Week 9 Game Recap: Houston Texans 10, New York Giants 14

What you need to know

Houston Texans

The Texans started off the game with a ten play drive but missed a field goal from 42 yards. They were able to move the ball on the Giants but usually ended up stalling their drives prior to getting in the red zone. Houston had three drives of ten plays or more. Their two scoring drives were 15 and 18 plays. They only turned the ball over once but it was quite costly. With a chance to take the lead back late in the game, the Texans fumbled with just over five minutes to go in the fourth quarter.

David Carr bounced back from being benched the prior week. He made solid throws and used his legs to scramble for a touchdown. He completed 21 of his 30 throws and most importantly did not turn the ball over. He kept the Texans in the game and gave them a chance to win.

Wali Lundy started for Houston but was ineffective on the ground. He totaled just 43 yards rushing on a day where the Giants were without three defensive starters and also lost Michael Strahan to a foot injury in the second quarter. The Texans were more effective through the air, using empty backfields. It kept the Giants off balance and prevented them from getting pressure on David Carr. Andre Johnson caught nine passes for 83 yards, 28 of those yards came on Houston’s only touchdown drive.

The Houston defense had a tough time stopping Tiki Barber, giving up 115 rushing yards and his first touchdown of the season. They recorded a couple of sacks on Manning to stop a Giants’ drive in the second quarter. Late in the game, they were unable to hold the lead, giving up a short touchdown pass with eight minutes left in the fourth quarter.

New York Giants

In a game where the Giants may have been looking ahead to a home date with Chicago next week, they were able to do enough to win. They got contributions on both sides of the ball. Tiki Barber had his first rushing touchdown and Manning threw a touchdown to Shockey. The Giants defense bent but didn’t break for the most part. They allowed drives of ten, 15 and 18 plays but when it mattered most, they got the turnover they needed to seal the game.

Eli Manning completed 17 of 28 passes for 179 yards. He threw a short touchdown to Shockey and was also picked off once. With Plaxico Burress out of the lineup, Manning leaned on Shockey, throwing to him ten times.

Tiki Barber ran for 115 yards on just 17 carries. He scored his first touchdown of the year on a 16 yard run. Once again, he was pulled for Jacobs when the Giants got down inside the Houston five yard line. While Jacobs didn’t score, he was used on a good play fake when Manning hit Shockey for the touchdown. Shockey caught eight total passes for 66 yards. Plaxico Burress did not play due to a back injury.

Michael Strahan left the game in the second quarter with a foot injury. X-rays were negative but he did not return. The Giants defense only recorded one sack on Carr when he was tripped by his center. Their biggest play was late in the fourth quarter when they caused a fumble after a short pass at their 35 yard line. The Giants had just scored and the Texans were driving to try to take the lead back.

What you ought to know

QB David Carr, Pass: 21 - 30 - 176 - 0 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 5 - 24 - 1

Carr got the start this week after being benched in the previous game. He played well and did not turn the ball over. He only got sacked once and that was because his foot got stepped on by his center. Carr got rid of the ball in a timely fashion and was able to avoid the Giants’ pass rush. Carr completed 21 of 30 passes for 176 yards. Using empty backfield sets, Houston was able to neutralize the New York pass rush. It gave Carr the time to throw and he made efficient, well thrown passes. The Texans’ only touchdown was on a Carr two yard scramble, where he threw caution to the wind and leapt over a couple of defenders. He added 24 yards on five runs.

RB Wali Lundy, Rush: 20 - 43 - 0, Rec: 3 - 16 - 0 (5 targets)

Lundy was unable to find much running room versus the New York defense. He carried 20 times for just 43 yards. His best run of the day may have been on a fourth and one where he picked up three yards. The play allowed Houston to continue their drive and it led to their only touchdown. Carr threw to him five times with Lundy catching three passes for 16 yards. One of the drops was costly though. He dropped a pass on third down that most likely would have resulted in a first down. Instead Houston had to settle for a field goal try. The kick missed wide left.

RB Jameel Cook, Rush: 1 - 14 - 0, Rec: 1 - 3 - 0 (2 targets)

Cook took the goat horns when he fumbled late in the game at the Giants’ 35 yard line. This came right after the Giants took the lead and Houston was trying to make a comeback. Cook only carried one time early in the game and he picked up 14 yards on the play.

RB Ron Dayne, Rec: 1 - 5 - 0 (1 targets)

Dayne caught one pass for five yards. It was his only play of the game.

WR Andre Johnson, Rec: 9 - 83 - 0 (11 targets)

Johnson was Carr’s favorite target this week. Johnson caught nine passes for 83 yards. Carr threw to him 11 times; four of those passes were on third down. Johnson’s longest catch went for 22 yards, which came on the opening drive of the game. Four of Johnson’s catches resulted in first downs. On Houston’s touchdown drive, Johnson caught three passes for 28 yards. Two of those catches were for first downs and his other catch had a New York penalty tacked on at the end of the play to result in a first down.

WR Eric Moulds, Rec: 3 - 24 - 0 (6 targets)

Moulds was involved early in the game. He was thrown to six times, catching three passes for 24 yards. Moulds was non-existent after halfway through the third quarter.

WR Kevin Walter, Rec: 1 - 11 - 0 (1 targets)

Walter was only thrown to one time. He made the most of his only chance, picking up 11 yards and a first down. A few plays later the Texans got on the board with a field goal.

TE Owen Daniels, Rec: 3 - 34 - 0 (5 targets)

Daniels caught three passes for 34 yards. Carr only looked his way five times this week. On both of Houston’s scoring drives, Daniels caught passes on third down to extend the drive. Daniels had scored touchdowns in his previous two games. In this game, Houston only got into the red zone once but Carr took it upon himself to get in the end zone.

