Highlighted Year: Matt Schaub, 2009

Quarterback, Houston Texans

Age: 28

6^th season in pro football, 3^rd with Texans

College: Virginia

Height: 6’5”   Weight: 234

Prelude:

Schaub set multiple school passing records in college and was the ACC Player of the Year in 2002. He was chosen by the Atlanta Falcons in the third round of the ’04 NFL draft and backed up Michael Vick for three seasons. Schaub started two games and showed enough promise to attract the attention of other teams. He was traded to the Texans in 2007 and moved into the starting lineup. With a strong and accurate arm, he played well when healthy, but injuries kept him out of ten games in his first two years with the team, and he was prone to fumbles and interceptions. Still, he completed 66.1 percent of his passes in 2008 for 3043 yards and 15 touchdowns with 10 interceptions.

2009 Season Summary

Appeared and started in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Passing

Attempts – 583 [1]

Most attempts, game – 50 at Arizona 10/11

Completions – 396 [1]

Most completions, game – 35 at Arizona 10/11

Yards – 4770 [1]

Most yards, game – 392 at Cincinnati 10/18

Completion percentage – 67.9 [4]

Yards per attempt – 8.2 [4]

TD passes – 29 [5]

Most TD passes, game – 4 at Tennessee 9/20, at Cincinnati 10/18

Interceptions – 15 [9, tied with Jason Campbell]

Most interceptions, game – 2 at Buffalo 11/1, at Indianapolis 11/8, vs. Indianapolis 11/29

Passer rating – 98.6 [7]

300-yard passing games – 9

200-yard passing games – 15

Rushing

Attempts – 48

Most attempts, game – 8 (for 3 yds.) at Buffalo 11/1

Yards – 57

Most yards, game – 21 yards (on 3 carries) at Indianapolis 11/8

Average gain – 1.2

TDs – 0

Awards & Honors:

Pro Bowl

Texans went 9-7 to finish second in the AFC South, the first winning record in franchise history, while leading the NFL in passing yards (4654).

Aftermath:

Schaub again started every game in 2010 and passed for 4370 yards and 24 TDs with a passer rating of 92.0 while his interceptions dropped to 12. Both he and the team were off to a good start in ’11 before a foot injury knocked him out for the last six games of the regular season as well as the club’s first postseason appearance. Schaub returned in 2012 and had a Pro Bowl year as he passed for 4008 yards and 22 TDs and won in his first playoff appearance. However, he had a disastrous year in 2013, throwing for more interceptions (14) than touchdowns (10) and he was benched, leading to his being traded to Oakland in the offseason. He saw scant action as a backup to Derek Carr, was released, and signed with the Baltimore Ravens for 2015. Through 2014, Schaub has passed for 24,311 yards and 130 touchdowns, giving up 86 interceptions, with a 63.9 completion percentage and 89.5 passer rating. Of those totals, 23,221 yards with 124 TD passes and 78 INTs with a completion percentage of 64.6 and passer rating of 90.9 came during his seven years with Houston. He has been named to the Pro Bowl twice.   

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970

2002: Dawkins Stars as Eagles Defeat Texans

On September 29, 2002 the Houston Texans made their first visit to Philadelphia to take on the Eagles in a Week 4 contest. While the result yielded no surprises, Philadelphia’s star free safety Brian Dawkins distinguished himself in multiple ways, one of which was unique in his outstanding career.

The Eagles, coached by Andy Reid, had a pass-oriented offense directed by QB Donovan McNabb with a running game that had been only fair thus far in the young season. The defense was good at pressuring opposing passers as well as in coverage. In addition to Dawkins, key players included DE Hugh Douglas, LB Shawn Barber, and cornerbacks Troy Vincent and Bobby Taylor. Philadelphia reached the NFC Championship game in 2001 and was 2-1 thus far in ’02, having won decisively in the previous two games after losing to Tennessee in the season opener.

Houston was a first-year team under Head Coach Dom Capers and carried the usual expansion club problems into the season. QB David Carr, a rookie who was the first overall selection in the NFL draft, was placed directly into the starting lineup behind a makeshift line. The Texans upset the Dallas Cowboys in their first regular season contest but had scored a total of six points in losing their next two games to come into Philadelphia at 1-2.

There were 64,867 fans in attendance at Veterans Stadium. The teams traded punts to start the game before the Texans drove 69 yards in six plays that was helped along by a pass interference call on Troy Vincent in a third-and-six situation. David Carr completed passes to WR Corey Bradford for 26 yards to ignite the series and 23 yards to conclude it with a touchdown. Kris Brown added the extra point.

Houston got the ball back on the next play from scrimmage when SS Eric Brown intercepted a Donovan McNabb pass, thus giving the visitors excellent field position at the Philadelphia 34. However, DE Brandon Whiting sacked Carr for an eight-yard loss and two incompletions forced the Texans to punt. The Eagles moved methodically down the field in response as McNabb completed six passes and WR James Thrash ran for 19 yards on a reverse. The drive finally stalled at the Houston seven and David Akers kicked a 25-yard field goal to make it a 7-3 contest.

On the next series, Carr fumbled after running for nine yards on a third down play. Brian Dawkins recovered and, in a series that extended into the second quarter, the Eagles advanced 58 yards in nine plays. McNabb threw to FB Cecil Martin for 16 yards to the Houston 26 and a sack was nullified by a face mask penalty. RB Duce Staley ran for a one-yard TD and, with Akers kicking the point after, the home team was in front by 10-7.

The Texans were forced to punt following their next series that included two sacks of Carr and the Eagles, taking over from their own 36, advanced to another score. McNabb connected with Staley and Martin for completions of 13 and eight yards, respectively, and a sack was followed by a defensive holding penalty on Houston. A short run was followed by a McNabb pass to WR Todd Pinkston that picked up five yards and another throw to Pinkston gained 34 yards to the Houston six. Two plays later, Staley scored his second touchdown from a yard out. Akers converted and Philadelphia extended its lead to 17-7.

