Titans @ Texans

[Vin+ 3,121]

 

http://hosted.stats.com/fb/preview.asp?g=20130915034&home=34&vis=10

 

 

(AP) -- Arian Foster's frustration was visible after being told to stay off the field during a drive in the fourth quarter Monday, and Houston Texans coach Gary Kubiak understands completely why his star running back would feel slighted.

 

He also believes fewer carries for Foster at this point may be in the team's best interests.

 

After surviving plenty of drama in its season-opening victory, Houston on Sunday hosts a Tennessee Titans team looking to prove last week's surprisingly solid defensive effort was no fluke.

 

The Texans fought back from a 21-point second-half deficit to tie San Diego at 28 in the fourth quarter, getting help from both Foster and backup Ben Tate in the running game.

 

Foster, though, appeared to be waved back off the field at one point by Tate, who elected to stay in. Foster, who ran 18 times for 57 yards compared to 55 on nine rushes for Tate, didn't seem to appreciate the gesture.

 

"They both want to be on the field. I understand that. I think that's a good thing for the team," Kubiak said.

 

He plans to have Foster and Tate split carries until he feels Foster, who didn't take a single rep in the preseason, is ready for a larger workload.

 

"I want to keep it somewhat close right now and watch them working to what's going on," Kubiak said. "I think Arian's been a player who's at his best when he carries the ball 25 times, so we'll head back in that direction (eventually). I think if we're running the football well and we're in the type of football game that we want to be in, I think there's plenty of carries to go around."

 

The Texans ended up completing their comeback Monday, as Randy Bullock kicked a 41-yard field goal as time expired for a 31-28 victory. Matt Schaub finished 34 of 45 for 346 yards and three touchdowns, two to tight end Owen Daniels.

 

Andre Johnson caught 12 passes for 146 yards.

 

"There's a lot of times people say, 'We'll get 'em next week.' Well that's not part of this team's make up," Kubiak said. "There's a belief there that regardless of what happens on any given Sunday, we can find a way to win a football game."

 

The Titans did just that last week despite spotting Pittsburgh a safety on the opening kickoff, winning 16-9 after holding the Steelers' offense to 195 total yards and keeping them scoreless until 1:23 remained.

 

Jurrell Casey and Zach Brown each had two sacks for Tennessee.

 

The Titans allowed a league-worst 29.4 points per game last season while ranking 27th by giving up 374.9 yards per game. They hadn't allowed a team to gain fewer total yards since holding Pittsburgh to 127 in a 19-11 loss Sept. 19, 2010.

 

"That's what we're going to try to do all season long and keep fighting and not let the past keep up with us and turn this thing around for ourselves," Casey said. "We got a little swagger to us."

 

Tennessee took a cautious approach offensively, rushing 42 times for 112 yards while Jake Locker completed 11 of his 20 attempts for 125 yards. Chris Johnson rushed for 70 yards on 25 carries, and backup Jackie Battle scored the team's lone touchdown.

 

Coach Mike Munchak, though, doesn't believe his offense is one-dimensional.

 

"Next week it may be having to pass 40 times rather than run it 40 times, so we feel we have the people to do it either way," Munchak said.

 

The Titans will be tested by a Houston defense that will return end Antonio Smith and hopes to have safety Ed Reed in the lineup.

 

Smith served a one-game suspension for ripping off the helmet of Miami's Richie Incognito in the preseason, while Reed is still recovering from offseason hip surgery.

 

Kubiak said it's a wait-and-see approach with Reed in practice this week.

 

"I think we're very close," Kubiak said. "Does he take more of a load than he did last week? We'll see, but I know we're very, very close. I think it's still a day-to-day thing right now."

 

Houston won both meetings last season, forcing nine turnovers while not committing any. Foster ran for 86 yards and a touchdown in a 38-14 win Sept. 30 before the Texans overcame 141 yards rushing from Johnson in a 24-10 victory Dec. 2.

 

Locker committed five turnovers in that loss.

