Official Texans vs. Browns Game Thread, 11/6/2011

[Keith]

Discuss the game action here.

Hope you changed your clocks last night and started your pre-game an hour early this morning...

[TheMatrix31]

Sure did. It's only 8:15am here, should really be 45 min to game time! Ahhhhhh.

Let's get it done. No reason to lose today. Get out there and take care of business.

[HPF Bob]

Fat boy says "no surprises" among Inactives but I haven't been able to run down an actual list. Sounds like Ogbannaya will start at RB for Browns. He was on our roster to begin the season.

[HPF Bob]

Inactives from ESPN.com:

Browns: S Ray Ventrone, RB Peyton Hillis, DE Auston English, QB Thaddius Lewis, RB Montario Hardesty, CB Dimitri Patterson, OL Steve Vallos

Texans: OL Thomas Austin, WR Andre Johnson, CB Brandon Harris, OL Andrew Gardner, TE Garrett Graham, S Danieal Manning, RB T.J. Yates

[Arky]

I wanna see the Texans run it a bunch.... Arian and (I hope) Tate both should hit 100+ today......

[Nconroe]

I'd like to see our D holdem to no touchdowns .

[Arky]

Texans win the kickoff and will receive.

McManis brings the kickoff back to the Texan 18.

[Arky]

Dump off to Dreessen gets about 5. Makes it 2nd and 5 coming up.

Schaub hits Dreessen over the middle for 22.

Pass to KW good for 5. Ball at midfield, 2nd and 5 coming up.

Dump off to Foster gets 6 and the 1st down.

Foster goes right side for 7. 2nd and 3 coming up.

Foster gets almost 3.... 3rd and 1 coming up.

Foster gets the 1 and a 1st down. Ball at the Brown 33.

Tate goes right side for 6.

Tate runs it in for the TD! 27 yards!

Texans 7, Browns 0

9:50 left in the 1st quarter

[TheMatrix31]

Beautiful, beautiful drive.

Now beat Colt into submission.

[HPF Bob]

I think I just heard a lot of tv sets turn off in Northern Ohio.

[Arky]

Nice return by Cribbs - brings the kickoff back to the Brown 25.

------------------------

Obie fumbles! Ryans recovers! Texans ball at the Brown 28.

-------------------------

Schaub can't find a receiver and throws it away. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Foster gets 6. 3rd and 4 coming up.

Pass complete to OD who takes it to the 10 yard line. 1st and goal at the 10.

Foster for 8. 2nd and goal at the 2.

Play gets blown up by pressure so Schaub chunks it away, inc. 3rd and goal at the 2.

Schaub on the QB draw gets the TD!

Texans 14, Browns 0

7:11 left in the 1st quarter.

[chuck]

I think I just heard a lot of tv sets turn off in Northern Ohio.

What you first heard was people turning their sets on. What you JUST heard was their turning them off again.

[HPF Bob]

This could be over by halftime.

[Arky]

Cribbs brings the kickoff all the way back for 66 yards... Flag on the return.... Cribbs with the facemask on his tackler (McCain) backs it up 15. Ball is placed at the Brown 48 yard line.

Obie for no gain.

Pass to Little good for 9. 3rd and 1 coming up.

Obie gets 2 and the 1st down. Ball at the Texan 41.

Obie for 2. 2nd and 8 coming up.

Pass to Cribbs good for 7. 3rd and 1 coming up.

Pass to Little off his hand, inc. Makes it 4th and 1. Browns to go for the FG.

Dawson's 50-yarder is good.

Texans 14, Browns 3

3:43 left in the 1st quarter.

[Arky]

McManis brings the ensuing kickoff back to just over the Texan 25.

----------------

Pass to JJ good for 17.

Foster goes right side for about 5 but holding on Winston brings it back. Makes it 1st and 20.

Dump to Foster gets 3. 2nd and 17 coming up.

Foster gets 8. 3rd and 9 coming up.

