Week 12 Game Recap: Houston Texans 11, New York Jets 26

What you need to know

Houston Texans

The Texans were basically outplayed on both sides of the ball. The offense could not get anything going against the swarming Jets defense. Most of the Texans’ offense came during garbage time when the Jets had a big lead and were in their prevent defense. The Houston defense wasn’t very good at stopping the Jets. They allowed six scoring drives totaling 26 points. They were unable to create any turnovers and only recorded one sack against Pennington.

David Carr threw the ball 54 times completing 39 of them. He threw for 321 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Again, most of this was when the Jets had a big lead. It seemed like most of his completions were dump offs since the Jets’ secondary played very well and had his receivers covered very well. A lot of his passes were sideways instead of down the field.

Wali Lundy was the starting running back for Houston but he was more like a receiver in this game. He only carried the ball eight times for 11 yards. He caught eight passes out of the backfield for 68 yards. Samkon Gado had three carries for four yards. It’s tough to win the game when your running backs carry the ball for a total of 15 yards.

Andre Johnson and Eric Moulds both had ten catches in the game but neither one crossed the 100 yard receiving mark. Johnson pulled in the only touchdown for Houston. It was a three yard touchdown catch and it came late in the fourth quarter with the Jets already ahead 26-3. Most of their receptions were on very short passes. Both of them averaged less than ten yards per reception.

The Texans’ special teams failed them went their punter fumbled the snap at midfield and wasn’t able to get the punt off. It gave the Jets great field position and they took advantage, driving for a field goal.

New York Jets

The Jets dominated this game until they played prevent defense halfway through the fourth quarter. Chad Pennington was very good with his throws, completing 24 of 31 for 286 yards and a touchdown. The Jets played mistake free football. They had no turnovers on offense and only gave up one sack. They didn’t even take a penalty until 4:39 was left in the fourth quarter. On defense the Jets had great coverage on the Houston receivers and forced David Carr to check down on most of his throws. The rush defense for New York completely shut down the Houston running game.

Pennington got away with one of his few mistakes. He almost got picked off at the goal line on their first field goal drive. Dunta Robinson dropped a sure interception right at the goal line. It could have been a huge momentum swing. Pennington took over the game on the Jets’ first drive of the second half. He completed five passes on the seven play drive that resulted in a 12 yard touchdown pass to Coles.

The Jets’ running game wasn’t much better than Houston’s. They only gained 35 yards between their three running backs. Leon Washington led the way in yards gained with 17. Cedric Houston had the most carries with 11 but only gained 13 yards. He did have the other Jets touchdown though. Barlow added eight carries for only five yards.

Coles and Cotchery were the top receivers for the Jets pulling in nine and seven catches respectively. Both Coles and Cotchery gained over 100 yards. Coles made a nice reception for the touchdown in the front left corner of the end zone. It was thrown short and he made the adjustment to outplay the defender for the ball. Cotchery made a number of big plays that led to points for New York.

What you ought to know

QB David Carr, Pass: 39 - 54 - 321 - 1 TD / 1 INT, Rush: 2 - 10 - 0

Carr’s arm must be tired. He threw 54 times in the loss to the Jets. He completed 39 passes but most of them were short. He rarely threw down the field due to the Jets good coverage in the secondary. It seemed like most of his passes were being thrown sideways instead of up the field. Most of Carr’s yardage came after the Jets were up 26-3 and were in their prevent defense. His total for the game was 321 yards with one touchdown and one interception. The touchdown was the first for Carr in 20 quarters. He also had a terrible interception at his own 26 yard line in the third quarter. The Jets took advantage of the short field and picked up a touchdown to put the game out of reach.

RB Wali Lundy, Rush: 8 - 11 - 0, Rec: 8 - 68 - 0 (10 targets)

Lundy got the start at running back. He had eight carries for 11 yards. The Jets completely shut him down on the ground. Due to the running game being ineffective, Houston went to screens and short dump off passes. Lundy caught eight balls for 68 yards. Lundy picked up three first downs, all on passes. He also caught the pass from Carr to convert the two point conversion on the Houston touchdown.

RB Samkon Gado, Rush: 3 - 4 - 0, Rec: 1 - -4 - 0 (3 targets)

Gado was ineffective during what little playing time he had. He carried the ball three times for a total of four yards. He was also thrown to three times, catching one for negative four yards.