The Eagles got the ball back on the next series when Dawkins intercepted a Carr throw and returned it 27 yards to the Houston 30. It resulted in a short possession that ended with Akers kicking a 41-yard field goal and the score remained 20-7 at halftime.

The Eagles had the first possession in the third quarter and reached their 43 before lining up to punt. However, RB Brian Mitchell tossed a shovel pass to Dawkins instead, and the safety-now-receiver raced 57 yards for a touchdown (pictured at top). McNabb threw to TE Chad Lewis for a two-point conversion and big 28-7 lead.

Houston put together a series that ended with Carr throwing to Bradford for a 29-yard TD and Brown added the PAT to cut Philadelphia’s lead in half, but other than a 48-yard field goal by Brown later in the period, the Texans were finished with scoring for the day. McNabb threw to Thrash for a 38-yard TD in the fourth quarter to cap the 35-17 win for the Eagles.

Philadelphia easily held the lead in total yards (391 to 242) and first downs (21 to 12) while running sixteen more plays than the Texans (76 to 60). The Eagles also accumulated seven sacks to three by the Texans. Each team turned the ball over three times while Houston was penalized 11 times, to four flags thrown on Philadelphia.

Brian Dawkins had a noteworthy day as he recovered a fumble, intercepted a pass, recorded a sack, and caught a pass for a 57-yard touchdown. Donovan McNabb completed 24 of 42 throws for 259 yards and a TD while giving up one interception, and also ran the ball seven times for 23 yards. Duce Staley rushed for 33 yards on 12 carries that included two short touchdowns and had three pass receptions for another 39 yards. Todd Pinkston led Philadelphia’s receivers with 6 catches for 70 yards.

For the Texans, David Carr (pictured at right) completed 16 of 29 passes for 188 yards and two touchdowns and two interceptions. Corey Bradford had 7 receptions for 97 yards and both TDs. RB James Allen was the leading rusher with 41 yards on 14 attempts.

The Eagles lost their next game but only twice more the rest of the way in compiling a 12-4 record to once again top the NFC East, and despite the loss of Donovan McNabb to a broken ankle in the tenth game, although he returned for the postseason. Philadelphia again advanced to the conference title game and again came up short, losing to Tampa Bay.

Houston lost its next two contests and ended up at 4-12 to place fourth in the AFC South. David Carr was sacked a record 76 times through the course of the year but the rookie took every snap.

Brian Dawkins went on to achieve consensus first-team All-NFL honors for the second straight year as well as a third Pro Bowl selection. He intercepted two passes, recovered four fumbles, and was credited with three sacks. The touchdown catch against the Texans remained the only pass reception of his 16-season career.

Highlighted Year: Jerome Mathis, 2005

Wide Receiver/Kick Returner, Houston Texans

Age: 22

1^st season in pro football

College: Hampton

Height: 5’11” Weight: 181

Prelude:

With his great speed that also made him a college track star, Mathis accumulated 4541 all-purpose yards that included 93 pass receptions for 2456 yards (26.4 avg.) and 21 touchdowns and a 26.6-yard average on 62 kickoffs. He ranked second in the nation with an average of 160.8 all-purpose yards per game and was chosen by the Texans in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL draft. Mathis handled kickoffs as a rookie and also took over punt return duties when CB Phillip Buchanon was injured, although he was less adept at fielding punts.

2005 Season Summary

Appeared in 12 of 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Kickoff Returns

Returns – 54 [10]

Yards – 1542 [5]

Most yards, game – 266 (on 7 ret.) vs. Indianapolis 10/23, (on 7 ret.) vs. Kansas City 11/20

Average per return – 28.6 [2]

TDs – 2 [1]

Longest return – 99 yards

Punt Returns

Returns – 12

Yards – 68

Most yards, game – 29 (on 5 ret.) at Baltimore 12/4

Average per return – 5.7

TDs – 0

Longest return – 19 yards

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 5

Yards – 65

Average gain – 13.0

TDs – 1

Scoring

TDs – 3

Points – 18

Awards & Honors:

1^st team All-NFL: AP, PFWA, Sporting News

1^st team All-AFC: Pro Football Weekly

Pro Bowl

Texans went 2-14 to finish fourth in the AFC South with the NFL’s worst record.  

Aftermath:

Injuries limited Mathis to five games over the next two seasons and he was let go by the Texans, having averaged 28.5 yards on 72 kickoffs with three TDs. He was briefly signed during the offseason with the Redskins, was waived, and moved on to the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL, although injuries caused him to be cut and re-signed during the 2009 season. Mathis played in the Arena Football League in 2011 with the Pittsburgh Power and in nine games caught 30 passes for 418 yards and 7 TDs and returned 31 kickoffs for a 22.2-yard average and a touchdown.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970

Highlighted Year: Andre Johnson, 2006

Wide Receiver, Houston Texans

Age: 25

4^th season in pro football & with Texans

College: Miami (FL)

Height: 6’3”   Weight: 219

Prelude:

Johnson caught 92 passes for 1831 yards and 20 touchdowns in college and was co-MVP of the 2002 Rose Bowl along with QB Ken Dorsey. He entered the 2003 NFL draft following his junior year and was chosen by the Texans with the third overall pick in the first round. With excellent size and speed, he moved directly into the starting lineup and caught 66 passes for 976 yards (14.8 avg.) and four TDs in ’03. He also proved to be effective after the catch and a fine blocker. Johnson followed up with his first Pro Bowl season in 2004, with 79 receptions for 1142 yards (14.5 avg.) and six TDs. While he continued to develop in ’05, Johnson missed three games due to injury and his productivity slipped to 63 catches for 688 yards (10.9 avg.) and two scores.

