Texans Stuff Packers, Edge Closer to .500

It wasn't pretty, but the Texans' thrilling win on Sunday showed that the once moribund team still has some life in it with three weeks yet to play in the season. With the divisional rival Tennessee Titans up next, the Texans will have to try to carry this week's emotion into one of their most crucial home games ever.

Kris Brown's 40-yd field goal as time expired was the dramatic cap on an otherwise messy game by both teams. QB Matt Schaub had a field day with the Packers' weak defense, lighting up their secondary for 414 passing yards, frequently to Kevin Walter, who lead all receivers with 146 yards. But four turnovers negated Schaub's blowout-worthy stats as the game came down to the wire.

Kick returner Jacoby Jones muffed a punt, clearly violating rule #1 of returning kicks: catch the damned ball. RB Steve Slaton (who had an otherwise stellar game) and TE Owen Daniels similarly killed drives by catching a case of butterfingers. However, Mario Williams and DeMeco Ryans saved everyone's bacon by stuffing the Packers with two minutes left in the 4th, setting up Schaub's drive to put Brown into field goal position.

This Texans team is far from perfect: the pass defense is weak, the running game needs options besides Slaton, and coach Gary Kubiak's clock management is still suspect. Those holes excepted, this is the best Texans team in history, and they'd be a sure-fire playoff team if they played in the NFC. Sure beats the David Carr days, huh?
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photo: flickr user mrp1001