Official Texans @ Chargers Game Thread, 9/9/2013

[WMH]

Just wanted to start this......FINALLY!

Ed Reed is practicing, status TBD Thursday/Friday. I'm guessing he's going to play on a pitch count. He hasn't missed a game in 2+ years.

Nuk passed all his tests, and will be good to go.

[WMH]

From the Chronic, which has become an even worse source of "news" than before....if that's possible.

http://blog.chron.com/ultimatetexans/2013/09/chargers-mccoy-says-rookie-manti-teo-could-play-against-texans/

Chargers coach Mike McCoy said Wednesday rookie linebacker Manti T’eo continues to make progress and could play Monday during the season-opener against the Texans.

“He’s getting better every day,” McCoy said during a media interview. “We’re taking it one day at a time with him and he’s done a great job of following the plan and we’re just going to keep going with that.”

Teo sprained his right foot during the Chargers’ preseason opener. He is no longer wearing a walking boot, though.

“He’s doing anything he can,” McCoy said. “So, as soon as he’s healthy, he’ll be out there.”

[Arky]

Texans vs. Chargers

TV = ESPN, 9:15 CST, MNF

Announcers = Chris Berman, Trent Dilfer

The line (http://www.madduxsports.com/nfl-odds.php) = Texans by 3.5 to 4

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

Houston viewing (http://506sports.com/nfl-tv-maps-2013-week-1) on Sunday:

Early:

Oakland @ Indianapolis, Marv Albert, Rich Gannon, CBS
Atlanta @ New Orleans, Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston, Tony Siragusa, FOX

Late:

Green Bay @ San Francisco, Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, FOX

Sunday night:

New York Giants @ Dallas, NBC

[Nconroe]

Apparently a little bad news for Texans, David Quessenberry broke his foot and will be out for year. See how he is replaced. Still have Ben Jones and Wade Smith should be back soon.

[HPF Bob]

Ed Reed will not be active for Monday's opener says CBS Sports.com.

Will Reed become our Ahman Green or our Tony Boselli?

Sucks about Quessenberry. I had him penciled in as a starter by midseason (see the front page article).

[WMH]

Ed Reed will not be active for Monday's opener says CBS Sports.com.

Will Reed become our Ahman Green or our Tony Boselli?

The national media has never been accurate with our players status. I'm holding out hope.....long shot, but hopeful. As long as he's around in December/January, I'm OK with that.

Will he be Green or Boselli, time will obviously tell, but I wouldn't put them in the same category. I think of Reed as more of a luxury than a need. We'll be good without him, but we'll be better with him.

[nunusguy]

Texans vs. Chargers

TV = ESPN, 9:15 CST, MNF

Announcers = Chris Berman, Trent Dilfer

The line (http://www.madduxsports.com/nfl-odds.php) = Texans by 3.5 to 4

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

Houston viewing (http://506sports.com/nfl-tv-maps-2013-week-1) on Sunday:

Early:

Oakland @ Indianapolis, Marv Albert, Rich Gannon, CBS
Atlanta @ New Orleans, Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston, Tony Siragusa, FOX

Late:

Green Bay @ San Francisco, Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, FOX

Sunday night:

New York Giants @ Dallas, NBC
Some of these spreads are surprising:
Oakland & the defending SB champs are 9.5 & 7.5 dogs, respectively. Say what ?
If we have to get AFC South, wish we were getting KC @ Jacksonville instead of Raiders & Indy. Go Chiefs ! GB @ SF/game of week.

[WMH]

@LanceZierlein: Wade Smith is back as the full-time starting LG for the Texans and Ed Reed will definitely not start on Monday if he even plays.

Keo starts at safety. Swearinger's in the dime off the bench.

[Nconroe]

sGettin close to game time now. little over seven more hours.

Lots of Texans who are new and/or didn't play in preseason, so will be their first regular season game as a Texan.

Anyways, fwiw, I predict maybe 31-17 Texans win, but they gotta play the game.

[Keith]

Updating this to be the official game action thread.

