Looking for their first win of the 2006 season, the Texans were instead handed their third straight defeat courtesy of the Washington Redskins 31-15, Sunday at Reliant Stadium.
"It's extremely disappointing," Texans head coach Gary Kubiak said. "You want to see in progress in what you're doing and today was definitely not progress. You can't play for just a series or a quarter, you have a to play all day."
The Texans got on the board first, scoring on their first drive of the day to take an early lead. It was all down hill from there.
not only dominated the scoreboard, but every relevant statistical category as well.
The Redskins piled up 495 total yards against just 261 for
.
held the ball for nearly 40 minutes, while the Texans had possession for just 22 minutes.
quarterback Mark Brunell completed his first 22 passes of the game to set the NFL single-game mark on his way to a 261-yard performance that included one scoring strike.
Andre Johnson was the lone shining star for
on an otherwise dark day. Johnson amassed 152 receiving yards courtesy of 11 receptions. Mark Bruener and Owen Daniels each had two-yard touchdown receptions to account for the Texans' points.
David Carr was a respectable 19-29 Sunday for 208 yards and two scoring strikes. However, he did throw one interception, his first of the 2006 season. Carr now has six touchdown passes this season against only one pick.
For the Redskins, strong performances were everywhere, but none was more impressive then Clinton Portis' 164-yard total yards and two touchdowns.
The Redskins received to start the game and appeared as though they would begin with good field position close to midfield. However, a holding call negated the return and gave the Redskins the ball at their own 24-yard line.
's defense dominated early, forcing the Redskins three-and-out thanks to a tackle for a loss by Seth Payne on third-and-one.
The Texans offense took over from there moving the ball 66 yards on just four plays. The drive was fueled by a 53-yard reception by Johnson, his longest of the day and second longest of his brilliant career. A play later, Bruener had his second touchdown of the season from two yards out giving
a 7-0 lead with 11:34 remaining in the first quarter.
Houston's defense looked to get off the field early again on the ensuing drive, but on third-and-six, Redskins quarterback Mark Brunell hit Clinton Portis on a shovel pass out of the shotgun that went for 74 yards.
Two plays later Ladell Betts scampered into the endzone from nine yards and after the extra point,
had tied the score at seven with 8:48 remaining in the first quarter deflatinng a crowd of over 70,000.
began their second drive of the day on their own 21-yard line. From there they managed one first down before Chad Stanley unleashed his first punt of the day, 40 yards, which Antwaan Randle fair caught at the Redskins 26-yard line.
's second drive lasted nearly six minutes and went 74 yards on the way to a second score of the game. Working their way down the field using a combination of the run and pass,
chose a short screen to Randle El on third-and-four. The former Steeler ran 23 yards for the touch, giving the Skins their first lead of the day at 14-7, eight seconds into the second quarter.
The Texans took over on their own 30-yard line after the kickoff and crept toward midfield thanks to a couple of
penalties, but advanced no further. A nice punt by
Houston won a critical battle in field position, allowing
only three plays before a Derrick Frost punt. However, Frost booted a 60-yard kick that Phillip Buchanon returned nine yards to the
29-yard line.
The Texans moved the ball just past midfield before
took over at their own 18.
still managed to hit pay dirt again. From the Texans' 30-yard line and faced with just nine seconds on the clock, Portis took a hand-off and carved his way through the Texans' defense for a 30-yard touchdown, giving Washington a 21-7, lead as the two teams headed to the locker room.
began the second half with the ball and went three-and-out and after a Chad Stanley punt, the Redskins took over on their own 30-yard line.
the ball on their own 20 after the touchback. The Redskins challenged the play, however, and Portis was ruled down by contact on the one-yard line. Portis ended the drive on the next play, bulling his way into the endzone, giving
a 28-7, lead with 5:35 remaining in the third quarter.
The Texans began to move the ball on their second drive of the second half. Carr found Johnson and Eric Moulds on some unders and
appeared to be in business close to midfield. However, on first and 10 from the Redskins 46-yard line, Carr scrambled up the middle and was stripped.
recovered the fumble and took over on their one 39-yard line.
The Redskins moved the ball 33 yards on six plays giving John Hall his first field goal attempt of the day. Hall hit from 46 yards giving
a 31-7 lead, 10 seconds into the final quarter.
was within two scores at 31-15, Washington, with 12:21 remaining in the game.
caught a break on the Redskins next drive. With
on the brink of scoring again, Rock Cartwright fumbled and Shantee Orr scooped up the ball and took it 73 yards for a touchdown.
However, Thomas Johnson made a block behind the play negating the touchdown.
moved the ball down the field, though, and looked to punch it in as Carr lofted a pass for Kevin Walter in the corner of the endzone. It was not meant to be as Carr was intercepted for the first time of the 2006 season.
With just over three minutes left in the game,
was able to kill the clock and collect their first win of the season.