WR Andre Johnson, Rec: 10 - 98 - 1 (15 targets)

Once again, David Carr looked his way most often. Of his 15 targets, Johnson caught ten of those passes for 98 yards and a touchdown on a three yard pass play. The catch capped an 11 play 76 yard drive. On that drive, Johnson caught three passes for 32 yards. Johnson caught six passes for 64 yards in the final two Houston drives. All of this was when the Jets were in their prevent defense.

WR Eric Moulds, Rec: 10 - 79 - 0 (13 targets)

Moulds had ten catches for 79 yards. Like Johnson, Moulds caught a bunch of passes in Houston’s final two drives. He made five catches for 35 yards in the fourth quarter. Moulds picked up four first downs during the game. He was thrown to on third down four times, getting the first down on only one of them. Twice he ended up being a yard short of the first down resulting in a missed field goal and a punt. On the last play of the game, Moulds caught a nine yard pass but was tackled at the Jets’ three yard line.

WR Kevin Walter, Rec: 2 - 22 - 0 (3 targets)

Walter caught a couple of passes for 22 yards in the fourth quarter. He had a third catch wiped out due to the Jets only penalty. It was a two yard catch but the penalty was five yards and resulted in a first down. His 13 yard catch resulted in a first down during the Houston touchdown drive.

WR Derrick Lewis, Rec: 1 - 5 - 0 (1 targets)

Lewis was only thrown to once and made the catch for five yards. It came on Houston’s touchdown drive in the fourth quarter.

TE Owen Daniels, Rec: 5 - 34 - 0 (7 targets)

Daniels had five catches for 34 yards. He had two catches that resulted in first downs. On Houston’s field goal drive, Daniels got called for a 15 yard Illegal crack back block. The Texans overcame the penalty and continued the drive for a field goal.

TE Jeb Putzier, Rec: 2 - 19 - 0 (2 targets)

Putzier had two catches for 19 yards. He picked up a first down on the drive that led to a field goal.

PK Kris Brown 1 - 2 FG, 0 - 0 XP, 3 points

Brown connected on a 47 yard field goal and also an extra point. At the end of the first half, Houston got into position for Brown to attempt a 59 yard field goal but it was no good.

HOU Rush Defense

The Houston rush defense was the highlight for the Texans. They completely shut down the New York running game. The Jets three running backs only gained 35 yards on 24 carries. They stopped Brad Smith on an end run for negative ten yards. It seemed to put the Jets out of field goal range but Nugent hit a big 54 yard field goal to put the Jets up 9-3. At the start of the fourth quarter, with the Jets up 23-3, New York picked up a fourth and one from their own 39 yard line. It was big opportunity for the Texans to turn the momentum in the game. They didn’t do it and the Jets continued the drive and converted on a field goal to increase the lead to 26-3.

HOU Pass Defense

The Houston pass defense was unable to stop the Jets. They only sacked Pennington once and did not get an interception. They had a perfect opportunity for an interception at their own goal line but the pass was dropped by Robinson. It allowed the Jets to open the scoring with a field goal. The Jets picked up 11 first downs through the air. In the middle of the game, the Jets put together four straight scoring drives, including three field goals and a touchdown. On the Jets first drive of the second half, they drove right down the field for a touchdown. Pennington went five for five on the seven play 91 yard scoring drive. He completed passes of 28, 35 and then the 12 yard touchdown pass.

QB Chad Pennington, Pass: 24 - 31 - 286 - 1 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 1 - 2 - 0

Pennington completed 24 of 31 passes for 286 yards and a touchdown. It was his best game since Week 2 when he threw for 306 yards against New England. He spread the ball to eight different players. He led the Jets on a great drive in the second half. He drove them 91 yards in seven plays picking up yards in bunches through the air. He was only sacked once. Pennington did have a scare in the third quarter. He was being tackled as he threw the ball. Just as he let it go, Mario Williams landed on him and knocked his wind out. It looked as though it might be another shoulder injury. He got up and as he walked off the field he raised his arms to pump up the crowd. He only missed one play.

QB Patrick Ramsey, Pass: 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 TD / 0 INT

Ramsey came in for one play when Pennington appeared to be hurt. The Jets tried to catch Houston off guard by having Ramsey throw it deep. The pass was incomplete deep to Coles. Chad Pennington was back in the game after sitting out for one play.