Lots to be curious about as a viewer, but how Kubiak handles the RB workload between Foster and Tate will be interesting. I think Kubiak wants to be prudent and ease Foster back in and save him some carries for later in the season, but I also think he's thought that before and still let Foster carry the burden anyway.

I'd like to see the defense shut this down tonight too. Cushing's back and Watt sounds like he is ready to unleash hell, so I hope we see a couple guys playing like they're possessed out there.

While settling for FGs will suck, I wouldn't mind seeing Bullock get a few under his belt to make sure his confidence has a solid foundation. Having an NFL-untested kicker is still concerning to me.

Oh, and how about some barely average play from our special teams? Is that too much to ask? :p

[TheMatrix31]

I'm ready baby, I'm ready.

March to New York begins tonight.

Let's go.

[Arky]

K Martin brings the kickoff back to about the Texan 15. Texans ball.

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

Schaub's pass is tipped and picked off. Chargers ball at the Texan 14.

[Keith]

well this sucks.

And I waited all week for Monday Night.

[Arky]

Eheh, Rivers hits Mathews along the sideline for the 14-yard TD.

Chargers 7, Texans 0

14:45 left in the 1st quarter.

LOL, 15 seconds to get the ball back and score a TD...... smh....

[Arky]

Nice return by Martin on the kickoff to about the Texan 40.

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

False start on Brown -5. 1st and 15 coming up.

Pass to AJ in the flat gets about 4 yards. 2nd and 11 coming up.

Pass to AJ too tall, inc. 3rd and 11 coming up.

Screen to Foster gets about 7. Texans have to punt.

Lechler's punt is downed by the Texans at the 5 yard line. Chargers ball.

[Arky]

Mathews gets 4. 2nd and 6 coming up.

Mathews for no gain. 3rd and 6 coming up.

Pass to Royal is complete for the 1st down at the Charger 27.

Mathews for 2.

Holding on Chargers/Mercilus with the sack..... Penalty declined - brings up 3rd and 14....

Not sure what happened but 3rd and 24 coming up.

Handoff to Mathews gets 12. Chargers have to punt.

Punt goes out of bounds at the Texan 29. Texans ball. 9:02 left in the 1st quarter.

[HPF Bob]

So we started the year with a WTF interception. Offense starting to warm up now.

[Arky]

Foster for 2 or 3.

Foster for another 2 or 3. 3rd and 5 coming up.

Pass to Graham good for about 11 and a 1st down. Ball at the Texan 46.

Tate for 3.

Pass to OD goes to the Charger 33.

Foster for about 1.

Tate for 14. Ball at the Charger 18.

Tate for 8 or 9 up the gut.

Foster to the 1 yard line. 1st and goal at the 1.

Pass to OD good for the 1-yard TD pass.

Texans 7, Chargers 7

3:11 left in the 1st quarter.

[HPF Bob]

Three hour nap then watching the game then need to get up at 5 am to go to work. Hoping this game goes quickly.

[Arky]

Chargers down the ensuing kickoff in their endzone. Chargers ball at their 20.

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

Mathews for 4.

Pass to Green ruled inc. 3rd and 6 coming up.

Dumpoff to Woodhead gets about 10 and the 1st down at the Charger 35.

Mathews for 8.

Rivers pressured, throws inc. 3rd and 2 coming up.

Flags pre-snap - delay of game on the Chargers -5. Makes it 3rd and 7.

Pass to Gates goes to the Texan 47. Texan offsides is declined. 1st and 10 for the Chargers.

Mathews for 3.

End of the 1st quarter.

[BigBull]

The defense needs to wake up and they need a better 3rd cb.

[Arky]

Ball at the Texans 44.

Mathews for about 1. 3rd and 5 coming up.

Dumpoff to Woodhead almost gets the 1st down - inches short. Chargers going for it on 4th down....

Mathews for 2, 1st down.

Brown for 7 up the gut.

Oy, Rivers deep pass to Royal is inc but they get McCain for the PI. Places the ball at the Texan 6.

Pass to Royal in the endzone complete for the 6-yard TD.

Chargers 14, Texans 7

12:24 left in the half.