2006 Season Summary

Appeared in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 103 [1]          

Most receptions, game – 11 (for 152 yds.) vs. Washington 9/24

Yards – 1147 [11]

Most yards, game – 152 (on 11 catches) vs. Washington 9/24

Average gain – 11.1

TDs – 5

100-yard receiving games – 4

Rushing

Attempts – 3

Yards – 14

Average gain – 4.7

TDs – 0

Scoring

TDs – 5

Points – 30

Awards & Honors:

2^nd team All-NFL: AP

Pro Bowl

Texans went 6-10 to finish fourth in the AFC South.

Aftermath:

A promising 2007 season ended due to a knee injury after nine games, but he bounced back to lead the NFL in pass receptions (115) and receiving yards (1575) in ’08 and received consensus first-team All-NFL honors for the first of two consecutive years. Johnson led the league in receiving yards again in 2009 (1569) and had a third straight Pro Bowl year in 2010 despite suffering from a high ankle sprain and missing two games. Hamstring problems cost him nine games in 2011, a down year, but he rebounded with Pro Bowl seasons in 2012 and ’13 in which he again went over 100 catches and 1400 yards. Overall, through 2014, Johnson has caught 1012 passes for 13,597 yards (13.4 avg.) and 64 touchdowns, with five seasons over 100 catches and three above 1500 yards. He has been a consensus first-team All-NFL selection twice, received at least second-team honors after three other seasons, and has been selected to the Pro Bowl seven times.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970

2011: Texans Rally to Beat Bengals and Clinch First-Ever Division Title

The Houston Texans did not reach the postseason in their first nine years of existence, but stood poised to win a division title as they faced the Cincinnati Bengals on December 11, 2011. Coached by Gary Kubiak, the Texans had an outstanding defense, but attrition was a problem on offense.  T.J. Yates (pictured above), a rookie fifth-round draft pick out of North Carolina, had taken over at quarterback when starting QB Matt Schaub and then backup Matt Leinart went down with season-ending injuries in consecutive weeks. The first-year quarterback was making just his second start and was also without star WR Andre Johnson, who was sidelined by a strained hamstring. But RB Arian Foster was a steady performer and the Texans had won six straight games after a 3-3 start to come into the contest at Cincinnati with a 9-3 record.

Cincinnati, under Head Coach Marvin Lewis for the ninth year, was moving in the opposite direction, having started off at 6-2 before losing three of four games to barely be in playoff contention with a 7-5 tally. QB Andy Dalton and WR A.J. Green were both rookies who moved directly into the starting lineup with promising results. As had typically been the case since Lewis took over as coach, the defense was solid.  

There was a small crowd of 41,202 fans in attendance at Paul Brown Stadium. The teams traded punts to start the game before the Texans mounted a scoring drive. After Arian Foster gained 11 yards on two carries, RB Ben Tate (pictured below) broke away for 44 yards to the Cincinnati 32. Houston was able to pick up another four yards before Neil Rackers kicked a 46-yard field goal.

The Bengals responded with a scoring series of their own. Andy Dalton completed a pass to WR Jerome Simpson for 21 yards and RB Cedric Benson followed up with a 42-yard run to the Houston one. The failure to reach the end zone mattered as the home team was immediately backed up five yards by a false start and the Bengals were able to regain only two yards before Mike Nugent kicked a 22-yard field goal that tied the score at 3-3.

FS Reggie Nelson intercepted a T.J. Yates pass on the next series and returned it 23 yards to the Houston 25. The Bengals lost ground from there but still took the lead when Nugent kicked another field goal, this time from 47 yards.

In a series that extended into the second quarter, Yates completed passes to TE Owen Daniels for 27 yards, WR Kevin Walter for 19, and Foster for 21. But after reaching the Cincinnati one, LB Rey Maualuga forced Tate to fumble and the Bengals recovered.

Cincinnati proceeded to drive 97 yards in 15 plays. Benson ran effectively and Dalton had a completion to TE Jermaine Gresham that picked up 26 yards. The Bengals converted two third downs and, facing a fourth-and-three situation at the Houston 35, Dalton passed to A.J. Green for 11 yards. Finally, Dalton threw down the middle to Simpson for a 17-yard touchdown. Nugent converted and the Bengals were up by 13-3 with three minutes remaining in the first half.

The Texans put together an effective drive in response as Yates went to the air and had completions of 24 and 18 yards to Daniels, five yards to WR Jacoby Jones, and six to Foster. But after reaching the Cincinnati 30, Rackers missed on a 47-yard field goal try. With the clock now down to 30 seconds, Dalton threw to WR Andrew Hawkins for 22 yards and to Gresham for 10 to set up a 49-yard Nugent field goal. Cincinnati carried a 16-3 lead into halftime.

The Bengals had the ball first in the third quarter but Dalton fumbled when sacked by LB Connor Barwin and LB Brooks Reed recovered for the Texans at the Cincinnati 17. Houston capitalized when, four plays later, Yates passed to TE Joel Dreessen for a six-yard touchdown. Rackers added the PAT and the home team’s lead was cut to six points.

The teams traded punts until the Bengals, starting from their own two yard line, drove all the way to the Houston 10. A pass interference penalty accounted for 25 yards and Dalton threw to Green for a 36-yard gain to the Houston 9. Cincinnati lost a yard over the ensuing three plays and Nugent came on to kick a 28-yard field goal that extended the lead to 19-10.

In a series that extended into the fourth quarter, the Texans advanced into Cincinnati territory. Yates threw to Foster for 17 yards and Jones for 16 and ran for 12 yards on his own to convert a third down, but he also fumbled when hit by DT Geno Atkins on a sack and DE Jonathan Fanene recovered for the Bengals at the Cincinnati 48.

