The Texans defense laid the wood to Jags’ QB Byron Leftwich in holding the Jags’ offense to 126 total yards and the Texans’ much maligned offensive line sprung RB Dominick Davis for 150 yards rushing and a TD as the Texans humbled the Jags in chilly Jacksonville, 21-0. The shutout was the first in Texans’ franchise history.
The Texans defense gave Leftwich a concussion early in this one, and the Jags QB could never get untracked as the Texans forced three turnovers and held the Jags to 54 yards passing. Meanwhile, the Texans offense generated 333 total yards behind another average but adequate performance by QB David Carr (14-20, 122 yds., 1 TD, 2 INT). Actually, Carr’s line would look better except that one of his interceptions came on a great play by Jags DB Dewayne Washington. Washington made a spectacular one-handed interception on a Carr pass that Andre Johnson probably would have taken to the house for his second TD catch of the game but for Washington’s incredible play. About the only phase of the Texans’ performance that was subpar on this day was the punt return team, which had one adventure after another while trying to cope with the absence of injured regular returner J.J. Moses.
The 7-8 Texans, who are clearly on a roll, could end the season with a .500 record with a win over the Browns at Reliant Stadium next Sunday. That would be quite an accomplishment for this third year franchise.
Oh, how the might have fallen. In an excrutiatingly boring game between two teams with inept offenses, Cowboys QB Vinnie Testaverde somehow three a 39 yard TD pass to someone named Patrick Crayton with 30 seconds to go to pull out the win before a feisty crowd at Texas Stadium. The 6-9 Cowboys close this disastrous season next week at the Meadowlands against the Giants, and then the off-season process of revamping the Cowboys offense begins. It will not be an easy task.