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Week 2 Game Recap: Houston Texans 34, Tennessee Titans 31
Houston Texans
| QB Matt Schaub, Pass: 25 - 39 - 357 - 4 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 4 - 4 - 0 |
Texans quarterback Matt Schaub was fantastic, twice rallying the Texans back from deficits to ultimately win the game in Nashville. Schaub completed 25 of 39 passes for 357 yards and 4 touchdowns. The Texans offensive line held off the Titans pass-rush effectively, giving Schaub plenty of time to throw regardless of down and distance. Schaub completed passes to six different players and had five completions of more then 20 yards each, highlighted by a 72 yard touchdown to receiver Andre Johnson. Schaub was effective at all points in the game and had only one or two throws that looked to be poor. His passes were crisp and it was evident that both Schaub and the Texans offense as a whole gained confidence as the game wore on. Schaub absolutely shredded the Titans defense, regularly frustrating Courtland Finnegan and Michael Griffin on passes outside the hash marks. Just as interestingly, Schaub was able to find open receivers all over the field despite the fact that the Titans were only rushing 4 players on most snaps and that the Texans running game was essentially non-existent.
| RB Steve Slaton, Rush: 17 - 34 - 0, Rec: 3 - 25 - 0 (5 targets) |
For the second week in a row Steve Slaton was ineffective in the running game. Slaton had 17 carries for 34 yards. Discounting his long run of 12 yards, Slaton averaged 1.375 yards per carry. He looked tentative hitting the hole when running on the interior and was beaten to the corner on sweeps and stretch plays. Slaton did find some success in the passing game, catching three balls for 25 yards. However, he also fumbled the ball twice (Texans recovering both) and was the one dark-cloud in the Texans bright afternoon. Slaton has now had back-to-back games where he has been ineffective as a runner leading some to ask if/when he will see a reduced role where he might be more effective.
| RB Chris Brown, Rush: 8 - 25 - 0 (2 targets) |
Chris Brown had 8 carries for 25 yards and appeared to run with more power then Slaton. His long gain of 12 yards came on a strong run off-tackle. Brown had two targets in the passing game but did not record a reception.
| WR Andre Johnson, Rec: 10 - 149 - 2 (16 targets) |
As Matt Schaub goes, so goes Andre Johnson. And since Schaub had a great game, so did Johnson. Very few tandems in the NFL hook up as often and as effectively as Andre Johnson and Matt Schaub and Sunday against the Titans was their finest effort in some time. Johnson finished the game with 10 receptions on 16 targets for 149 yards and 2 touchdowns. The highlight of his game came on a 72 yard reception where Johnson blew by the cornerback and slipped past the safety. Johnson was 10 yards behind the defense when he caught the ball and never looked back. The Titans defensive backs had trouble all day with Johnson's size and speed as he made difficult catches seem routine and used his strength to muscle position away from the defense.
| WR Jacoby Jones, Rec: 2 - 73 - 1 (4 targets) |
Outside of Andre Johnson's 72 yard touchdown, Jacoby Jones had the Texans best highlight with a rolling touchdown catch to tie the game after the Texans had fallen behind by 14 points in the 2nd quarter. Jones ran a slant across the middle of the field and caught the ball at the goalline before rolling over Nick Harper to score. Jones also had a 29 yard reception and finished the day with two catches for 73 yards on 4 targets. If Kevin Walter's injuries continue to keep him out of games, Jones could put together a solid season playing opposite Andre Johnson.
| TE Owen Daniels, Rec: 6 - 72 - 1 (8 targets) |
Owen Daniels continues to impress; when the Texans offense is clicking, he produces on par with the best tight ends in the league. On Sunday in Nashville, Daniels turned 8 targets (he also had 8 against the Jets in week 1) in to 6 receptions for 72 yards and a touchdown. Daniels is looked upon often by Schaub at the goalline and down the seam. While the Texans have worked to keep Andre Johnson either near the sidelines or on deeper routes, Daniels is very comfortable going across the middle with linebackers in coverage. Daniels long reception of 33 yards shows that the Texans aren't afraid to send him long.
| TE Joel Dreessen, Rec: 3 - 31 - 0 (3 targets) |
The other beneficiary of Kevin Walter's absence in Week 2 was rarely-used receiver Joel Dreeseen. Dreessen finished the day with 3 catches on 3 targets for 31 yards (including a long of 21).
