of Brady by defensive end Mario Williams, the offense returned determined to even the score. Schaub completed passes to Foster, Andre Johnson, and Davis, setting up Foster for a 1-yard push into the endzone.

Brady remained in the game with four minutes to play. Dropping back deep for a pass on second down, Brady felt pressure from Williams and lofted a pass which Pollard intercepted.

With emotions high for the Texans and home crowd, the offense called Foster's number on four straight plays, the last of which ending with a 3-yard run for the 34-27 lead with 1:54 remaining. The defense then helped the Patriots force a turnover on downs to secure the win.

Game Balls

When nearly the entire team is seemingly deserving of a game ball, then the coaching staff is probably doing something right. Head coach Gary Kubiak may not be known for mid-game adjustments, but he has a group of players that have shown they are willing to play for him. Winning the last four games of the season, winning a game against the Patriots in which they were down by 14 in the fourth quarter, these are hallmarks of a coach who still has the heartbeat of his team.

Pollard certainly put his stamp on this one. Showing up earlier this season right about the time the defense started playing with an attitude, it was Pollard who was involved in both Patriot turnovers. Sure, he had teammates in front of him forcing the action, but it continues to be Pollard that enforces many of the good things this defense produces.

Offensively, Foster laid early claim to being the bell cow back of the future for this team. For the second week in a row, he had an impressive game. Against the Patriots, Foster carried 20 times for 119 yards and two touchdowns and caught three passes for another 26 yards. But it was his (and the offensive line's) ability to run it up the gut at the end that helped seal this victory for the Texans.

And if Pollard gives the defense its attitude, then Jones surely makes up for it on offense and special teams. Aside from his tip that led to the pick six, Jones put on another show in this one. Amazing catches, thrilling punt returns, and a playfulness to go with a short-term memory, Jones is starting to live up to immense potential.

Key Stat

9-7

Sure, a possible spot in the playoffs was on the line for the team, but a huge underlying part of the motivation for the Texans in this game was to finally make this franchise a winner. The comeback, the clutch plays, and the inspired emotion of the fourth quarter all come from a team playing for the pride of the team. For all the ups and downs this team gave us during the 2009 season, the final quarter is what should be most remembered, a milestone of performance and heart that will be the new hallmark of the franchise.

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December 27, 2009
A White-Knuckling Cliffhanger
by Keith Weiland
Keith@IntheBullseye.com

With faint playoff aspirations growing a little stronger, it took a onsides kickoff recovery for the Texans to close out a 27-20 victory over the Dolphins in a game where they once held a 27-point lead. The win, coupled with a host of other helpful outcomes around the rest of the league, keeps the Texans' playoff hearts beating into the final week of the regular season.

As they did versus Seattle two weeks ago, quarterback Matt Schaub and the offense tallied another impressive first half of football. Schaub hit receiver Andre Johnson for a 10-yard score to give his team the 10-0 lead through the first quarter. Schaub later nailed a deep pass to Jacoby Jones for a 44-yard touchdown and a 17-0 lead early in the second quarter.

The rushing offense also got involved as rookie Arian Foster rumbled 17 yards for the third touchdown of the half, giving the Texans the quick 24-0 lead. Kicker Kris Brown added his second field goal of the game before the defense finally allowed the Dolphins to respond with a three-pointer of their own just before halftime.

Then, as has been customary for the Texans, the team turtled out of the gate in the third quarter. The Dolphins narrowed the margin to 27-10 following a 12-play drive that ended when running back Lex Hilliard scored on a 2-yard run. Hilliard scored again early in the fourth quarter, catching a 10-yard pass to cut the deficit to just ten points.

As the Texans offense continued to sputter, the Dolphins kicked a field goal with 2:35 remaining in the game, shrinking the lead to seven.

Key Play

Out of timeouts, the Dolphins surprised no one by attempting an onsides kick. To say that the Texans' anuses could have crushed granite at this point is (probably) an overstatement, but to have a 27-point lead reduced to an onsides kick recovery is darn near inexcusable.

Well, we're living a Christmas miracle, so who cares right now. Wide receiver Kevin Walter leapt a million feet into the Miami sky to pull down the lofted onsides kick, securing the win. A crucial first down run by Foster on the ensuing series sent the game to kneeldowns, and the Texans escaped to keep their playoff hopes alive one more week.

Game Balls

Brian Cushing, take a bow. Deserving of the Defensive Rookie of the Year award, Cushing was once again a difference maker for the Texans defense, picking up a deflected pass for an interception, notching another sack, and making plays all over the field with his nine tackles.

Fellow linebacker DeMeco Ryans also played inspired defensive football in this one, leading the game with 11 tackles and generally enforcing his will wherever he went. The Texans also got decent games out of Bernard Pollard (seven tackles and a sack) and Antonio Smith.

Offensively, Foster quietly amassed 97 yards on his 19 carries. He justafiably enjoyed his final rush of the contest, a 6-yard run on third-and-3 to ice the win. And even more importantly, Foster kept a handle on the ball for the entire game.

Key Stat

16-60

Credit to the defense, particularly the front seven, for shutting down the Dolphins rushing offense. The Dolphins went to the air with some unexpected effectiveness in the second half (imagine if a tripping penalty had not negated that 62-yard touchdown catch by the Ted Ginn family?!), but the bottomline result here was that the Texans defense turned their opponent into a one-dimensional unit, their non-preferred dimension at that.

In doing so, they get a critical road victory and give their fans the chance to possibly witness history when they close out the regular season at home next Sunday against the Patriots. Where will you be when it happens?

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