[popanot]

Pathetic start here. This team is in trouble this year if they're relying on the offense to carry them week in and week out.

[Arky]

Martin brings the ensuing kickoff back to the Texan 16. Texans ball.

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

Tate for 2.

Pass to AJ good for the 1st down at the Texan 36.

Pass to OD goes for big gainer - 28 yards. Ball at the Charger 36.

Foster sweeps left for 5.

Tate for almost 4.

On 3rd and 1, Foster is inches short of the 1st down. Texans going for it on 4th down.....

Foster stopped cold. Chargers take over on downs at their 27.

[barrett]

Why not a QB sneak? I don't know why anyone runs anything else with inches to go.

[BigBull]

They look unprepared and uninspired on both sides of the ball.

[Arky]

Mathews for 1.

Mathews for 7. 3rd and 2 coming up.

Rivers sacked by Manning. Chargers have to punt.

Martin fair catches the punt at the Texan 28. Texans ball.

[Arky]

Short pass to Foster goes for 5.

Short pass to Hopkins goes nowhere. 3rd and 5 coming up.

Pass to AJ goes all the way for the TD...... AJ hit the ground once upfield.... play is under review to see if he was touched down.....

[Keith]

Why is Duane Brown getting beaten like a rented goalie?

[BigBull]

Is it time to cut Jean yet?

[Arky]

Play is reviewed and AJ is ruled to have been touched at the Charger 40.

Tate gets about 13 but flag on the play.... Holding on Jean brings it back. Makes it 1st and 12.

Dumpoff to Graham in the flat gets 5.

Schaub's pass to AJ is broken up inc. Makes it 3rd and 7 coming up.

Schaub is pressured throws inc. but holding on Chargers gets the auto 1st down at the Charger 32.

Foster for 8.

Foster slips for 1. 3rd and 1 coming up.

Foster gets about 2 or 3 but flag on the Texans for holding, Jean again. 3rd and 11 coming up.

Schaub's pass to OD overthrown. Texans to go for the FG.

Bullock's 51-yarder is no good. Score remains:

Chargers 14, Texans 7

2:01 left in the half.

[barrett]

This is like a how-to manual for screwing up a game and giving a bad team confidence.

[Big Texas]

Is it time to cut Jean yet?

It is absolutely time to let him go...

[Big Texas]

This is like a how-to manual for screwing up a game and giving a bad team confidence.

Its almost expected...

We look absolutely pathetic

[popanot]

I'm stunned. Stupid penalties, stupid calls, nobody making plays on D. For some reason Kubiak refuses to let Tate get in a groove when he's clearly our best and most physical guy on O tonight.

Nice plan. Put a rookie on Gates.

[Big Texas]

Am I the only one that saw the false start?

[Arky]

Pass to Floyd ruled inc. at the sideline.

2 minute warning.

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

On 2nd and 10, Rivers scrambles for 18 yards.

Brown on the delay for 2 yards. Ball at the Texan 39.

Rivers deep pass sails inc. 3rd and 8 coming up.

Pass to Gates goes all the way to the Texan 5.

Rivers pass goes out of the endzone, inc. 2nd and goal coming up.

Fade to Floyd is complete but out of bounds. 3rd and goal coming up.

False start on Chargers backs it up 5. 3rd and goal from the 10.

Dumpoff pass complete to the Texan 1. Play is under review..... (was it a TD?)

[barrett]

That was a clear false start on the gates long play.

[Big Texas]

That was a clear false start on the gates long play.

Im surprised no one, even the commentators, mentioned it...

[Arky]

Play is ruled a TD......

Chargers 21, Texans 7

18 seconds left in the half.

[Big Texas]

I refuse to listen to any other comments from Kubiak after practice:

"Keo is looking really good"
Bullshit

"Arian is looking really good"
Arian looks out of sync and tired

Kubiak is full of shit...

[chuck]

Vintage Kubiak, vintage Texans. Man, I'm glad I don't spend money on this bullshit anymore.

[Big Texas]

So I guess our defensive philosophy is
"live by the man coverage and die by the man coverage"

Truly we have NOBODY who can cover in space...we are dying"

[Big Texas]

Does anybody think that the chargers are going to be superbowl contenders?