The resulting possession was short and ended with a punt. On Houston’s next series, Yates completed seven passes, the longest to Walter for 19 yards, and the Texans reached the Cincinnati 15 before the drive stalled. Rackers kicked a 33-yard field goal to again make it a six-point contest.

The Bengals again had to punt following the next series and the Texans started at their 20 yard line with 2:33 left in regulation and no timeouts remaining. Yates was again effective passing the ball, connecting with Daniels three times for a total of 26 yards and Walter for 19 to the Cincinnati 35. A spike followed by a sack had the visitors facing third-and-15, but Yates ran 17 yards for a first down. Three plays later, the Texans were again facing third down and this time a pass interference penalty on CB Adam “Pacman” Jones moved the ball 17 yards to the six. From there, Yates threw to Walter for a six-yard touchdown with two seconds left. Rackers added the all-important extra point and Houston came away with a dramatic 20-19 win.

The Texans had the edge in total yards (412 to 285) and first downs (25 to 16) as well as time of possession (31:44 to 28:16). However, Houston also turned the ball over four times, to two suffered by the Bengals, and Cincinnati recorded five sacks, to one by the Texans.

T.J. Yates completed 26 of 44 passes for 300 yards and two touchdowns while giving up one interception. He also rushed for 36 yards on five carries. Owen Daniels had 7 catches for 100 yards and Kevin Walter contributed 6 receptions for 76 yards and the game-deciding TD. With the one long carry, Ben Tate led Houston in rushing with 67 yards on 8 attempts while Arian Foster was held to 41 yards on 15 carries, although he added 33 yards on four catches.

For the Bengals, Andy Dalton was successful on 16 of 28 throws for 189 yards and a TD, giving up no interceptions. Cedric Benson ran for 91 yards on 21 attempts and A.J. Green (pictured below) topped the receivers with 5 catches for 59 yards. Mike Nugent was successful on all four of his field goal attempts.

“A rookie quarterback beat us today,” said Cincinnati safety Chris Crocker. “He did it with both his arm and his feet. I don’t even know what to say. Wow.”

With a Tennessee loss shortly thereafter, the Texans clinched the AFC South title and finished with a 10-6 record. Cincinnati, given scant chance of making the postseason after the loss, nevertheless won its next two games and qualified for a Wild Card slot at 9-7, which placed third in the AFC North. The teams met again in the Wild Card playoff round and Houston won to advance to the Divisional level, falling to Baltimore.

T.J. Yates ended up completing 82 of 134 passes (61.2 %) for 949 yards and three touchdowns along with three interceptions. In the postseason, he was 28-of-55 for 343 yards with a TD and three interceptions. He returned to being a backup in 2012 and threw just 32 more passes over the course of the next two years before being traded to Atlanta. The 300-yard passing performance against the Bengals remains his best single-game total.

Rookie of the Year: DeMeco Ryans, 2006

Linebacker, Houston Texans

Age: 22

College: Alabama

Height: 6’1”   Weight: 229

Prelude:

Ryans was a consensus first-team All-American in 2005 and SEC Defensive Player of the Year. He was chosen by the Texans in the second round of the 2006 NFL draft. An outside linebacker in college, he was moved to middle linebacker by Houston where he became an immediate contributor and outshone first overall pick DE Mario Williams. What Ryans lacked in size and speed he made up with excellent instincts and technique.

2006 Season Summary

Appeared and started in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Sacks – 3.5

Most sacks, game – 1 at Dallas 10/15, at NY Giants 11/5, at Oakland 12/3

Interceptions – 1

Int. return yards – 16

Int. TDs – 0

Fumble recoveries – 1

Forced fumbles – 1

Tackles – 126

Assists – 30

Awards & Honors:

NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year: AP, PFWA

Texans went 6-10 to finish fourth in the AFC South.

Aftermath:

Ryans followed up with a Pro Bowl season in 2007 and established himself as a top player at his position and a leader on the Houston defense. He was a Pro Bowl selection again in 2009 but went down with an Achilles tendon injury six games into the 2010 season and the defense suffered in his absence. Ryans returned to play in every game in 2011 but was less successful playing in a 3-4 defense and was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in 2012. He continued to be a solid starter in Philadelphia, and while less effective in pass coverage than earlier in his career, Ryans brought savvy and leadership. Through 2013, he had accumulated 13.5 sacks, five interceptions, 667 tackles and 209 assists.

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Rookie of the Year Profiles feature players who were named Rookie of the Year in the NFL (including NFC/AFC), AFL (1960-69), or USFL (1983-85) by a recognized organization (Associated Press – Offense or Defense, Newspaper Enterprise Association, United Press International, The Sporting News, or the league itself – Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year).

Highlighted Year: Marcus Coleman, 2003

Cornerback, Houston Texans

Age: 29

8^th season in pro football, 2^nd with Texans

College: Texas Tech

Height: 6’2”   Weight: 210

Prelude:

Coleman was chosen by the New York Jets in the fifth round of the 1996 NFL draft. Fast and athletic, he was also a raw talent but moved into the starting lineup at cornerback late in his rookie year. Moved to free safety in ’97 with disappointing results, he became strictly a backup through 1998 but came back strong in ’99 as he returned to the starting lineup at right cornerback and intercepted six passes, one of which he ran back 98 yards for a TD. He became a fixture in the lineup over the next two years, although his performance dropped off in 2001 and he moved on to the expansion Texans in 2002. Coleman started in Houston across from Pro Bowler Aaron Glenn, who he had played in tandem with in New York.

