The Houston
Texans learned last week that
they have to play to the very
end. On Sunday that lesson paid
off.
Matt Schaub threw interceptions
on Houston’s first two
possessions, but ran for a
3-yard touchdown with 3 seconds
left, leading the Texans to a
29-28 victory over the Miami
Dolphins on Sunday.
The Dolphins (2-3) had knocked
down consecutive passes in the
end zone before Schaub ran for
the score. The 2-point
conversion failed, but Houston
had enough points.
That drive was kept alive when
Andre Johnson caught a 23-yard
pass on fourth-and-10.
Houston (1-4) got its first win
in dramatic fashion a week after
blowing a 17-point
fourth-quarter lead in a 31-27
loss to the Colts...
Chad Pennington passed to Patrick Cobbs down the middle
for 53 yard gain (Dan Carpenter made PAT)
7 - 0
1:02
HOU
FG
Kris Brown kicked a 27-yard field goal
7 - 3
2nd Quarter
11:37
MIA
TD
Chad Pennington passed to Patrick Cobbs to the left for
80 yard gain (Dan Carpenter made PAT)
14 - 3
9:07
HOU
FG
Kris Brown kicked a 33-yard field goal
14 - 6
5:24
HOU
TD
Brandon Fields punt. Jacoby Jones returned punt for 70
yards (Kris Brown made PAT)
14 - 13
3rd Quarter
10:00
HOU
TD
Matt Schaub passed to Andre Johnson down the middle for
12 yard gain (Kris Brown made PAT)
14 - 20
6:18
MIA
TD
Ricky Williams rushed to the left for 5 yard gain (Dan
Carpenter made PAT)
21 - 20
4th Quarter
6:04
HOU
FG
Kris Brown kicked a 42-yard field goal
21 - 23
1:45
MIA
TD
Ronnie Brown rushed up the middle for 6 yard gain (Dan
Carpenter made PAT)
28 - 23
0:03
HOU
TD
Matt Schaub rushed up the middle for 3 yard gain (2pt
attempt failed, Steve Slaton run to the right)
28 - 29
Team Statistics
MIA
HOU
First Downs
14
23
Passing
7
13
Rushing
7
8
Penalty
0
2
Third Down Efficiency
2-10
6-15
Fourth Down Efficiency
0-0
2-2
TOTAL NET YARDS
370
485
Total Plays
51
70
Average Gain Per Play
7.3
6.9
NET YARDS RUSHING
96
114
Rushes
24
27
Average Per Rush
4.0
4.2
NET YARDS PASSING
274
371
Completions-Attempts
19-25
22-42
Yards Per Pass Play
10.1
8.6
Times Sacked
2
1
Yards Lost to Sacks
10
8
Had Intercepted
1
2
PUNTS
7
3
Average Punt
47.4
46.7
PENALTIES
4
1
Penalty Yards
30
5
FUMBLES
1
2
Fumbles Lost
0
2
TIME OF POSSESSION
27:43
32:17
Pregame Previews, Storylines,
and News
Preview:
An organizational overhaul is beginning to pay dividends for the
Miami Dolphins, giving the once-downtrodden franchise some hope. Continuity,
meanwhile, doesn't seem to have helped the Houston Texans progress.
With consecutive wins over last season's AFC finalists, the confident Dolphins
look to keep the Texans winless Sunday.
Houston (0-4) improved in each of coach Gary Kubiak's first two seasons with the
team, going 6-10 in 2006 and 8-8 last year. But the Texans are still seeking
their first win of '08, and are coming off two particularly disheartening
defeats.
Miami's last two games, meanwhile, have lifted the team's spirits, beating New
England and San Diego by a combined 55-23 to double its win total from a season
ago. The Dolphins (2-2) reshaped their organization in the offseason, hiring
Bill Parcells as vice president of football operations and Tony Sparano as
coach, and they've now won consecutive contests for the first time since a
four-game run in November 2006...
DOLPHINS: More
of the same. Throw the Wildcat offensive formation at them in the first
quarter to keep them on their heels and then pound the ball with Ronnie
Brown and Ricky Williams with the second-ranked run offense in the AFC.
The Texans have the 26th-ranked run defense, allowing 139.8 yards a
game. Rookie LT Jake Long will be asked to protect QB Chad Pennington
from monstrous DE Mario Williams. The Wildcat has helped keep Pennington
clean, with just seven sacks in four games...FULL
STORY
TEXANS:
Offensively, it's critical that the Texans run the ball. It's not going
to be easy though. The Dolphins rank seventh in the league in run
defense. The Texans not only need a balanced offensive attack to improve
their chances of winning, they need to run the ball simply to run down
the clock and keep the Dolphins offense off the field. The Dolphins have
their best success when they are running the ball and leading in time of
possession...FULL
STORY
With 390 total yards
against San Diego in Week 5, the Dolphins have 851 yards combined in
their last two contests
The
Texans have beaten the Dolphins all three times the two teams have
played (twice in Houston) and each of those contests was decided by
three points or less
Miami has outscored opponents by a
combined 24-0 in the fourth quarter this season
13.5
12.5