Or

Are we getting are asses kicked by some scrubs...?

[Arky]

Schaub's pass is broken up, inc.

Pass to AJ goes for 22. 6 seconds left. Ball at the Texan 42.

Another deep pass AJ at the sideline is complete. Will allow Bullock to try a 59-yard FG with 2 seconds left.

Looks like they are reviewing AJ's last catch..... I see both feet down with possession...... Announcers say his elbow came down out of bounds, first....

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

Last catch is ruled inc.

Texans hand off to Foster for 5.

Halftime.

[BigBull]

Does anybody think that the chargers are going to be superbowl contenders?

Or

Are we getting are asses kicked by some scrubs...?

Asses kicked by some scrubs no question about it.

[barrett]

Am I crazy in thinking Andre's feet were both down? These reviews are killing us.

[barrett]

That's 2 plays, both potentially worth points where they overturn with razor thin replays. Brutal.

[Arky]

Halftime stats:

Passing: Schaub 12/18, 147 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT

Rushing: Tate 6/39, Foster 10/34

Receiving: AJ 4/71, OD 3/47, Graham 2/17, Foster 2/12

Tackles: Manning/Mays/Mercilus 4 each, Cushing/Keo 3 each, Mitchell/Crick 2 each

Time of possession: Texans 16:19, Chargers 13:41

First downs: Texans 10, Chargers 10

Total yards: Texans 220, Chargers 173

Red zone: Texans 1/1, Chargers 3/3

3rd down conversions: Texans 2/5, Chargers 5/8

Penalties: Texans 4/46, Chargers 4/25

Turnovers: Texans 1, Chargers 0

[Nconroe]

That's 2 plays, both potentially worth points where they overturn with razor thin replays. Brutal.

Agreed. Just hope we can rally with points in second half.

Brutal listening to these espn announcers.

[popanot]

Am I crazy in thinking Andre's feet were both down? These reviews are killing us.Hate to complain about officiating when we're clearly getting our asses handed to us, but yes, it's been all SD so far and the refs don't seem to be calling anything on SD. Watt was basically tackled 3 plays in a row in the 1st Qtr and they didn't call any of them. Then the Gates play, then the reviews... Fact is, the Texans are getting outmuscled on D and the O looks like typical Kubiak lackluster, slow play. This scheme is as stale as month old bread.

[barrett]

Agreed. Just hope we can rally with points in second half.

Brutal listening to these espn announcers.

Trent Dilfer came in with 2 story lines in the quick draw holster, Philip Rivers is still good and the Texans cannot stop elite QBs. He even had a graphic showing how Luck had passed for 377 yards and 4 TDs and neglected to say it came in 2 games. He also included Andrew Luck but not Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco because that didn't fit the theory. Or the fact that Manning was trash against us and set a personal record for most incompletions ever in a game and did his damage in garbage time.

The biggest shame is we are making him look right. The pass rush better start getting home in the 2nd half or we are in trouble.

[popanot]

LOL. Nice start. Wish we could hit big throws like that.

[Big Texas]

We look TERRIBLE with Keo back there...

[barrett]

Hate to complain about officiating when we're clearly getting our asses handed to us, but yes, it's been all SD so far and the refs don't seem to be calling anything on SD. Watt was basically tackled 3 plays in a row in the 1st Qtr and they didn't call any of them. Then the Gates play, then the reviews... Fact is, the Texans are getting outmuscled on D and the O looks like typical Kubiak lackluster, slow play. This scheme is as stale as month old bread.

Yep. We look terrible. It's hard to believe you could be flat for a season opening Monday night game. Poor job by the coaches getting them ready to play.

But yes, even when you are terrible and are more angry at your team, you can still expect competence from the officials.

[Arky]

Chargers down the 2nd half kickoff in their endzone. Chargers ball at their 20.

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

Rivers deep pass to Floyd is complete at the Texan 33. 47 yards.

Timeout Chargers.

Rivers pass too high, inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Brown for 5. 3rd and 5 coming up.