2003 Season Summary

Appeared in 15 of 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Interceptions – 7 [4, tied with Ed Reed & Patrick Surtain, 1^st in AFC]

Most interceptions, game – 2 at Miami 9/7

Int. return yards – 95 [18, tied with Marlon McCree]

Most int. return yards, game – 41 (on 1 int.) vs. Indianapolis 12/28

Int. TDs – 0

Sacks – 0

Fumble recoveries – 0

Forced fumbles – 1

Tackles – 57

Assists – 12

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 1        

Yards – 6

TDs – 0

Texans went 5-11 to finish fourth in the AFC South.  

Aftermath:

With the arrival of first draft choice CB Dunta Robinson, Coleman was shifted to free safety in 2004, with good results (before suffering a late-season shoulder injury) that included a 102-yard return of an interception. He was supplanted by C.C. Brown in ’05 and finished his career with the Cowboys in 2006, where he was released following a four-game suspension for substance abuse. Overall, over the course of eleven seasons, Coleman intercepted 25 passes, two of which he returned for long touchdowns, recovered five fumbles, and was credited with over 400 tackles.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970

2008: Andre Johnson Gains 207 Yards as Texans Edge Titans

The Houston Texans were coming off three straight wins and, while not in playoff contention, looking to achieve the first winning season in franchise history as they hosted the Tennessee Titans on December 14, 2008. In their third season under Head Coach Gary Kubiak, the Texans had a productive offense directed by QB Matt Schaub (when healthy), who had an outstanding target in WR Andre Johnson (pictured at right), plus rookie RB Steve Slaton to bolster the ground game. The defense, however, was less proficient and streaky Houston had a 6-7 record.

The Titans, coached by Jeff Fisher, were 12-1 and had already clinched the AFC South, but were still looking to gain home field advantage throughout the playoffs. Third-year QB Vince Young had been benched in favor of veteran Kerry Collins, to good effect, and rookie RB Chris Johnson was exceeding expectations. The defensive line was anchored by star DT Albert Haynesworth and there were other fine players in LB Keith Bulluck, CB Cortland Finnegan, SS Chris Hope, and FS Michael Griffin. Rob Bironas also provided reliable placekicking.

There were 70,831 fans present at Houston’s Reliant Stadium. The Titans had the first possession and moved into Houston territory largely on the strength of Chris Johnson’s running as he gained 29 yards on three carries. But after reaching the 37, Kerry Collins threw a long pass that was intercepted by CB Fred Bennett in the end zone and returned 23 yards. However, after Matt Schaub passed to Andre Johnson for 15 yards, he fumbled while being sacked by DE Jevon Kearse and Albert Haynesworth recovered at the Houston 32. Six plays later, Rob Bironas (pictured below) kicked a 26-yard field goal.

The Texans responded by putting together a long, 16-play drive that covered 70 yards. Schaub connected with Johnson for 22 yards on a third-and-ten play and followed right up with another pass to Johnson that gained 14 yards. A roughing-the-passer penalty helped Houston out of a third-and-23 jam and Steve Slaton had a 19-yard run along the way. Finally, on the first play of the second quarter, Kris Brown kicked a 32-yard field goal to tie the score.

The Titans went three-and-out on their next series, and after the ensuing punt had the Texans starting at their own 11, Schaub went long for Johnson down the middle for a 65-yard gain to the Tennessee 24. After three running plays, Schaub went to Johnson again and the result was a 13-yard touchdown. Brown added the extra point and Houston was ahead by 10-3.

The teams traded punts before the Titans reached midfield and Collins threw to WR Justin McCareins for 17 yards, only to have the receiver fumble and DE Tim Bulman recover for the Texans at their 31. The clubs returned to exchanging punts until, with 39 seconds remaining in the half, the Titans took over the ball at their own two and quickly moved 93 yards in four plays. The biggest was a pass from Collins to WR Brandon Jones for 40 yards and that was followed by a 36-yard gain on a pass interference penalty. Bironas kicked a 23-yard field goal and the score was 10-6 at halftime.

Following a short possession to start the third quarter, the Texans punted and Tennessee drove 30 yards in nine plays. Collins completed two passes, both to TE Bo Scaife, and RB LenDale White ran three times for 18 yards. Bironas kicked his third field goal, this time from 51 yards, and Houston’s lead was down to one point.

That was the way it stayed for the remainder of the period. A long series by the Texans reached the Tennessee seven, but it was all for naught when Brown missed a 26-yard field goal attempt. As the game headed into the fourth quarter, the Titans had the ball deep in their own territory and had to punt. An apparent 23-yard return by WR Jacoby Jones was wiped out by an illegal block and the Texans had to start at their 36. But a pass interference penalty got them to midfield and back-to-back pass completions to TE Owen Daniels – the second of which was good for 19 yards in a third-and-five situation – got them to the Tennessee 12. Once again they tried for a field goal, and this time Brown was successful from 24 yards to give the home team a 13-9 lead.

The Titans reached the Houston 48 on the next series and punted. The Texans had a short series that also resulted in a punt, with Matt Turk booming it 57 yards but DB Chris Carr returning it 17 yards to the Tennessee 39. Collins immediately went long and WR Justin Gage caught it for a 28-yard gain to the Houston 33. Chris Johnson ran for 13 yards but the drive finally stalled at the 16 and Bironas was once again called on to kick a field goal, which was successful from 34 yards.

Schaub threw to Andre Johnson for 40 yards on a series that reached the Tennessee 41 and resulted in a punt. The Titans came right back with a big pass play of their own as Collins connected with Gage for 34 yards, but facing fourth-and-three at the Houston 32, Tennessee passed up a long field goal attempt and came up empty when Collins tossed an incomplete pass.

That came with just under two minutes remaining to play, and proved to be Tennessee’s last shot. The Titans used all three of their timeouts on the next series, but a 12-yard carry by Slaton gave the Texans a game-clinching first down as they were able to run out the clock. Houston was the winner by a final score of 13-12.