 

[Dutch 874]

Going with the Texans in this one.

 

28

 

17

[.AirMcNair. 1,232]

Fuck JJ Watt.

 

Hope Chance Warmack destroys him

[housemd 338]

Texans gon win this after OT.

 

17

20

[RazorStar 4,025]

If the Titans defense shows up in a big way again, we might have another great game.

 

17

14

[Thanatos 2,847]

This could be a close game. Titans played well last week and the Texans had to wake up in the second half.

 

16

20

[theMileHighGuy 656]

24

21

 

big upset for the titans on the road.

[Dutch 874]

The Titans definitely looked good last week on defense and the Steelers struggled with their O-line and lack of weapons. Houston however have playmakers and Locker will have to show more for me to put faith in their offense.

[Vin+ 3,121]

 

Texans FS Ed Reed (hip) is inactive for Sunday's Week 2 game versus Tennessee.

Reed will look to make his debut next week. Shiloh Keo will get the start at free safety.

Also inactive for the Texans are QB Case Keenum, RB Cierre Wood, OLB Sam Montgomery, T Andrew Gardner, G Cody White, and DE Tim Jamison.

 

 

 

Titans declared RB Shonn Greene (knee) and WR Damian Williams (hamstring) inactive for Sunday's Week 2 game against the Texans.

Jackie Battle will be the short-yardage back. Rookie WR Justin Hunter will make his debut with Williams out.

Also inactive for the Titans are OLB Zaviar Gooden, C Brian Schwenke, T Byron Stingily, DE Keyunta Dawson, and DE Lavar Edwards.

[oochymp 2,393]

that safety must have pissed the team off, since we've gotten a quick defensive stop followed by a 99 yard drive for the go-ahead TD, then a pick six

[oochymp 2,393]

OVERTIME!!!!!!!!!!

 

mentally, I think taking the Texans to overtime is a bit of a win in and of itself, but no reason to stop at that, let's come away with the W we shouldn't have

 

I'm still not sure about not calling a timeout after that 3d down play, there were still 20 seconds on the clock so we probably would have had some time to do something before the end of regulation

Edited September 15, 2013 by oochymp

[oochymp 2,393]

well shit, always sucks when you get a team you shouldn't beat on the ropes then give it up, I'm also getting really irritated with safeties

[56AceInDaPlace 110]

 

 

I'm still not sure about not calling a timeout after that 3d down play, there were still 20 seconds on the clock so we probably would have had some time to do something before the end of regulation

 

Thats what i was thinking.. Had he missed it, we had a short field. But too many dumb plays by us in crucial moments. That safety we gave up, we get a first down but its back to back flags on Turner. This guy has been worse then Amano and thats saying something. 3 Flags back to back to back to give up a safety?? Thats stupid. So many times in both this game and last week, we would be at midfield and get a tough firstdown, to have it called back by a stupid flag.. That cannot happen again and again it kills us completely. The bullshit to seal the game was Locker overthrowing / Britt dropping a wide open underneath slant with a few mins left to seal the game. How can u overthrow someone so bad when they are wide open and your a NFL QB????

 

Seriously im done with Locker, he sucks and will always suck. IDC if he lights it up the next few games, he sucks. Put Fitzpatrick in, least he can throw. We blew this game. We outplayed Houston in the 4th until we made those dumbass mistakes. Thats on us period. Im hoping to see some type of improvement next week on offense but i doubt it. Not with Locker.

[oochymp 2,393]

it's unfortunate that Locker had such a bad series at the end because it completely overshadows the very good drive he had after the safety taking the team 99 yards down the field for a go ahead TD with less than seven minutes left in the game, Locker continues to show some great ability, he's just way too inconsistent, which shouldn't be surprising from a third year QB who's only started 13 games, he's definitely shown enough to earn a little bit of patience

[.AirMcNair. 1,232]

[Dutch 874]

Killer play.

 

 

Hopkins was a boss on Sunday.

Edited September 17, 2013 by dutchff7