Texans comeback to win over Chargers

Best thing to do when you are home sick after you slept most of the day.  Watch game film of the Texans game.

Texans game: This game started off just like the Cowboys game, Matt Schaub's first pass was picked off at their own 15 which resulted in a Chargers touchdown on the next play. The two went back and forth the rest of the first half but the Chargers managing to get out to a 21-7 lead at the half. The interesting fact to me was Houston not going to their playaction nearly as much in the first half despite running the ball effectively averaging 4.4 yards a carry, 15 rushes for 66 yards. They ran only one playaction passes hitting Owen daniels for 18 mid-way through the 1st quarter. This is a staple of their offense but thats what can happen when you trail double digits at half-time.

The Texans might have finally found their capable No.2 receiver to go along with Andre Johnson hitting on DeAndre Hopkins in the draft from Clemson, he was open often and made play after play which drew coverage off Johnson who hauled double digit catches on the night.

The Chargers were rolling to start the second half taking the opening drive 80 yards in 8 plays thanks to a monster playaction pass to Malcolm Floyd for 47 yards on the first play. They scored on a quick pass to Eddie Royal from the one yardline to take a 28-7 lead at the 10:46 mark of the third quarter.

You might think down by 3 touchdowns Head Coach Gary Kubiak would go no huddle, stay in shotgun passing every play to try and get back into the game. However that did not happen, the Texans responded with a 12 play drive going 70 yards holding the ball for over 5 minutes scoring on a touchdown pass to Garrett Graham. They still continued to run the ball 4 times on the drive to keep the Chargers pass rush from going all out for Schaub which was crucial considering how bad a game LT Duane Brown had.

Then everything changed...

The Chargers lead by 2 touchdowns with 4:45 left in the 3rd quarter, the Texans defense having trouble to stop the Chargers most of the night through the air and on the ground needed a stop. You would think a team with a 2 possession lead would want to work the clock a little as well to give their defense a break after giving up the score and protect the lead.  Instead the Chargers run the ball a total of 4 times for a grant total of 2 yards from the moment they lead in the game 28-7 to the moment they lost it.

San Diego acted like they were the team trailing by 14 in the second half, throwing the ball all over the place without success. The Texans D had to start blitz to force the issue and Rivers never made them pay for it.

Even with that said, a few things had to fall the Texans way to complete the comeback.

It is 3rd down and 8 with 14:55 left to go in the 4th quarter, Houston trails 28-14 but has driven the ball down to the Chargers 19. Schaub has a pass fall incomplete resulting in a field goal attempt to cut the lead down to 11. However a stupid personal foul penalty by the Chargers gives the Texans a new set of downs inside the 10 with a chance to make it a one possession game. Schaub waste no time finding Owen Daniels for the score turning what should have been a two possession game into a single score differential with 14:44 remaining to be played.

Fast forward to the 9:38 mark of the 4th quarter for the play of the game.  The Chargers take possession at their own 13 leading by 7. They had tried to run the ball twice on the previous possession only to gain a single yard in 2 attempts thanks to JJ Watt doing what he does to blow up running plays. The Chargers decide to put the ball in the air, Whitney Mercilus goes unblocked to rush the throw by Rivers into the flat where recently made rich Brian Cushing hauls in the interception, gets up and rumbles in for the tying score.

The Texans drove down the field from their own 39 thanks to three clutch receptions from Andre Johnson for 23 yards, and the inevitable game winning field goal as time expired.