The Texans had the edge in total yards (375 to 281) and first downs (22 to 14). However, they hurt themselves with 11 penalties at a cost of 127 yards, as opposed to 7 flags thrown on Tennessee totaling 64 yards. Houston also gave up three sacks while not getting to Kerry Collins at all. The Titans turned the ball over twice, to one suffered by the Texans.

Andre Johnson, who was largely shut down by the Titans when the two teams met earlier in the season, had a huge performance with 11 catches for 207 yards and the game’s only touchdown. Matt Schaub completed 23 of 39 passes for 284 yards and a touchdown with none intercepted. Steve Slaton (pictured below) ran for an even 100 yards on 24 carries.

For the Titans, Kerry Collins was successful on 15 of 33 throws for 181 yards and no TDs with one intercepted. Chris Johnson rushed for 65 yards on 13 attempts. Justin Gage caught three passes for 76 yards. Rob Bironas was the scoring star as he was successful on all four of his field goal attempts – but one that he didn’t get to try on Tennessee’s last possession might have made the difference in the outcome.

The Texans lost the next week but won their season finale to finish at 8-8 for the second straight year, again missing out on a winning record and placing third in the AFC South. They would finally finish over .500 for the first time in 2009. Tennessee split its last two games but ended up with the conference’s best record at 13-3. The season ended in disappointment with a loss to the Ravens in the Divisional round of the postseason.

Andre Johnson, in his sixth year, led the NFL with 115 catches and 1575 receiving yards. He averaged 13.7 yards per catch and scored eight touchdowns. It all resulted in his receiving consensus first-team All-NFL recognition as well as selection to the Pro Bowl for the third time. His 207 receiving yards against the Titans set a franchise record that he broke in 2012.  

2003: Backup QB Banks Leads Texans to Upset of Panthers

The Houston Texans were going through the anticipated difficulties of being a second-year expansion team as they hosted the Carolina Panthers on November 2, 2003, although there were signs of improvement. Coached by Dom Capers, they had a star in the making in first-round draft choice WR Andre Johnson and also received an unexpected boost to the ground game in the form of fourth-round RB Domanick Davis, who had been expected to be a kick returner but was outperforming veteran RB Stacey Mack. Still, the team had lost three straight contests and was at 2-5. Furthermore, they were without the services of starting QB David Carr for the first time in the franchise’s brief history. The 2002 first overall draft pick was out due to a sprained right ankle and 30-year-old backup Tony Banks (pictured above) would be taking his place.

Carolina, coached by John Fox for the second year, was cruising at 6-1. The conservative offense was guided by QB Jake Delhomme and benefited from the presence of RB Stephen Davis, acquired after seven years in Washington. WR Steve Smith was a rising talent and dependable WR Muhsin Muhammad started across from him. The team’s defense was the key to the team’s success, however, in particular the solid line.

There were over 70,000 fans present at Reliant Stadium and they saw the Panthers get the opening kickoff and drive 83 yards in 12 plays. Eight of them were runs by Stephen Davis, who picked up 20 yards, a fourth-and-one was successfully converted, and Jake Delhomme completed all three of his passes, the last one to Steve Smith for a 24-yard touchdown. John Kasay added the extra point.

The Texans had to punt following their first possession and Carolina moved the ball all the way from its 12 to the Houston 25. While the Panthers again relied on Stephen Davis carrying the ball for the most part, Delhomme threw to TE Kris Mangum for 34 yards. However, on the first play of the second quarter, a Delhomme pass was intercepted by CB Aaron Glenn to snuff out the threat.

Another Houston punt was followed by a nine-play drive by the Panthers that featured Stephen Davis compiling 41 yards on the ground, but the series stalled at the Houston 44 to force a punt. The teams continued to trade punts until the end of the half, with the visitors holding onto the 7-0 lead.

It was Houston’s turn to put together a long scoring series to start the third quarter. Domanick Davis ran the ball effectively, with carries of 23 and 17 yards along the way, and Tony Banks completed three passes. The third, to TE Billy Miller, picked up 11 yards on a third-and-nine play and set up a one-yard touchdown carry by Stacey Mack. Kris Brown’s successful PAT tied the score.

Carolina once again moved the ball effectively on a long possession of 14 plays that covered 68 yards. Stephen Davis carried six times and Delhomme had completions of 12 yards to Smith and 20 yards to Muhsin Muhammad. Another throw to TE Jermaine Wiggins in a third-and-four situation at the Houston eight gained six yards, but the Panthers couldn’t punch the ball into the end zone and settled for a 23-yard Kasay field goal. The third quarter ended with Carolina back in front by 10-7.

Houston started off the final period by driving 67 yards in nine plays. Banks had two big completions to Andre Johnson, with the second gaining 35 yards to the Carolina 28 in a third-and-18 situation. Banks finished the series off by threading a pass through coverage to Miller, who made a one-handed grab for a 20-yard touchdown. With Brown’s extra point, the Texans were in front by four.

It was all the home team needed. The Panthers reached the Houston 46 on the next series and had to punt, set back by a personal foul penalty on Smith after he kicked DE Jerry Deloach, and the Texans were able to effectively run out the clock. Banks had key third down passes to WR Jabar Gaffney for 12 yards and 21 yards to Miller. Carolina got the ball back with just one second remaining and Houston held on for the 14-10 win.

In a game that featured plenty of long, ground-based possessions by the offenses (each team had the ball seven times), Carolina had more total yards (367 to 267) and also led in first downs (21 to 14). There was only one turnover – by the Panthers – and Carolina was penalized seven times, to four flags thrown on the Texans. The Panthers also recorded the only two sacks of the game, both by DE Mike Rucker.

