Week 8 Game Recap: Houston Texans 22, Tennessee Titans 28

What you need to know

Houston Texans

QB David Carr spent the end of the game watching from the sidelines because he was benched for committing too many turnovers. QB Sage Rosenfels replaced Carr early in the second half after Carr was sacked four times, fumbled twice, and threw an interception. Rosenfels looked good in less then two quarters of action as he was 18 for 25 for 186 yards and three touchdowns. He did throw an interception on his first pass of the game when the ball went through the hands of WR Andre Johnson. Rosenfels threw two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to bring the Texans within six points with two minutes left but it wasn’t enough. HC Gary Kubiak was clearly frustrated with Carr’s inability to protect the ball, but despite Rosenfels’ solid play in the second half he said after the game that Carr will remain the starter.

RB Wali Lundy had an excellent game as he ran for 116 yards and averaged over six yards a carry. He looked good running ball as he gained positive yards on all but one of his 18 carries in the game. Lundy was also involved in the passing game and added five receptions for 33 yards.

WR Andre Johnson had another solid day as he made several tough catches including a beautiful touchdown grab that he went up to get in the back of the end zone in the third quarter. Johnson also saw a game high 18 targets in the game as the Texans dominated the game from a statistical standpoint. Houston finished the game with 299 passing yards and 148 yards rushing despite losing the game.

Rookie TE Owen Daniels led the game with 99 receiving yards from nine receptions. He also had two touchdown catches in the fourth quarter.

Tennessee Titans

QB Vince Young led the Titans to a victory over his hometown Houston and he scored two touchdowns in the game. He used his feet to score his first touchdown as he scrambled out the pocket for 20 yards and into the end zone in the second quarter. Young went to the air for his second touchdown as he hit WR Bobby Wade on 20 yard strike in the third quarter. He did not have a great game statistically as he only had 87 yards passing but made plays when he needed too and protected the ball.

RB Travis Henry was coming off two big games against the Redskins and Colts and this game looked to be an other great opportunity for him as he went against a weak Texan rush defense. But he had a very disappointing game only managing 29 yards on 15 carries. Houston’s game plan was to stop the running attack of Tennessee and they were surprisingly effective in shutting down the Titan running backs. Tennessee did have 111 rushing yards but 44 of those came from QB Vince Young.

Cornerback Adam Jones, fresh off a night club incident where he was cited for misdemeanor assault Saturday after a woman accused him of spitting in her face, was allowed to play by coach Jeff Fisher. Jones had probably the best game of his young career with a 53 yard punt return for a touchdown in what turned out to be the game winner for the Titans and also had his first career interception.

What you ought to know

QB Sage Rosenfels, Pass: 18 - 25 - 186 - 3 TD / 1 INT, Rush: 1 - 7 - 0

Rosenfels came in for David Carr in the third quarter and promptly threw an interception to cornerback Adam Jones on his first pass of the game when the ball went through wide receiver Andre Johnson’s hands. Rosenfels played well after that interception as he threw for three touchdowns and 186 yards in less then two quarters. The Texan played from the behind the entire second half and Rosenfels did a good job moving the ball for Houston. He threw two touchdown passes to tight end Owen Daniels in the fourth quarter to keep the final score close.

QB David Carr, Pass: 15 - 21 - 113 - 0 TD / 1 INT, Rush: 1 - 6 - 0

The Titans’ defense harassed Carr throughout the first half and caused him to have one of his worst games of the year. Carr was 13 for 18 for 96 yards in the he first half, but he had two costly turnovers, including a fumble that was returned for a touchdown with eight seconds left in the first half. His other turnover in the first half was a horrible looking interception he threw into triple coverage when the Texans were driving early in the game. After his second lost fumble in the game early in the second half, Carr was benched for committing too many turnovers. He was under duress by the Titans’ pass rush often and was sacked four times in a little over two quarters of action. After the game, coach Gary Kubiak said that Carr would remain the starter.

RB Wali Lundy, Rush: 18 - 116 - 0, Rec: 5 - 33 - 0 (7 targets)

Lundy got the start in this game and had a very good first half as he had ten carries for 71 yards and added three receptions for 22 yards. His longest run of the game came on a 35 yard scamper in the second quarter in which he made several defenders miss. Lundy came out hot in the second half and had a nice 19 yard run on his second carry of the third quarter. It looked like he was going to have a huge game as the Titans’ defense had trouble stopping him, but two early turnovers by the Texans’ offense changed the entire tempo of the game. The Titans went up three scores midway through the third quarter when they scored a touchdown after the Texans' fourth turnover. The Texans only gave the ball to Lundy four more times in the game as they went to the passing game in attempt to get back into the game. Lundy did have five catches for 33 yards in the game.

RB Ron Dayne, Rush: 5 - 16 - 0, Rec: 2 - 17 - 0 (2 targets)

Dayne had five carries for 16 yards and was also used in short yardage situations. He had two receptions for 17 yards.

RB Samkon Gado

Gado was inactive for this game because of a coach’s decision.

WR Andre Johnson, Rec: 9 - 78 - 1 (18 targets)

Johnson came into this game leading the league in receptions and receiving yards, and he had another very solid performance as he finished with 9 receptions, 78 yards receiving, and touchdown. He made a nice 18 yard catch to the Tennessee eight yard line in the third quarter as he kept his feet in bounds on a pass near the sideline. This play helped set up his only touchdown five plays later as Rosenfels found Johnson in the back of the end zone on ten yard pass. He showed why he is one the more talented receivers in the league by going up and making an acrobatic grab with a defender covering him tightly.