Dump off to Foster gets 8. Makes it 4th and 1. Texans to punt.

Punt goes into the endzone so Browns ball at their 20.

[Arky]

Obie for almost 4. 2nd and 6 coming up at the Brown 24.

End of the 1st quarter.

------------------

Obie gets 4. Makes it 3rd and 2.

McCoy's pass goes inc but flag on the play. Texans offsides (Mitchell) gives the Browns a 1st down at their 33.

McCoy nearly sacked, gets 1 yard. 2nd and 9 coming up.

Obie for 2. 3rd and 7 coming up.

Pass to Cribbs good for 6..... Makes it 4th and 1. Browns to punt.

JJ brings the punt back for small gain. Ball at the Texan 29. 12:00 left in the half.

[Arky]

Tate sweeps right side for 24 yards. Ball at the Browns 47.

Foster gets 6 on the right side.

Dump off to Casey gets 1. 3rd and 3 coming up.

Dump off to OD goes for nice gain, ball at the Brown 27, 1st down.

Schaub's dump off to Tate in the flat goes inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Tate powers for 9. 3rd and 1 coming up.

Foster runs it in for the TD! 19 yards!

Texans 21, Browns 3

8:06 left in the half.

[HPF Bob]

This is like watching the Longhorns yesterday - why go away from the ground game when it works this well?

Texans 21, Ohio Texans 3.

[chuck]

I want one more this half.

[TheMatrix31]

This offense is gonna be insane when Andre comes back.

[Arky]

Short kickoff (avoiding Cribbs) is brought back to the Brown 30. Browns ball.

-----------------------

Clayton rushes for 4.

McCoy gets sacked by Cush! Holding on Browns is declined. Makes it 3rd and 11.

McCoy's pass goes inc out of bounds. Browns have to punt.

Punt goes out of bounds at the Texans 31. Texans ball.

[Arky]

Foster for 3. 2nd and 7 coming up.

Foster for about 3 more. 3rd and 4 coming up.

Schaub's pass is batted down at the LOS. Texans have to punt.

Cribb's not much on the punt return. Browns ball at their 19.

4:55 left in the half.

[HPF Bob]

That's MISTER Alexander to you!

[Arky]

Obie for 1. 2nd and 9 coming up.

McCoy's pass to Watson good for 13 and a 1st down.

Obie for 4. 2nd and 6 coming up.

Slant pass is off the mark, inc. Makes it 3rd and 6 coming up.

3rd down pass goes inc. Browns have to punt on 4th and 6.

Nice return by JJ! 50 yards! Ball is at the Brown 40.

2:40 left in the half.

[Arky]

Schaub's pass to OD is broken up, ball goes flying and is INT'ed by Jackson, returns it to their 42. Browns ball.

-----------

Obie for no gain. 2nd and 10 coming up.

2 minute warning.

[Arky]

On 2nd and 10, dump off pass is ruled inc. Makes it 3rd and 10 coming up.

Flags presnap. Offsides Browns. Makes it 3rd and 15.

Screen to Obie goes for 13. Makes it 4th and 2. Timeout Browns with 1:06 left in the half.

--------------

Browns going for it on 4th and 2.

Dump off to Moore gets 6 and the 1st down.

Flags presnap. False start Browns. Makes it 1st and 15 at the Texan 49.

McCoy sacked by Reed! 2nd and 19 coming up.

Pass is INT'ed by Demps! Nice return brings it to the Browns 21 or so.... Flags on the play. Roughness on Browns places the ball at the Browns 11.

Texans to kick a field goal with 3 seconds left.

Rackers 28-yarder is good!

Texans 24, Browns 3

Halftime.

[HPF Bob]

McCoy had all those timeouts. He needed to call one after the sack and get his team together. The next play looked poorly ad-libbed which led to the INT. A veteran QB would have called time immediately but I don't entirely blame Colt. Where are his coaches at that point?