Tony Banks had an efficient performance, completing 13 of 19 passes for 154 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions. Domanick Davis, who was lost to a chest injury in the second half, rushed for 74 yards on 12 carries. Andre Johnson had four catches for 64 yards and Billy Miller also had four receptions, for 58 yards and a TD.

For the Panthers, Stephen Davis (pictured at left) ran the ball 30 times for 153 yards. Jake Delhomme was successful on 13 of 23 throws for 193 yards and a TD with one interception. Steve Smith caught 5 passes for 88 yards and a score, although he also had the costly penalty in the fourth quarter.

“I’ve seen Tony Banks play before, and we did not take Tony Banks lightly,” said Carolina’s Coach Fox. “I thought he had a terrific second half.”

David Carr was back behind center for the Texans the next week in a loss to Cincinnati, but further injuries had Banks in action again as well as third-string QB Dave Ragone. Houston ended up at 5-11 and last in the AFC South. The Panthers topped the NFC South with an 11-5 record and won the NFC Championship, but lost a closely-fought Super Bowl to the New England Patriots.

Tony Banks had been a disappointment when starting for the Rams, moving on to the Ravens and Redskins, before becoming the backup for the new Texans in 2002. He saw no action that first year as Carr took every snap. Appearing in seven games in ’03, and starting three of them, he completed 61 of 102 passes (59.8 %) for 693 yards and five touchdowns with three interceptions. He was the backup quarterback in Houston for two more seasons but never again saw as much action.

Domanick Davis (who would later change his last name to Williams) continued to have a productive rookie year, ending up with 1031 rushing yards on 231 carries (4.3 avg.) and another 351 yards on 47 pass receptions. Andre Johnson also had an outstanding first season, catching 66 passes for 976 yards (14.8 avg.) and four touchdowns.

Stephen Davis rushed for a career-high 1444 yards on 318 attempts (4.5 avg.) and scoring eight TDs. It was his fourth (and last) thousand-yard rushing season and resulted in his being selected to the Pro Bowl for the third time. 

2007: Long Kris Brown Field Goals Propel Texans Over Dolphins

The Houston Texans were 2-2 as they faced the Miami Dolphins at Reliant Stadium on October 7, 2007, having won their first two games of the season but then lost the next two. In their second year under Head Coach Gary Kubiak, the club had made changes, most notably acquiring QB Matt Schaub from Atlanta and 30-year-old ex-Packer RB Ahman Green. Schaub started off well, especially in combination with WR Andre Johnson in the first two winning contests, but when Johnson went down with a knee injury and Green was also slowed by injury, the Texans ran into trouble.

The Dolphins, coached by Cam Cameron following the departure of Nick Saban for Alabama, had lost all four of their games to date. They had also brought in a new quarterback in the offseason, ex-Chief Trent Green, who beat out Cleo Lemon for the starting job in the preseason. While second-year RB Ronnie Brown was a bright spot, there were few others.

The Texans had the first possession of the game and proceeded to drive 78 yards in 11 plays. Schaub misfired on his first two passes but then converted a third-and-ten situation with a completion to WR Kevin Walter for 16 yards. A personal foul penalty on Miami DE Jason Taylor turned a second-and-17 play into a first down along the way. Schaub connected with WR Andre’ Davis for 49 yards to the Miami two and while it took four straight handoffs to RB Ron Dayne to finally score, Houston had the early lead.

The Dolphins responded with a scoring series of their own after rookie WR Ted Ginn Jr. returned the ensuing kickoff 52 yards. Green scrambled around end for a 23-yard gain to highlight a 46-yard drive that ended with a 23-yard Jay Feely field goal to narrow Houston’s margin to 7-3.

Miami got the ball back quickly when a deflected Schaub pass was intercepted by CB Andre Goodman. Goodman returned the pickoff 18 yards to give the Dolphins excellent field position at the Houston 25. On the next play, a scary situation that turned ugly occurred when an aborted handoff was fumbled and Ginn, recovering, attempted to reverse field and advance. Green was knocked unconscious while attempting to block. While lying motionless on the field, the player he blocked, Houston DE Travis Johnson, taunted him and drew a 15-yard penalty (as well as plenty of negative comments afterward). Green was taken off the field on a stretcher and was finished for the day (and, ultimately, the year).

Cleo Lemon came into the game at quarterback and the Dolphins drove to a three-yard touchdown run by Ronnie Brown. With the successful extra point, they were ahead at the end of the first quarter by a score of 10-7. 

Early in the second quarter, and following a punt by the Texans, Miami scored again. Brown started the series with a 22-yard run and it was followed by a Lemon pass to Ginn that covered 36 yards. The Dolphins made it to the Houston 22 from where Feely booted a 40-yard field goal to make it 13-7.

The Dolphins got the ball back again in good field position when Schaub fumbled while being sacked by Taylor and DE Rodrique White recovered at the Houston 41. Seven plays and 26 yards later, Miami added to its lead as Feely was successful on a 33-yard field goal.

With time running down in the first half, the Texans put together an eight-play scoring drive. Schaub completed passes of 16 yards to Davis and 20 yards to RB Samkon Gado and, after the series stalled at the Miami 36, Kris Brown (pictured at top) boomed a 56-yard field goal to make it 16-10 at the half.

On Miami’s second play of the third quarter, FS C.C. Brown intercepted a pass by Lemon to give Houston good field position at the Miami 46. Seven plays later Brown kicked a 43-yard field goal to pull the Texans to three points behind. Following a punt by the Dolphins, Houston again drove to a long field goal attempt by Brown from 54 yards. It was successful to tie the contest at 16-16.