WR Eric Moulds, Rec: 3 - 35 - 0 (4 targets)

Moulds had three receptions for 33 yards. His longest catch was 28 reception in the fourth quarter on one of Houston’s touchdown drives.

WR Edell Shepherd, Rec: 1 - 8 - 0 (1 targets)

Shepherd made one reception for eight yards on his only target. He did fumble a kick off return that ended the first half.

TE Owen Daniels, Rec: 9 - 99 - 2 (10 targets)

Owens had a tremendous day as he finished with 99 yards receiving and two touchdowns. He was David Carr’s favorite target in the first half with six targets and had four receptions for 43 yards by halftime. He had an even bigger second half as he a caught two touchdown passes from quarterback Sage Rosenfels in the fourth quarter. His longest reception was a 25 yard pass that was ruled down on the one yard line because his knee hit the ground before the ball crossed the goal line. But on the next play Owens got his touchdown as Rosenfels hit him on a one yard pass. Owens added a second touchdown on a two yard pass with two minutes in the game.

TE Mark Bruener, Rec: 1 - 9 - 0 (1 targets)

Bruener made a nine yard reception during the first quarter.

TE Jeb Putzier

Putzier did not play in the game because of a foot injury.

PK Kris Brown 1 - 1 FG, 1 - 2 XP, 4 points

Brown hit a 27 yard field goal to cap off a ten play drive in the second quarter. He had an extra point blocked in the second half.

HOU Rush Defense

Houston gave up 111 yards on the ground including 44 yards to quarterback Vince Young. Young scrambled for 20 yard touchdown in the first half. The Texans’ defense did do a good job of containing Travis Henry and only allowing 29 yards to him.

HOU Pass Defense

The Texans only gave up 87 yards passing in the game but couldn’t force any turnovers in the game. Defensive end Mario Williams did have Houston’s only sack in the game.

QB Vince Young, Pass: 7 - 15 - 87 - 1 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 4 - 44 - 1

Young only had 87 yards passing in the game but he did have one passing and one rushing touchdown. He showed his upside as rusher when he scrambled for a 20 yard touchdown after the Texans came on a blitz in the second quarter. Young also had 20 yard touchdown pass to Bobby Wade in the third quarter after a Texans’ turnover. He was only able to lead the Titans to only one long scoring drive in the game and that was there first touchdown in the second quarter. Young did finish as the Titans’ leading rusher as he had 44 yards on four carries.

RB Travis Henry, Rush: 15 - 29 - 0

Henry never really got on track all game as he finished with a disappointing 29 yards on 15 carries. The Titans struggled to sustain drives, in part because of there inconsistent passing game, and the Texans’ focus on stopping the rushing game. Henry’s poor performance was a bit of surprise considering he was coming off two very good games against the Redskins and Colts, and this seemed like a great match-up for him considering how much the Texans have struggled to stop the run.

RB LenDale White, Rush: 7 - 35 - 0

White only played in one series in the first half, but he looked good early in limited action. White had a nice 19 yard run in the second quarter on his second carry of the game and racked up 31 yards on the Titans first touchdown drive. He only had two carries for four yards in the second half, but still finished with more yards then Travis Henry in the game.

RB Chris Brown

Brown was inactive for this game because of a coach’s decision.

WR Bobby Wade, Rec: 2 - 30 - 1 (3 targets)

Wade caught his first career touchdown in the second quarter on a 20 yard strike from Vince Young. He finished the game as Tennessee’s leading receiver with 30 yards.

WR Drew Bennett, Rec: 1 - 23 - 0 (6 targets)

Bennett had quiet came and his only real scoring opportunity came on a hitch and go route that Young missed him on in the end zone in the third quarter. Bennett’s only catch came on a nice 23 yard reception in the fourth quarter in which he used his size to go up and get the ball. He had another good sideline catch that would have been for 32 yards, but that was ruled incomplete because he didn’t get both feet in bounds.

WR Courtney Roby, Rec: 1 - 7 - 0 (1 targets)

Roby made a seven yard reception on his only target of the game.

WR David Givens

Givens did not play in this game because he is still recovering from a fractured thumb.

TE Bo Scaife, Rec: 2 - 15 - 0 (4 targets)

Scaife had two receptions for 15 yards in the game.

TE Ben Troupe, Rec: 1 - 12 - 0 (1 targets)

Troupe had one reception for 12 yards.

PK Rob Bironas 0 - 0 FG, 4 - 4 XP, 4 points

Bironas was bothered by a groin injury but did kick in this game. He made four extra points and did not have any field goal attempts.

TEN Rush Defense

The Titans gave up a lot of yards on the ground but a big reason why may have been because they kept their safeties back in coverage much of the game to prevent giving up a big play in the game to wide receivers Andre Johnson and Eric Moulds.

TEN Pass Defense

Defensive linemen Tony Brown, who was signed to replace the suspended Albert Haynesworth, recovered a fumble after David Carr was sacked by defensive end Travis LaBoy and returned the ball 40 yards for touchdown with eight seconds remaining in the first half. On the first Texan drive of the second half, LaBoy sacked Carr and forced another fumble. Defensive back Chris Hope had an interception in the first quarter and Pacman Jones got his first career interception in the third quarter. The Titans had four sacks and four turnovers in the game.