Dumpoff pass to Brown goes all the way to the Texan 13. 1st down.

Brown for no gain.

Dumpoff to Brown gets 9.

Rivers pass is complete at the 1. 1st and goal.

Short pass to Royal goes for the TD.

Chargers 28, Texans 7

10:42 left in the 3rd quarter.

[BigBull]

This is getting ridiculous. The flood gates are wide open.:(

[barrett]

What just happened there? Did Rivers just yell at the officials until they picked up the flag for the obvious pick?

[Big Texas]

This is getting ridiculous. The flood gates are wide open.:(

The flood gates were wide open when they threw that first TD to Matthews...

They went right to our playoff game from last year against NE and are running exactly the same looks...

Our LB are getting exposed in coverage against the RB...

[chuck]

What just happened there? Did Rivers just yell at the officials until they picked up the flag for the obvious pick?

Yes. I hate to complain about the officiating but this is crazy.

[Arky]

Martin brings the ensuing kickoff back to the Texan 30. Texans ball.

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

Foster for 7.

Dumpoff to Foster gets 6 and the 1st down.

Foster for 9 up the gut.

Schaub is pressured and throws inc. Refs rule grounding. Brings up 3rd and 18.

Schaub hits AJ for 20 and the 1st down.

Swing pass to Foster gets 5.

Tate for 1. Makes it 3rd and 4 coming up.

Slant to AJ goes for 10 or 12 and gets the 1st down. Ball at the Chargers 25.

Foster for 1.

Flags pre-snap. Defense offsides, 5 yards. Makes 2nd and 4 coming up.

Pass to Hopkins goes for about 10 or so.... Ball at the Charger 7, 1st and goal.

Pass to Graham over the middle goes for the the TD.

Chargers 28, Texans 14

4:57 left in the 3rd quarter.

[Nconroe]

Nice drive. Hope the defense can figure something out. Maybe a turnover please.

[BigBull]

Hopefully the defense can slow the bleeding down now.

[BigBull]

At least our special teams still suck. I wouldn't want that to change.:confused:

[BigBull]

Wow Keo made a play. I'm in shock.

[Arky]

Chargers bring the ensuing kickoff all the way back to their 38. Chargers ball.

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

Deep pass to Gates is broken up by Manning, inc. 2nd and 10 coming up.

Mathews for maybe 1. 3rd and 9 coming up.

Rivers pass is broken up, inc. Chargers have to punt.

Martin returns the punt to the Texan 25. Texans ball. 3:30 left in the 3rd quarter.

[Big Texas]

Wow Keo made a play. I'm in shock.

I was just thinking the same thing...he was actually in the right place AT THE RIGHT TIME for a change...

[Big Texas]

So can we score and get back in this game?

Not feeling very confident...

[nunusguy]

Who's not a Shiloh fan !
It was a good play, but I figured they'd throw a flag re that "unprotected receiver" crap.

[Arky]

Dumpoff pass to Tate gets about 4.

Pass to AJ gets 10 and a 1st down.

Pass to Hopkins good for 14. Ball at the Chargers 48.

Schaub is sacked. 2nd and 21 coming up.

Dumpoff to Foster goes for 8. Makes it 3rd and 13 coming up.

Timeout Texans with 44 seconds left in the 3rd quarter.

Deep pass to Hopkins good for about 30 yards. Ball at the Charger 21.

Foster for 2.

End of the 3rd quarter.

[Big Texas]

I can't help but wonder if its that Foster looks really unFoster-like or is it just bad run calls?

[Arky]

Schaub's pass to Hopkins in the endzone goes inc. 3rd and 8 coming up.

Schaub's pass to Foster isn't caught..... Texans to go for the 37-yard FG.

Bullock's FG is good but flag on the play.....Charger get tagged for a 15-yard penalty.... Texans still alive... 1st and goal at the 9.

Pass to OD good for the TD!

Chargers 28, Texans 21

14:44 left in the game.

[barrett]

To be fair, that was a terrible call in our favor. How did this Ref get Monday night?