[Arky]

Halftime stats:

Passing: Schaub 10/15, 90 yds, 1 INT

Rushing: Tate 4/66, Foster 10/64, Schaub 1/2

Receiving: Foster 3/17, Dreessen 2/27, OD 2/24, JJ 1/16

Tackles: Cush/GQ 4 each, KJ/Reed 3 each, Ryans/Barwin/Mitchell 2 each

Time of possession: Texans 16:36, Browns 13:24

3rd down efficiency: Texans 5/7, Browns 1/6

Red zone: Texans 2/3, Browns 0/0

Penalties: Texans 2/15, Browns 4/35

Total yards: Texans 222, Browns 70 yards

Turnovers: Texans 1, Browns 2

[chuck]

McCoy had all those timeouts. He needed to call one after the sack and get his team together. The next play looked poorly ad-libbed which led to the INT. A veteran QB would have called time immediately but I don't entirely blame Colt. Where are his coaches at that point?

I was incredulous also. They had two time outs. I was thinking the same thing you were, if Colt's not smart enough to use one after the sack surely someone on the sideline must be.

I want to see the offense keep their cleats on the throats of these goons in the second half, no letting up. Run the ball every down for all I care, but keep the intensity and keep scoring.

[nunusguy]

This offense is gonna be insane when Andre comes back.
Who's Andre ?

[Arky]

Browns bring the 2nd half kickoff back to their 30.

Obie TFL'ed by Allen, -2. 2nd and 12 coming up.

Obie gets 10. 3rd and 2 coming up.

McCoy sacked by Reed! Sack #2 for Reed. Browns have to punt.

Punt is downed by the Browns at the Texan 18. Texans ball.

[chuck]

Who's Andre ?

I was just trying to remember who Mario is. Or Merrio, whatever the hell his name was.

[Arky]

Foster for about 28 up the middle.

Foster for 11. Ball at the Brown 43.

Tate for 8. 2nd and 2 coming up.

Tate gets 2 and the 1st down.

Foster TFL -3. 2nd and 13 coming up.

Pass to JJ gets 13 and a 1st down. Ball at the Brown 22.

Foster for 1. 2nd and 9 coming up.

Dump off to Foster gets 7. 3rd and 2 coming up.

Pass to OD goes to the 6 yard line, 1st and goal at the 6.

Foster for 3. 2nd and goal at the 3.

Timeout Texans with 6:05 left in the 3rd quarter.

--------------------

Schaub can't find a receiver and throws it away. Makes it 3rd and goal at the 3.

Ditto, Schaub throws it away. Texans to go for the FG.

Rackers 21-yarder is good.

Texans 27, Browns 3

5:45 left in the 3rd quarter.

[chuck]

Where the &^#% was Ben Tate on that goal line sequence? I just don't get Kubiak sometimes.

[HPF Bob]

Hard not to believe two runs would have put us in the end zone there.

[Fonz the Boss]

I think that was more of Kubiak trying to keep the streak of consecutive games with a pass TD for Matt Schaub... it failed miserably

[Arky]

Browns bring the short kickoff back to their 32. Browns ball.

-----------------

Obie TFL'ed by Cush for no gain. A Brown (A Smith) is injured on the play. Injury timeout. Makes it 2nd and 10.

Pass to Cameron is good for 7.

Screen to Watson goes for big gain. Ball at the Texan 48.

Pass to Cribbs good for 15.

McCoy scrambles for 4. 2nd and 6 coming up.

Pass to Massaquoi goes inc. 3rd and 6 coming up.

McCoy is sacked by Barwin! Browns to go for the FG.

Dawson's 51-yarder is good.

Texans 27, Browns 6

2:08 left in the 3rd quarter.

[Arky]

McManis brings the kickoff back to the Texan 21.

Tate for 8. 2nd and 2 coming up.

Tate for 14 more ....

Foster for 5. 2nd and 5 coming up. Ball at the Texan 48.

Flags thrown. Offsetting penalties.

