Less than one week after signing a six-year contract extension, Brian Cushing reminded the football world what he could do when healthy.
With a pick-6 in the fourth quarter to tie the score 28-28, Cushing logged the Texans' first interception of the 2013 season, the eighth of his career. The Philip Rivers' pass was intended for Danny Woodhead. Cushing laid out for the grab, fell to the ground, and popped back up to return it for an 18-yard score. Cushing said he was was thinking just one thing after making that catch.
"Get up," Cushing said. "Get up and get into the endzone. I felt like the ball kind of took the wind out of me but I was really excited to make a play that could change the momentum of the game."
In addition to his first career touchdown, Cushing had five tackles in the win.
After ending the 2012 season with an ACL injury in Week 5, the 2013 season is already looking up for Cushing.
"A lot of things were going wrong for me last year," Cushing said. "A lot of things are going right for me this year. I mean, it's how life works I guess. I just can't get down in certain situations. I knew there would be better days and this is one of them. It was a long offseason to come back. Playing again, helping the team win, couldn't ask for anything better than this."
Now 1-0, the Texans face their division rival Tennessee Titans at Reliant Stadium on Sunday. After trailing 28-7 in the third quarter, the 31-28 victory was the largest comeback in franchise history.
"It's the first game of the season, you don't want to get off to a late start," Cushing said. "It wasn't pretty but we got it done and that's what's most important. We've got a lot of momentum now."