[HPF Bob]

You sometimes get the feeling that Kubiak and Phillips are both still coaching from the last century. WCO had it's day. 3-4 defense had its day. But the schemes are getting so predictable that even superior talent can't make them dominant anymore.

Supposedly, Bud Adams' reason for firing Bum Phillips was that he had run the course with a "high school playbook" on offense. Then they switched to Stabler and Casper and two TEs and went to slop.

Makes you wonder if the game is passing by our top coaches.

IIRC, the Texans have never beaten the Chargers. Maybe they are to us what we are to the Dolphins.

[BigBull]

Don't look but we have a game now.

[Big Texas]

Lost in the horrible play of this game is the fact that "wait for it......"

MATT SHAUB IS PLAYING REALLY WELL...

[Arky]

Bullock's ensuing kickoff is downed in the endzone. Chargers ball at their 20.

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

Mathews for loss of 2.

Chargers rush for 3. 3rd and 9 coming up.

Rivers pass is batted down by Watt. Chargers have to punt.

Martin brings the punt back to the Texan 27 or 28 yard line. Texans ball.

[Nconroe]

Well, those 4 losses were a long time ago, few of these coaches or players were around.

That was a call in Texans favor or roughing defenseless center.

Defense now got two in a row 3 and outs.

Maybe Texans got the momentum now.

[Arky]

Short pass to AJ good for 6.

Schaub's pass was batted down, inc. 3rd and 4 coming up.

Pass to AJ gets almost 4.......about a foot short of the 1st down.... Texans to punt.

Fake! Ball gets snapped to Keo who runs it up the gut for the 1st down!

Dump pass to Foster get 1. Nice one-handed catch....

Down goes Schaub. Loss of 6. 3rd and 15 coming up.

Flags pre-snap. Delay on Texan -5. 3rd and 20 coming up.

Schaub's short pass is dropped by Foster, inc. Texans have to punt.

Royal brings the punt back to about the Charger 14. Chargers ball.

[BigBull]

Keo for president.

[barrett]

If the special teams and Keo make a great play at once, should I be looking for two other horsemen of the apocalypse?

[barrett]

And we waste the first fake punt I have ever seen us attempt or convert.

[Big Texas]

Well I guess, we just came back to reality...

[BigBull]

It was fun while it lasted.

[Big Texas]

Is it me or has Duane Brown been getting his ass roasted this game...?

[nunusguy]

Kubiak must have been on drugs tonight, never thought I'd see him make that move in that situation.

[Arky]

Ball is at the Charger's 13. 9:38 left in the game.

Cushing with the pick 6! Touchdown!

Texans 28, Chargers 28

9:30 left in the game.

[BigBull]

He's back. Cush just made his presents felt.

[barrett]

I just had the quietest celebration in my living room at 12:17 with my wife and kids sleeping. Silent screaming, fist pumping, flexing, total bedlam with barely a peep.

[Nconroe]

Is it me or has Duane Brown been getting his ass roasted this game...?

Dwight Freeney has had some good plays, more than most, on Duane Brown.

What a play by Cushing. Tie game. Wow.

[Big Texas]

I just had the quietest celebration in my living room at 12:17 with my wife and kids sleeping. Silent screaming, fist pumping, flexing, total bedlam with barely a peep.

Same here....

[barrett]

Rivers throws a game tying 4th quarter pick 6 and Dilfer talks him up and says it wasn't a bad play, just a good one by the Texans and you are going to make mistakes sometimes.

Did he buy Rivers stock or something?

[WMH]

Rivers throws a game tying 4th quarter pick 6 and Dilfer talks him up and says it wasn't a bad play, just a good one by the Texans and you are going to make mistakes sometimes.

Did he buy Rivers stock or something?

Must've, as I have NEVER heard the words Elite and Rivers in the same sentence......

[Arky]

Bullock's ensuing kickoff sails out of the endzone. Chargers ball at their 20.

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

Rivers pass is off the mark, inc.

Ditto. Brings up 3rd and 10.

Rivers pass is off the hands of Royal, inc. Chargers have to punt.