Miami moved back in front early in the fourth quarter thanks to a 10-play, 40-yard series that ended with Feely connecting on his fourth field goal, from 48 yards. The Texans came back with a 64-yard drive in 14 plays. They converted two third downs along the way, including a third-and-13 situation when Schaub threw to TE Owen Daniels (pictured below) for 15 yards. Another Schaub-to-Daniels pass gained 24 yards to the Miami four, and while the Texans couldn’t punch it in from there, Brown came through with his fourth field goal of the contest from 20 yards to again tie the score at 19-19.

The Dolphins took over possession with 5:25 left on the clock and short passes by Lemon got the ball into Houston territory. But after reaching the 38 yard line by the two minute warning, Lemon threw two incomplete passes and Miami punted. The 35-yard kick had the Texans starting their next series at the three.

On second down, Schaub passed to Daniels for a 19-yard gain to get out of the hole. Two plays later he hit Daniels again for 14 yards and then WR David Anderson for 19 yards to the Miami 44. The Texans having taken their second timeout, Schaub passed to Walter for six yards and then spiked the ball at the 38. The clock ran down to one second before Houston took its final timeout and Brown came through with a 57-yard field goal to give the Texans a 22-19 win.

Houston outgained the Dolphins (352 yards to 285) and had the edge in first downs (20 to 17). However, they hurt themselves with two turnovers, to one suffered by Miami. They also failed to run the ball effectively, gaining just 74 yards on 28 carries, and had difficulty reaching the end zone.

Kris Brown kicked five field goals in as many attempts, with a record three of them coming from 54 yards or longer, including the game-winner. All of that came after he had injured his foot on the opening kickoff. Matt Schaub completed 20 of 34 passes for 294 yards but with no touchdowns and one intercepted. Owen Daniels caught 6 passes for 96 yards while Andre’ Davis contributed 79 yards on his 4 receptions and Kevin Walter added 5 catches for 67 yards. Ron Dayne rushed for 40 yards and a TD on 16 carries.

For the Dolphins, Ronnie Brown was the offensive star with 23 rushes for 114 yards and a TD and a further 39 yards on 5 pass receptions. After replacing Trent Green, Cleo Lemon was successful on 15 of 27 throws for 151 yards and had one intercepted. WR Marty Booker was the top receiver with 45 yards on 5 catches. Jay Feely, overshadowed by Kris Brown, nevertheless had a good day as he booted four field goals in four attempts. Ted Ginn Jr., (pictured below) who caught one pass for 36 yards, also averaged 35.2 yards on his five kickoff returns.

The Texans lost their next three games but ultimately ended up at 8-8 for the first non-losing season in franchise history. It still placed them last in the highly-competitive AFC South (all three teams ahead of them went to the playoffs). Miami suffered through a dreadful 1-15 campaign, not pulling out a win until its fourteenth game.

Kris Brown was successful on 25 of 29 field goal attempts (86.2 %), including all five from over 50 yards. Injuries hindered Matt Schaub, who appeared in 11 games and passed for 2241 yards with 9 touchdowns as well as 9 interceptions.

Trent Green, who had missed half of the ’06 season after suffering a concussion in the opening game, never played again for the Dolphins in 2007, although he did play as a backup for the Rams in 2008, his last season. Ronnie Brown, who played so well for a poor team, went down with a season-ending injury in the seventh game. He rushed for 602 yards on 119 carries (5.1 avg.) and caught 39 passes for 389 yards.

Rookie of the Year: Domanick Davis, 2003

Running Back, Houston Texans

(Later known as Domanick Williams)

Age: 23 (Oct. 1)

College: LSU

Height: 5’9”    Weight: 216

Prelude:

Chosen by the Texans in the fourth round of the 2003 NFL draft, it was not anticipated that he would be an every-down back as a pro. He started off his rookie year backing up veteran RB Stacey Mack but moved into the lineup and demonstrated surprising power to go along with his speed and receiving ability.

2003 Season Summary

Appeared and started in 14 of 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Rushing

Attempts – 238 [19]

Most attempts, game - 27 (for 129 yds.) vs. NY Jets 10/19

Yards – 1031 [15, tied with Eddie George]

Most yards, game – 129 yards (on 27 carries) vs. NY Jets 10/19

Average gain – 4.3 [20]

TDs – 8 [13, tied with Deuce McAllister, Stephen Davis & Correll Buckhalter]

100-yard rushing games - 4

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 47       

Most receptions, game – 9 (for 70 yds.) vs. NY Jets 10/19

Yards – 351

Most yards, game - 70 (on 7 catches) at Tennessee 10/12, (on 9 catches) vs. NY Jets 10/19

Average gain – 7.5

TDs – 0

Kickoff Returns

Returns – 3

Yards – 61

Avg. – 20.3

TDs – 0

Scoring

TDs – 8

Points – 48

Awards & Honors:

NFL Rookie of the Year: League/Pepsi

Texans went 5-11 to finish fourth in the AFC South.

Aftermath:

Concerns about his durability in a full-time role ultimately proved justified, although Davis improved on his numbers in 2004, rushing for 1188 yards and 13 TDs and catching 68 passes for 588 yards and another score for a total of 1776 yards from scrimmage. However, a knee injury shut down his 2005 season with 976 yards on the ground and 337 through the air on 33 pass receptions in 11 games. He wouldn’t be back – injuries cost him all of ’06 and he was released by the Texans in March 2007 (by which time he had changed his last name from Davis to Williams). In his short but productive career, Davis rushed for 3195 yards on 770 carries (4.1 avg.) and 23 TDs and caught 154 passes for 1276 yards (8.3 avg.) and five more touchdowns.

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Rookie of the Year Profiles feature players who were named Rookie of the Year in the NFL, AFL (1960-69), or USFL (1983-85) by a recognized organization (Associated Press – Offense or Defense, Newspaper Enterprise Association, United Press International, The Sporting News, or the league itself – Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year). 

[Updated 2/8/14]