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

Brown missed his first field goal wide left from 42 yards. He later hit on his second one from 41 yards. He also made his only extra point attempt.

HOU Rush Defense

The Houston rush defense was unable to stop the Giants running game. They gave up 115 yards to Tiki Barber on only 17 carries. They gave up a 28 yard run to Barber but it was called back due to a holding call on New York. Brandon Jacobs added 19 yards rushing to the Giants’ totals. Jacobs picked up big first downs on three third down plays. The Texans also gave up a 16 yard touchdown run by Tiki Barber, his first of the year.

HOU Pass Defense

The Houston pass defense played fairly well. They held Eli Manning to just 179 yards passing and intercepted him once. They recorded two sacks which came on consecutive plays when the Giants were deep in Houston territory. The sacks took the Giants out of field goal range and forced them to punt. It kept the Giants up by only four points, 7-3. One of the sacks was recorded by Mario Williams. He now has four and a half sacks in his last five games. On a third down incomplete pass, Mario Williams was flagged for a love tap on Manning. It gave the Giants a first down but lucky for Houston, the drive ended when the Giants botched the field goal attempt. The Texans did have the hit of the game when they crunched Jeremy Shockey as he came down with a pass at the goal line. The hit jarred the ball loose before Shockey got his second foot down.

QB Eli Manning, Pass: 17 - 28 - 179 - 1 TD / 1 INT, Rush: 3 - -3 - 0

Manning completed 17 of 28 passes for 179 yards. He threw one touchdown and was also intercepted once. Manning led the Giants to a touchdown on their opening drive. He was three of four for 47 yards and got them in position for Tiki Barber’s 16 yard touchdown run. His only turnover was at the end of the first half. With just eight seconds left, Manning threw deep down the right side to Toomer. It was meaningless for the Giants but not a good pass for his fantasy owners.

RB Tiki Barber, Rush: 17 - 115 - 1, Rec: 3 - 40 - 0 (3 targets)

Barber continued to run well for the Giants. He had 115 yards on 17 carries and a touchdown, his first of the season. He also caught all three passes thrown to him for 40 yards. Barber had a 28 yard run called back on a holding call in the first quarter. He came back three plays later with his 16 yard touchdown run. Nine of Barber’s runs resulted in first downs. Maybe the most important was in the fourth quarter with the Giants down by three points. On a third and six, Barber picked up seven yards down to the Houston 12 yard line. Three plays later, Manning hit Shockey for the go ahead touchdown.

RB Brandon Jacobs, Rush: 7 - 19 - 0, Rec: 1 - 21 - 0 (1 targets)

Jacobs carried seven times for 19 yards. He added one catch for 21 yards. He was used mostly in short yardage situations. He picked up four first downs including two on the Giants first touchdown drive. Jacobs was part of a nice fake by Manning on the touchdown pass to Shockey. Whenever Jacobs is in on short yardage, the defense has to pay a lot of attention to him since he’s such a load to bring down.

WR Mike Jennings, Rush: 1 - -9 - 0, Rec: 2 - 21 - 0 (5 targets)

Jennings caught two passes for 21 yards. He caught passes on both of the touchdown drives for the Giants. He also ran an end around but lost nine yards on the play. He increased his career number of catches to five.

WR Amani Toomer, Rec: 2 - 16 - 0 (4 targets)

Toomer caught two passes for 16 yards. He didn’t see a ball come his way until the final play of the second quarter and that ball was intercepted. Both of his receptions resulted in first downs. The first catch kept alive the go ahead touchdown drive for the Giants. His second catch allowed the Giants to run out the clock at the end of the game.

WR Tim Carter, Rec: 1 - 15 - 0 (5 targets)

Carter caught just one pass for 15 yards. He also had a completion for five yards but the Giants took a five yard penalty on Houston, negating the catch.

WR Plaxico Burress

Burress did not play due to the back injury he struggled with all week.

TE Jeremy Shockey, Rec: 8 - 66 - 1 (10 targets)

Shockey had eight catches for 66 yards and a touchdown. With Burress out, he was Manning’s favorite target, getting ten looks. The Houston defense was rarely able to stop Shockey in this game. He got drilled on a pass at the goal line that knocked the ball loose. Right before he got his second foot down, he was nailed and when he hit the ground, the ball popped out.

PK Jay Feely 0 - 0 FG, 2 - 2 XP, 2 points

Feely made both of his extra points. On the Giants’ only field goal attempt, holder Jeff Feagles couldn’t get the snap down and it resulted in a botched field goal.

NYG Rush Defense

The Giants’ defense was again without three starters at the beginning of this game. They also lost Michael Strahan in the second quarter with a foot injury. Even still the New York rush defense was able to keep the Houston rushing game in check. They gave up only 91 yards rushing but did allow a touchdown on a David Carr scramble. The touchdown probably never should have happened since the Giants had stopped Houston at the five yard line, making it fourth down. A bonehead unnecessary roughness penalty gave the Texans a first down at the two yard line. Two plays later, Carr got the touchdown. The rush defense also allowed a key three yard run on fourth and one at their own 27 yard line. It kept Houston’s drive alive and led to their only touchdown.

NYG Pass Defense

Losing Strahan certainly didn’t help the pass defense of the Giants. Even before he left though, the Giants had a hard time getting pressure on Carr. The Texans used empty backfield sets and were able to keep the New York defense at bay. The defense only recorded one sack and that was a gift when the Houston center stepped on David Carr’s foot. While they only came up with one turnover against the mistake prone Texans, it was a huge one. With the Giants up just four points, the Texans were driving when the New York defense cause a fumble on a short pass over the middle. The Giants’ recovery basically sealed the victory.