Martin brings the punt back to the Texan 28. Texans ball.

[BigBull]

Man Tate is running like a runaway locomotive tonight.

[Big Texas]

Foster looks rusty...

Keep Tate in the game

[Big Texas]

How many times are we gonna shoot ourselves in the foot....DAMNNNNNN

[Arky]

Tate for nice gainer around right end.....11 yards.

Pass to Hopkins gets 12.

Tate for 4. 2nd and 6 coming up.

Dumpoff pass to Tate gets 3. 3rd and 4 coming up.

Flags pre-snap. -5 against Texans offsides.... 3rd and 9 coming up.

Timeout Texans.

Short pass to Graham only gets 3. Lechler to punt.

Chargers fair catch at their 16. Chargers ball.

[Arky]

Mathews for loss of 1 or no gain. About 5 minutes left in the game.

Wow, what a spot. Swing pass goes for about 8.

Rivers pass is off the mark. Chargers have to punt.

Punt is downed at the Texan 39. 3:53 left in the game.

[Arky]

Short pass to OD goes for about 11. Ball at midfield.

Pass to AJ gets 8. Under 3 minutes left in the game.

Foster squeezes for 3 and the 1st down at the Charger 38.

2 minute warning.

[Arky]

Foster for -1.

Quick out to AJ gets 5 or 6.

Pass to AJ gets about 8. Ball at the Charger 24.

Foster for no gain. Under a minute left in the game.

Foster for no gain. Texans running down the clock to attempt a game winning FG. 5 seconds left.

Bullock on for the 41-yarder.

FG is good!

Texans win!

Texans 31, Chargers 28.

Whew!

[Big Texas]

ANDRE JOHNSON IS A BEAST....

On another note....

Foster has looked really bad...

[barrett]

Exhale.

Secondary woke up and Rivers started throwing ground balls, but the pass rush has to get home or we can't play how we play. But hey, no 1st downs on the last 5 drives, hard to complain.

I actually think all we needed was Bob's proclamation (based on 3/4 of the first game of the year) that modern football had passed us by. From that point forward we turned back the clock and didn't give up another 1st down. Thanks for the reverse jinx Bob.

[Big Texas]

What a game....

We have to mix up the man and zone coverages. I am pretty sure all the other teams were watching. They have already began to put together a gameplan on how to beat us...

[nunusguy]

Like Barrett said, we got a gift on that penalty they called on our FG try that gave us a 1st down, but I still never thought we'd come back from that 3 TD hole we dug for ourselves. Feel real fortunate to start 1-0 tonight.

[Nconroe]

Very sweet come back win. Ok as a first game win.

[popanot]

Rivers turned back into his usual pumpkin self once the D decided to get physical. That's how this D needs to play. Aggressive, fast and downhill. The O even picked up their pace and good things happened.

[barrett]

Like Barrett said, we got a gift on that penalty they called on our FG try that gave us a 1st down, but I still never thought we'd come back from that 3 TD hole we dug for ourselves. Feel real fortunate to start 1-0 tonight.

That looked like a preseason call. Where you are overly tight to the letter of the new rule to establish that you really can't do that. Surprising that they would call it there in a regular season game. It reminds me of them getting Barwin on the GB field goal attempt last year for leaping.

[BigBull]

Glad to see them get the win. I was worried for little while there. Bring on them Titans.

[Keith]

Amazing how the Chargers threw away their gameplan once they scored to start the 3rd quarter.

Hopkins had a beautiful catch. Terrific hands on that guy.

The OL had a bad day in pass pro. Yet Schaub still had a good game for a guy who can't throw the ball more than 30 yards anymore.

The call on the Chargers for hitting the center on the FG attempt had to be karma owed to the Texans for a couple iffy video replay calls in the first half.

Cushing looked lost in coverage until he made that leaping pick-6.

A win's a win though. Pats escaped with a W in Buffalo and all I hear is how great they are in Week 1 games.

[HPF Bob]

After Cushing's TD, I figgered we'd win. Took all the mojo out of the Charger huddle. SD had several late-game collapses in the Norv years and it's great to see they still have the same gift even with Norv gone. :)

Weeks 3-5 are the real test (at BAL, vs SEA, at SF). That will tell us if the Texans are contenders or pretenders.