RB Cedric Houston, Rush: 11 - 13 - 1, Rec: 1 - 5 - 0 (1 targets)

Houston carried 11 times for only 18 yards. He had a one yard touchdown on the ground in the third quarter. He also added one catch for five yards. He only got two red zone touches but he picked up the touchdown on his second chance. It was Houston’s second touchdown of the season.

RB Kevan Barlow, Rush: 8 - 5 - 0

Barlow had eight carries for just five yards. He had a run for five yards so his seven other carries netted zero yards. Barlow only had one chance in the red zone. He picked up just one yard to the Houston eight yard line.

RB Leon Washington, Rush: 5 - 17 - 0, Rec: 2 - 7 - 0 (2 targets)

Washington got the start but like the other New York running backs, he was ineffective too. He had just 17 yards on five carries. He caught both passes thrown his way for a total of seven yards. Washington was bailed out by Brad Smith in the first quarter when he fumbled at the Texans’ 15 yard line. It was his only red zone attempt, and could be why Cedric Houston was in the game for the short touchdown run.

RB James Hodgins, Rec: 1 - 6 - 0 (1 targets)

Hodgins had one catch for six yards. His only target came on the Jets' second play of the game.

WR Laveranues Coles, Rec: 9 - 111 - 1 (12 targets)

Coles was once again Chad Pennington’s security blanket. He received 12 targets and made nine catches for 111 yards. He also caught a 12 yard touchdown pass for the Jets’ first touchdown. Coles made a 36 yard acrobatic catch down the sideline right after Houston had turned the ball over while attempting a punt. It set the Jets up for a field goal. Coles picked up four first downs during the game all of which were on drives the Jets scored. During the game, Pennington looked his way on third down four times. Of those four, Coles picked up the first down twice.

WR Jerricho Cotchery, Rec: 7 - 110 - 0 (12 targets)

Cotchery caught seven passes for 110 yards, a 15.7 yard average. Cotchery made some big catches in this game. Some of his catches went for ten, 17, 18, 21 and 35 yards. All but one of those catches went for first downs. His 35 yard catch directly preceded the Coles touchdown. He had two first down catches on the New York 54 yard field goal drive. As if that wasn’t enough, he also caught an 18 yard pass two plays prior to the Cedric Houston touchdown run.

WR Justin McCareins, Rec: 2 - 10 - 0 (3 targets)

McCareins saw three passes come his way. He made the play on two of them for ten yards. Both catches were in the fourth quarter on the drive when the Jets picked up a 40 yard field goal.

WR Tim Dwight, Rec: 1 - 9 - 0 (1 targets)

Dwight was only thrown to one time in the game. He caught the pass for nine yards. It was an important catch though because it came on third down and continued the touchdown drive in the third quarter.

WR Brad Smith, Rush: 1 - -10 - 0 (2 targets)

Smith was targeted twice but one went incomplete and the other, for no gain, was negated by a Houston penalty. He also had an end run that lost ten yards. His biggest play may have come on the Jets first scoring drive. Smith recovered a Leon Washington fumble at the Texans 13 yard line. It kept the drive alive and the Jets got a field goal.

TE Chris Baker, Rec: 1 - 28 - 0 (1 targets)

Baker had one target but it was a big one. Pennington hit him down the middle for 28 yards early in the third quarter. It helped set up the Jets first touchdown.

PK Mike Nugent 4 - 4 FG, 2 - 2 XP, 14 points

Nugent had a huge game against the Texans. He made four field goals (23, 34, 54, 40 yards) and both extra point attempts. He even added a nice tackle to prevent a big kick off return in the second quarter.

NYJ Rush Defense

The Jets’ rush defense dominated the Texans’ running game. They held Houston to just 25 rushing yards on 14 carries. They forced the Texans into throwing the ball often which allowed the pass defense to key on the passing game and make them more effective in coverage. The Texans longest run was by David Carr on a scramble for six yards. The Texans only managed to pick up two first downs on the ground.

NYJ Pass Defense

The Jets’ pass defense was great in coverage. They forced Carr to make short throws and didn’t allow him to get the ball downfield. They sacked Carr four times, all of them by the Jets’ defensive line. They were getting good pressure on Carr and forced him into a bad throw that Kerry Rhodes made a nice play on to intercept it. That gave the Jets the ball at the Houston 26 yard line and led to Cedric Houston’s one yard touchdown run. Rhodes also had eight tackles in the game. The Jets started playing their prevent defense in the fourth quarter. During the last two drives, Carr picked up 162 of his 321 passing yards.