(AP Photo/Mike McCarn)
Houston Texans 34 Carolina 21

Don’t pinch me. The Texans (2-0) have now won four straight games (previous weekly reviews are here)!
In a game strangely reminiscent of how the Texans used to lose games, Carolina (1-1) zoomed out to a 14-0 first quarter lead only to have the Texans reel off 34 straight points over the next two and a half quarters to put this one away. After giving up those two first quarter TD’s, the Texans’ defense stiffened and sacked the Panthers’ QB Jake Delhomme three times while forcing three fumbles and an interception and holding Carolina to 66 rushing yards rushing. Texans QB Matt Schaub was a solid 20-28 for 227 yards and two TD passes to WR Andre Johnson (who, by the way, sprained a knee and may be out for awhile), and reborn RB Ahman Green rushed for 71 yards and a TD to lead the Texans. But this one was put away by a heady special teams play when CB Demarcus Faggins stripped Carolina returner Nick Goings of the ball on the kickoff after Green’s TD and Texans WR Kevin Walter recovered the fumble in the end zone for a gift TD. That made the score 31-14 early in the third quarter and even the incredible Carolina WR Steve Smith couldn’t bring get the Panthers back into the game. The Texans host Peyton Manning and the defending Super Bowl champion Colts (2-0) next Sunday in what is sure to be rockin’ Reliant Stadium.

Houston Cougars 34 Tulane 10

The Coogs (1-1) cruised into the Superdome and creamed Tulane (0-2) despite leaving 3 TD’s on the field with turnovers. Even without an established QB, the Cougars rolled up over 500 yards total offense and the defense looked much improved from the first game debacle against Oregon. The Coogs return home next Saturday to face a Colorado State (0-2) team that has played both Colorado and Cal close.

Texas Tech 59 Rice 24

Riceís mid-second-quarter comeback drive brought the Owls to within 21-17 of the Red Raiders, but then Tech reeled off 35 straight points over the next 25 minutes to turn this one into a rout. Tech QB Graham Harrell thew six TD passes, three of which went to super WR Michael Crabtree, who had 11 catches for 245 yards. Rumor has it that the Marching Owl Band was attempting to organize a party for the players of both teams after the game to introduce the members of the Rice secondary to Crabtree. The Owls continue the sacrifical lamb portion of their schedule next week at Austin against the Longhorns (3-0).

Texas Longhorns 35 Central Florida 32

Speaking of the Horns, they pulled out the victory over Central Florida despite losing the lead in the 4th quarter and looking utterly undeserving of the 6th place ranking in the national polls. Despite the Longhorns’ undefeated record, I see all sorts of problems with this team — iffy run defense, overall lackluster linebacker play, an inconsistent rushing attack and questionable deep ball threats outside of WR Limas Sweed, who did not play much in this game because of a sprained ankle. After a scrimmage against Rice (0-3) next Saturday at Austin, the Horns play Kansas State (2-1) before their annual matchup with Oklahoma (3-0). The Horns definitely do not look ready for the Sooners.

Texas Aggies 54 Louisiana-Monroe 14

The Ags (3-0) dominated this scrimmage over hapless ULM (0-3) in a warmup for the Ags’ nationally-televised game this Thursday night against Miami (2-1) at the Orange Bowl. Miami is not very good this season, having already been blasted by Oklahoma 59-13. However, before getting too confident, Aggie fans should consider that, one week after the Ags eeked out a 3OT victory over Fresno State, Oregon creamed the Bulldogs, 52-21.

The Texans have developed a pretty impressive and loyal local fan base, particularly given the team’s lack of success so far in its first five NFL seasons. But as loyal as Texans fans are, they don’t hold a candle to Cleveland Browns fans, whose once legendary team was stolen from them (that team is now the Baltimore Ravens) and then reincarnated a few years before the Texans were created as one of the worst expansion franchises in the history of the NFL. As this News-Herald article reports, the Browns are now the answer to a new NFL trivia question:

Since the NFL/AFL merger in 1970, which team named a starting quarterback for its first game and then traded that player before its second one?
(Answer: Browns starter Charlie Frye was traded to the Seattle Seahawks on Tuesday for a sixth-round draft pick.)

Moreover, while their Browns were getting thumped at home 34-7 by the Steelers this past Sunday, get a load of what the capacity crowd at the Browns stadium endured in the first offensive series of the season by the Browns:

1st and 10 from the Cleveland 20: Jamal Lewis rush for 2 yards (this was the high point of the series).
2nd and 8 from the 22: Charlie Frye pass incomplete.
3rd and 8 from the 22 Charlie Frye sacked at the Browns 17 for a 5 yard loss.
4th and 13 from the 17: Browns punter Paul Ernster “booms” a 15 yarder to the Cleveland 32. But that’s just the beginning of the incompetence on that particular play. Look at the rest of the stat line for that fourth Browns play of the season:
Penalty on CLV-35-J.Harrison, Defensive Holding, 10 yards, enforced at CLV 32.
Penalty on CLV-90-D.McMillan, Defensive Holding, declined.
Penalty on CLV-56-A.Peek, Illegal Formation, declined.
Penalty on CLV, Ineligible Downfield Kick, declined.

So, to recap, on their first offensive series of the season, the Browns had a 2 yard rush, an incomplete pass, a sack, and a 15 yard punt with four penalties. The Steelers took possession of the ball at the Cleveland 22 and scored a touchdown four plays later.
There is a special place in football heaven for Cleveland Browns fans. ;^)