EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.-- The Texans came to the Meadowlands for the first time in the club's three-year history today, seeking a win for the second consecutive week.
But the fourth-ranked rushing unit of the New York Jets had different plans. RB Curtis Martin ran over the Texans defense for 134 yards, one rushing and one receiving touchdown while the
out in the second half, holding the Texans to just one trip into the end zone en route to a 29-7 romp.
It was the second time Houston and the New York Jets met. This time around,
was hoping for a little redemption after losing a close bout 19-14 in Reliant Stadium October 19, 2003.
But
Houston's offense struggled with QB David Carr only able to complete 12 of 25 passes for 157 yards – 125 of those going to WR Andre Johnson. Johnson recorded his fourth 100-yard receiving game of the season and the total put him over 1,000 so far in 2004.
"We didn't establish any consistency on offense," Carr said. "You can't play like that and win a game against a team that plays consistent defense. We have to find a way to get some timing and some rhythm in our offense."
After missing three games with a shoulder injury, Jets QB Chad Pennington returned to action in top form, throwing for 155 yards and two touchdowns while the Jets rushing unit generated 210 total yards on the ground. Pennington was able to hit eight different receivers while keeping the Texans defense on the field for 34:43 seconds over four quarters.
The Texans won the coin toss and elected to receive. Immediately, the Texans offense began marching forward with the end zone in sight as a final destination. RB Domanick Davis rambled for four yards to get the drive going before Carr found Jabar Gaffney open on 3 rd and 4 for 13 yards and a first down. Carr was sacked for minus-two yards by Jets DT James Reed to bring up a fourth down at the
- Carr looked for Johnson in the end zone on his final try but the pass was batted down and the Jets took over on downs.
Houston 's defense was able to hold the Jets from scoring seven, but the
offense was able to chew five minutes off the play clock on a 44-yard drive. The Jets settled on a 41-yard Doug Brien field goal to take a 3-0 lead.
On the first play of
- RB Jonathan Wells picked up nine yards and Carr followed up with a 19-yard pass to Johnson for a first down at the Jets 42. After releasing the pass, Carr was hit by multiple Jets' defensemen and was forced to come out of the game.
Reserve Tony Banks came into the game to take over the reins at quarterback and handed off to
for a five-yard gain. Carr came back in on the next play and dumped off a pass to RB Moran Norris but there way no gain on the play. On 3 rd and 5, Carr looked for Billy Miller but the pass fell incomplete. The Texans decided to go for the five yards on fourth down but again, Carr's pass to Johnson was broken up and the Jets took over at their own 37.
Martin picked up 31 yards on four carries to get the Jets to
- But on 3 rd and 2, Texans NT Seth Payne stuffed Martin for a one-yard loss and fourth down. Brien came in and booted a 26-yarder and the Jets extended their lead 6-0.
The Texans began the ensuing drive from their own 25. Gaffney completed his second third-down reception to give the Texans a first down at the
- Carr sailed a bomb to Johnson who broke away from coverage and made an adjustment to come up with an acrobatic 37-yard catch, giving the Texans a first down at the Jets 25. Now within striking distance, the Texans took another run at crossing the goal line. Carr looked for WR Derick Armstrong at the back of the end zone but in the process, the Jets were called for an illegal contact. In exchange for the penalty, the Texans picked up a first down and took over at the two-yard line.
punched in a touchdown on the next play to seal a 75-yard scoring drive to give the Texans a 7-6 lead. It was
The Texans rookies lit up the Jets on the ensuing drive. On the third play, LB Jason Babin sacked Pennington for a five-yard loss to bring up a 2 nd and 15. It was Babin's third sack of the season, a Texans rookie single-season high.
Three plays later, Texans CB Dunta Robinson picked of Pennington's intended pass for Jets WR Justin McCareins, returning the theft 20 yards to the Jets 36. The Texans offense took over but Carr's initial pass was picked off by David Barrett and the Jets took over possession.
Houston 's defense forced the Jets to punt as the first half came to a close.
The Jets received to start the third quarter. Martin picked up runs of 11, five and three yards and in the process of tackling Martin, Texans LB Jay Foreman sprained his left ankle and left the game. Pennington found WR Wayne Chrebet on an eight-yarder but called in the punt unit soon after. Toby Gowin's punt took a Jets bounce and was downed at the
three-yard line.
But the Texans weren't able to advance the ball past their own six-yard line and Chad Stanley came in for his first punt of the day. Santana Moss fielded the kick and returned the ball 46 yards, nearly crossing the goal line before stepping out of bounds at the four-yard line. Two plays later, Martin ran in a four-yard touchdown to give the Jets a 13-7 lead with just under eight minutes remaining in the third quarter.
Looking to regain the lead, the Texans offense got to work.
picked up one yard and on the next play, Carr lofted one to Johnson in double coverage. Johnson stretched above two Jets defenders and came up with a 36-yard catch to place the Texans at the
- Two plays later, Carr was assessed a 10-yard intentional grounding penalty to push the Texans to
-
45.
rambled down the middle for a 19-yard gain but the run was called back due to a personal foul 15-yard penalty.
was forced to punt and the Jets took over with under five minutes remaining in the third.
Pennington hit Martin on a five-yarder to seal an 80-play scoring drive that chewed 6:10 off the clock. Pennington's two-point attempt to Chrebet was no good and the Jets extended the lead 19-7 over
.
Carr found Johnson for completions of 14 and 10 yards to catapult him over 100 yards receiving on the day.
rushed for another yard but on the next play, Carr's intended pass for Miller was picked off by Jets FS Erik Coleman who added another 37 return yards to the wound.
The Jets capitalized on the turnover and in five plays, the
offense was able to take a commanding 26-7 lead off of a Pennington to TE Anthony Becht two-yard touchdown toss.
"They know how to digest a defense, break it down and find a soft spot in it," Texans DE Robaire Smith said about the Jets offensive scoring jaunt. "We were just out of position. It ain't nobody's fault. We just have to play better as a unit and stop it all together."
The Texans were forced to punt on their next possession and a worn out
defense took the field again midway through the fourth quarter. Brien kicked a 25-yard field goal after the Jets marched 69 yards into scoring range. The three-pointer gave the Jets a 29-7 lead with the two-minute mark closing in.
Houston wasn't able to produce any last minute points and the Jets picked up their ninth win of the season while the Texans fell to 5-7 with the Indianapolis Colts on the slate for next Sunday in Reliant Stadium.