End of the 3rd quarter.

[Arky]

On 2nd and 5, Foster gets 2. Makes it 3rd and 3 coming up.

Foster gets the 3 and the 1st down.

Tate for 1. 2nd and 9 coming up.

Schaub's pass to JJ is low, inc. 3rd and 9 coming up.

Foster for 10 and a 1st down.

Tate for about 2. 2nd and 8 coming up.

Schaub can't find a receiver on the boot and throws it away. 3rd and 8 coming up.

Dump off pass is complete to Foster but he slips and is short of the 1st down. Texans to go for the FG.

Rackers 50-yarder is good.

Texans 30, Browns 6

10:35 left in the game.

[HPF Bob]

We've put this one on cruise control.

Gotta say I'm impressed with D'Quell Jackson. He's had a heckuva game.

[Arky]

Rackers short kickoff is brought back to the Browns 36. Browns ball.

----------------

Pass to Cribbs goes to the Texans 44.

Clayton gets 3. 2nd and 7 coming up.

Pass to Norwood gets 6. 3rd and 1 coming up.

Clayton TFL -2 by Watt/Cush. Makes it 4th and 3. Browns to go for it.

Clayton gets the 3 and the 1st down.

McCoy's deep pass is inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Pass to Moore gets 5. 3rd and 5 coming up. Ball at the Texan 29.

Oh man, floater pass goes complete to Little at the Texan 5. 1st and goal Browns.

Clayton for 2. 2nd and goal.

McCoy scrambles out of bounds for loss of 1. 3rd and goal at the 2.

Dump off pass to Cribbs is good for the TD. Browns to go for 2-point conversion.

Cody INT's the 2-point conversion pass and gets tackled.

Texans 30, Browns 12

4:47 left in the game.

[Arky]

Browns try to the onside kick. Recovered by Dreessen at the Texan 43.

-----------------

Tate for 11. Ball at the Brown 46.

Tate for 2. 2nd and 8 coming up.

Ward for 6. 3rd and 2 coming up. Timeout Browns with 3:48 left.

---------------

Ward gets 3 and the 1st down. Browns use their last timeout.

---------------

Ward TFL -2. 2nd and 12 coming up.

Oh no, Ward fumbles. Browns pick it up and run it all the way back to the Texan side of the field. Kubes challenges that Ward was down. 2:37 left in the game.

Refs rule runner's arm was down. Still Texans ball. Makes it 3rd and 13 at the Brown 38.

Ward gets 7.

2 minute warning.

[chuck]

Kubes wins a challenge! Son of a bitch.

Still, I'm pretty damn unhappy with the offensive output in the second half. You can beat the Browns like this but you can't hope to win in the playoffs.

[Arky]

On 4th and 6, Texans to go for it.

Ward sweeps right for 7 and the 1st down.

Texans kneeling it out.

Final score:

Texans 30, Browns 12

Well done, fellas... 3 games over .500 and 6-3 for the first time in team history.

[nunusguy]

That's the most comfortable I can remember feeling for awhile for a Texans game - seemed like from start to finish it wouldn't be that challenging, but
now they get much tougher with TB, Jacksville, ATL, and Cinci with all but one on the road.
Also I think we got out of that game without any serious injuries ?

[NBT]

Kubes wins a challenge! Son of a bitch.

What' that, 1 for 6 for the year?

[painekiller]

I disagree with Chuck, you did what you needed to do in the 2nd half, you ran the ball and used the clock. Another sub 3 hour game. The team was in control the entire game, both on offense and defense. They even figured out not to kick to Cribbs.

I want to point out that Jacoby Jones performed the best block I can remember a WR laying down in a long time. With out that block Tate does not score.

Rick Smith needs to be given credit for an excellent off season. The hiring of Wade Phillips, the draft, the free agent signings, the team being in control of their destiny, Thank you Rick.