Tennessee Titans
| QB Kerry Collins, Pass: 21 - 33 - 216 - 2 TD / 1 INT, Rush: 3 - 4 - 0 |
Kerry Collins had yet another efficient game against the Houston Texans on Sunday. He finished the day completing 21 of 33 passes for 216 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. His numbers were slightly skewed by a screen pass that led to a 69 yard touchdown for Chris Johnson. At the same time, he was not asked to throw the ball downfield much at all. Aside from Johnson's screen pass, Collins didn't have a single completion over 16 yards. Collins spread the ball around to 8 different players but only three wide receivers registered a catch. It would appear that Collins' role for the Titans is going to be to protect the ball in a conservative passing game. Unfortunately, Collins' solid performance was tainted when he fumbled the ball with less then two minutes to play as it slipped from his grasp on a short rush, thus cementing the Texans victory. Collins having two turnovers was very uncharacteristic. Kerry Collins had a great deal of success against the Texans (ass he had against the Steelers) finding wide open receivers all over the short-field. He completed passes to the sidelines, across the middle, and on swing routes with ease. At some juncture, Tennessee is going to have to ask Collins to throw the ball a little further downfield, at which point his production might increase a bit. It's important to note that despite the low yardage total, 33 pass attempts is quite a bit more then Titans fans are used to seeing from Kerry Collins.
| RB Chris Johnson, Rush: 16 - 197 - 2, Rec: 9 - 87 - 1 (11 targets) |
In case you missed the highlights, Chris Johnson had the best game of his career and may have sent Lendale White to the "backup" position for good. Johnson was, in a word, "spectacular" in all facets of the game. He carried 16 times for 197 yards (including touchdowns of 57 yards from the shotgun and 91 yards when backed up to the Tennessee 9) and caught 9 balls for 87 yards including a 69 yard touchdown off of a screen pass. Johnson ran wild through most every lane and showed that in a footrace with the Texans' defenders, he was not to be caught. Johnson was also very successful in pass-block situations (as he was last week), which may be yet another reason for Lendale White to stay on the bench. Johnson was tackled for a loss only twice in 25 touches. Johnson's vision has improved greatly as he is recognizing running lanes better then ever and using his ample speed to create tough angles for the defense once he hits the open field.
| RB LenDale White, Rush: 6 - 25 - 0 (1 targets) |
Lendale White had six rushes for 25 yards and on any other day, such production might not be all bad. But in the shadow of Chris Johnson running wild, White was treated as a backup, only seeing the field when Johnson was in need of a breather. White's carries were primarily up the middle with a long run of 9 yards. White was not a factor in the passing game.
| WR Nate Washington, Rush: 1 - 14 - 0, Rec: 4 - 36 - 1 (7 targets) |
Nate Washington finished the game with 4 receptions for 36 yards and a touchdown. Collins hooked up with Washington on an 8 yard fade in to the back left corner of the endzone. Washington deftly got both feet down before going out of bounds. Washington's other three receptions were all short with a long of 12 yards. However, Washington appears much more comfortable in the offense and with Collins then he did in the preseason and week 1. Washington was the most targeted receiver in week 2 with seven targets.
| WR Justin Gage, Rec: 2 - 27 - 0 (4 targets) |
Justin Gage was held to a modest two receptions and 27 yards on Sunday. He did have the longest catch among the wide receivers with a 15 yard reception. Like the other receivers, Gage was not asked to go downfield often and a lack of targets (only 4 compared to 11 in week 1) seemed to put him a little out of sync with the rest of the offense. Gage did have three critical blocks on Chris Johnson running plays, helping spring the back for large gains in the open field.
| WR Kenny Britt, Rec: 2 - 22 - 0 (2 targets) |
Kenny Britt had two receptions on two targets for 22 yards but both were critical first down catches. Britt appears to be building a rapport with Kerry Collins and it appears only a matter of time until he is the Titans go-to receiver. Through two games, he leads the Titans in receiving yards. His route running and hands were once again excellent. On one reception, Britt was down on the turf for a few minutes after falling face first in to a defender and the ground, but he got up under his own power and should be fine for next week.
| TE Alge Crumpler, Rec: 4 - 44 - 0 (4 targets) |
With the injury to Bo Scaife, Alge Crumpler was once again put in the role of pass-catching tight end and didn't disappoint. Crumpler got started early and finished the game with four receptions for 44 yards. His longest reception was a 16 yard gain in the first half that converted a key first down. Crumpler was targeted only 4 times in the receiving game but was on the field on most snaps to help block.
| TE Craig Stevens |
Stevens had one target in the game but did not record a reception. He spent most of his snaps on the field blocking in the I-formation or in two-TE sets.
| TE Jared Cook (2 targets) |
Rookie Jared Cook had 2 targets against the Texans but did not catch either. Depending on the length of Bo Scaife's absence, Cook could find himself playing more snaps as the season progresses.