Texans ILB Brian Cushing celebrating the interception he returned for a TD to tie the game on Monday.
This season is supposed to be a big one for the Houston Texans. Some would call it a Super Bowl or bust type season after the Texans started last year 11-1, before dropping 3 of their for last games. To start this season they were to face a San Diego Chargers team that was basically in rebuilding mode. Many looked at the game as a “gimme” to start the year. Hell the Texans looked guilty of that thinking until halftime. They couldn’t get an offensive rhythm to start the game and fell behind big early. The Texans showed great poise as they overcame a 21 point deficit, and ended up beating the Chargers on Monday night.
Houston Texans WR Andre Johnson leaps over San Diego Chargers CB Richard Marshall during the football game Monday.
To start the game Texans QB Matt Schaub had his very first pass attempt and it was intercepted inside the Texans 10 yard line. Phillip Rivers and the Chargers took full advantage of the short field pitching a TD to RB Ryan Matthews. As Schaub started off struggling Rivers on the other hand was red hot. He had 4 TD passes in the first half, but after the halftime break it was a like the Schaub and the Texans figured it all out. Once given the chance in the 3rd quarter Schaub led the Texans on drive after drive to get them back into the game. Schaub ended the game 34-45 for 346 yards and 3 TD’s. His favorite target of the night was once again his All-Pro WR Andre Johnson who caught 12 passes for 146 yards against the Chargers. Johnson made some big plays on Monday night, one being a 3rd and long that kept a drive alive. Johnson, said after the game “there was no doubt in my mind we were going to win that game.” RB Ben Tate had a good game as well, with Arian Foster not seeing any play throughout the preseason Texans coach Gary Kubiak wanted his touches limited to prevent any sort of injury. Tate shined in his limited time. He had 9 carries for 55 yards. While Foster had 18 carries for 57 yards, and 5 receptions for 34 yards.
The Chargers didn’t look like they could be stopped in the first half of the game offensively. But the Texans defense was able to show up in the second half and put a stop to the Phillip Rivers TD spree. Though Rivers threw 4 TD’s he was under pressure most of the game, and only completed 48% of his passes for a total of 195 yards. Both JJ Watt and Brian Cushing made big plays in the second half for this Texans defense. Watt was quiet most of the game but on the last couple drives made his presence felt with a couple tackles in the backfield and a tipped pass. ILB Brian Cushing is fresh off signing a 6 year 55 million dollar contract extension earlier this week. He earned at least part of that money when he made the biggest play of the game for the Texans during the 4th quarter when he intercepted a Phillip Rivers pass and returned it for a TD to tie the game.