Astros won, too. Now it's off to bed.

[Nconroe]

I think Schaub looked pretty solid and leaderlike. Andre , DeAndre and OD had fantastics games. Defense really manned up. Special teams did good too. All around team success .

[TheMatrix31]

That's some damn resolve right there.

[HPF Bob]

From a Broncos message board:

That was a really touching tribute to Norv Turner tonight. The way the Chargers blew that game was just heartwarming. Way to remember your former coach. The pick six was a nice touch, Rivers. You are classy, San Diego.

[cadams]

thoughts on the game:

the o-line looked off, even when they were in the middle of the comeback.

schaub acutally moved around a little bit, though he did crumble a couple of times as well under the pass rush.

while i know this probably happens in every game aroudn the league, there were numerous no calls on clear holds against jj throughout the game.

even though he missed his first kick, i love having a kicker that has a chance from 60.

special teams was better because of the kicker's ability to keep returns to a minimum.

how about going with the sugar huddle from the beginning of the game, they seem to get into a rythym whenever they are using that.

finally, the wheel route . . .they need to find a way to defend against that play or they are going to have a healthy dose of it all season long.

[WMH]

Jeckyl and Hyde halves last night.

Freeney has always owned D Brown. Last night was no exception.
I thought the right side played better than the left. If they can put both together, we should be OK.
If L. Jean sees the field again in crucial situations, I'm going to be :mad:
I thought Schaub looked pretty damn good. Moved well, threw good on the run. Pretty impressed with his night.
Nuk is the real deal, and I am stoked he's here. Saw a couple of decent blocks from him as well. Kubes like that.
Our LB's are abysmal in coverage.
Swearinger had some +'s and -'s, but that's OK.
The Ninja's absense was definitely noticed in JJ's production.

Did anyone catch Foster's act on the sideline? I thought that was kinda bush league. I understand he wants to be in the game, but don't act like a little bitch when the coach is doing EXACTLY what he told everyone he was going to do, split carries.

[Arky]

Early line (http://www.madduxsports.com/nfl-odds.php), Texans opened as 8.5 pt favorites over Tennessee. Already up to 10 pts on some books.. That's a lotta points.....

[popanot]

Our LB's are abysmal in coverage.
The Ninja's absense was definitely noticed in JJ's production.

Did anyone catch Foster's act on the sideline? I thought that was kinda bush league. I understand he wants to be in the game, but don't act like a little bitch when the coach is doing EXACTLY what he told everyone he was going to do, split carries.LBs: Yes, the coverage was very poor. Also, I know it's just one game, but the OL for the Chargers isn't exactly considered to be one of the stronger units in the NFL, and once again, our OLBs couldn't get any outside pass rush going. Mercilus looked good in the 1rst QTR but I don't remember him doing anything after that. Reed didn't show much either and got toasted on the first Chargers TD.

JJ: I thought JJ had a good game. He'll take somewhat of a hit from the media today because he didn't have his usual monster game, but from what I saw, he was constantly in the backfield despite being double-teamed all night. And if he wasn't in the backfield, it was usually because they were holding him. I'm amazed at how often he had a guy draped all over him and the refs completely ignored it. I do agree with you tho that Ninja will help the D considerably.

Foster: Yes, he was pouting and cussing at Kubiak in the 4th QTR when Tate was in there. I like when a guy wants to be in there, but show some class - especially since you didn't even practice or play the entire preseason - and don't be a pouty fool. Fact is, Tate was running harder and was way more of a threat last night than Foster was. In fact, I was surprised they let Foster play as much as he did and I felt it hurt the team some. At least in last night's game it did. I think if they had let Tate get 2 or 3 full and consecutive series under his belt he would have worn down the SD defense and eventually broken one. I think going forward Foster will need to learn to live with the platoon situation or he'll be the one gone and Tate will be the one that stays. And Arian, can you please stop putting so much tape on your shoes? The slips are really getting annoying.