[HPF Bob]

I've noticed a lot less bitching about Jacoby Jones the past couple of weeks. I even liked the one punt where he had a few guys around him and he just caught it and moved straight ahead for a few yards without any dancing. The old JJ would have run backwards for five yards and then got tackled.

This is turning out to be a great Sunday. The Titans lost. The Patriots lost. The Raiders and Chargers lost. I think we've now moved into the second spot in the AFC playoff order and we can conclude there are no dynasty teams in the AFC this year.

Even if we drop a game or two the next five weeks, we should still be ahead of the Titans going into the final two weeks. BTW, Tennessee still has to play the Saints.

Now, it's time to watch the Crips and the Bloods, um, I mean the Steelers and Ravens. Gotta root for the Bloods here because hating the Steelers just never goes out of style.

[chuck]

Among Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Cincinnati only once have any of these teams played each other. Someone is going to lose some games going forward. We'll start on that theme tonight.

[WMH]

Also I think we got out of that game without any serious injuries ?

Antonio hurt his shoulder. Didn't sound major in the interviews, but he will have an MRI tomorrow. Other than that, we came out pretty good this week.

FINALLY!

[barrett]

Very well played game today. Cowher raved in the CBS postgame about the Texans being the most balanced team in football. I would agree. We don't really do anything excellent, but we do everything good. I am not sure what that will turn into in January, but I am very excited to find out.

And I think all of the AFC North teams are overrated. They are all defensive standouts because nobody is that good offensively. And defense no longer wins you championships, because the best teams will score points no matter what you do defensively with the current rules. If AJ played against Baltimore we would have had a good chance to sweep their division.

[Arky]

I was impressed with Tate today. The guy is a beast. Strong. Some of those runs today were just raw power in motion and a joy to watch. His running is a little bit reckless - might have to live with the occasional fumble from him but I believe he will counter that with many big plays...

[nunusguy]

I was impressed with Tate today. The guy is a beast. Strong. Some of those runs today were just raw power in motion and a joy to watch. His running is a little bit reckless - might have to live with the occasional fumble from him but I believe he will counter that with many big plays...
Tate might very well be the best pure runner the Texans have had ? Quick and explosive, runs very hard, and has excellent top end speed. He is fun to watch.

[Arky]

Tate might very well be the best pure runner the Texans have had ? Quick and explosive, runs very hard, and has excellent top end speed. He is fun to watch.

Arian might be the most well-rounded back we've seen. Slick moves, smooth runner, runs through microscopic holes in the defense.... We are lucky to have him...

Tate is the raw beast....

Call them Thunder & Lightning, Slick and Kick (ass), Beauty and the Beast..... :p

[WMH]

Absolutely LOVE this:
http://www.chron.com/sports/texans/article/Texans-get-tough-in-30-12-win-over-Browns-2255894.php

"And if Cushing has to bleed a little more, he's happy to do it.

"That's the second time it's happened this season," he said, smiling. "It was kind of uncontrollable today, just pouring out. If it sends a message to our team about playing physical and gets them going, I'll do it every game. That's just the way I play.""

[WMH]

Antonio hurt his shoulder. Didn't sound major in the interviews, but he will have an MRI tomorrow. Other than that, we came out pretty good this week.

FINALLY!

MRI came out clean per Kubiak's presser. May miss some practice, but Smith will be good to go this weekend.

[TheMatrix31]

So uh, guess who has the number one DEFENSE in football right now?

[NBT]

Rick Smith needs to be given credit for an excellent off season. The hiring of Wade Phillips, the draft, the free agent signings, the team being in control of their destiny, Thank you Rick.

And just think, prior to TC (or lack of), everybody was calling for Rick Smith's, head to roll. I agree, RS has done a helluva job. Also McNair is not quite the idiot owner people were saying he was.

[Keith]

Free slushie at Sonic tomorrow (11/8) courtesy of the score on the opening drive of the second half.

http://www.houstontexans.com/fan-zone/sonic.html

You're welcome.