Case Keenum learned a few things from his first start in the NFL. In Sunday's 17-16 loss to Kansas City, the difference between winning and losing was as close as the final score.
"It's nice to make good things happen but I'm going to watch the film and I'm going to think about those couple of plays where I didn't," Keenum said. "That's just how it rolls and I'm learning this game. I'm learning that it's those few plays in the crunch time that make the difference. You can play as well or as bad but if you make a few plays, a turnover here or there, it's very small but I guess we'll make them next time."
Keenum's first NFL pass attempt resulted in a ten-yard completion to Andre Johnson. On the first touchdown of his NFL career, Keenum connected with DeAndre Hopkins on a 29-yard score in the second quarter. After two back-to-back runs by Ben Tate, Keenum found the endzone with Hopkins on third-and-three. The second quarter scoring drive spanned 81 yards on 5 plays and lasted 2:49. It was the third-longest scoring drive of the season.
"The thing is that I know that I can get better," Keenum said. "I know I need to get better. I want to do everything that I possibly can to help this team win and that's what I've said from day one. I think there's a few plays out there that I didn't and that frustrated me."
Keenum finished the game 15-of-25 and one touchdown. His 271 passing yards were the most ever by a Texan quarterback in his first start. Matt Schaub held the previous franchise record, passing for 225 yards against Kansas City in his first start on September 9, 2007. Keenum finished with a 110.6 passer rating, also the highest in franchise history in a first-time start.
"I think he had good control of the game, kept everyone upbeat in the huddle," center Chris Myers said. "I think that's the biggest thing he could have done as a young player, coming in there and trying to wrangle everybody kind of in a situation the whole game and I think he did a quality job trying to control it."
