PANTHERS VS. TEXANS:
RUNNING UPDATE:
1st Quarter:
RECAP: For the second straight week the Panthers scored a touchdown on their opening possession. The nine-play, 64-yard drive culminated on an incredible 7-yard reception by Steve Smith, who reached behind corner DeMarcus Faggins and tipped the ball up into the air to himself for the score. Smith cashed in again after a Texans turnover by beating Faggins for a 12-yard score.
BIG PLAY: On a third-and-10 at the Texans’ 32-yard line, Jeff King made a great catch along the left sidelines and found the first down marker to keep Carolina’s first touchdown drive alive.
BIG MISTAKE: On a pass over the middle, tight end Owen Daniels was stripped of the ball and Ken Lucas pick it up and returned it to the Houston 13-yard line to set up Carolina’s second TD.
COMMENT: The Panthers established momentum early, but the Texans moved 65 yards in three plays with Andre Johnson catches two passes for 64 yards, including a 31-yard touchdown catch.
SCORE: Carolina 14, Houston 0
2nd Quarter:
RECAP: Matt Schaub has been extremely effective in the first half, converting 16 of 21 passes for 179 yards as the Texans have bounced back from an early 14-point deficit to take a 17-14 lead. For the second straight week, Carolina’s offense experienced a second quarter lull. The Texans outgained the Panthers 124-9 in the second quarter.
BIG PLAY: After the Texans converted a 4th-and-3 at the Carolina 35, Schaub went for it all and it appeared Ken Lucas came up with the interception. However, Houston challenged the call and the play was overturned and ruled incomplete. The Texans finished off a 16-play drive with Schaub’s second touchdown pass to Johnson.
BIG MISTAKE: The Panthers big mistakes have come in pass coverage where they continue to bite on play-action fakes, allowing Schaub to roll and find his fullbacks and tight ends.
COMMENT: Wow, has the momentum of this game ever changed. After it looked like the Panthers might blow Houston out early, the Texans have taken control of this game.
SCORE: Houston 17, Carolina 14
3rd Quarter:
RECAP: Carolina picks up where it left off, going three-and-out on its first drive of the second half. The Texans easily march 56 yards on five plays for another touchdown, this time on a 13-yard run by Ahman Green to take a 24-14 lead. A special teams blunder costs Carolina another seven points and Houston takes a 31-14 lead.
BIG PLAY: The drop on the first play of the third quarter by Keary Colbert seemed to set the tone for the Panthers. Colbert has now dropped two passes at this point. When he finally does catch a pass, the crowd mockingly cheers him.
BIG MISTAKE: Carolina’s Nick Goings fumbles a kickoff return and Kevin Walter recovers the ball in the end zone for a touchdown to give the Texans a 31-14 lead. The Texans have scored 31 unanswered points.
COMMENT: Carolina’s defense looks lost. The Texans have them so fouled up they don’t know whether they’re coming or going and the Schaub is running the play-action to perfection. Delhomme throws his first pick of the season late in the third, but the Texans can’t capitalize.
SCORE: Houston 31, Carolina 14
4th Quarter:
RECAP: The Texans basically just worked on the clock and the Panthers couldn’t get much going with DeShaun Foster turning the ball over on a fumble. Carolina's inability to recover a late fumble takes away any chance of a comeback.
BIG PLAY: It hardly mattered in the grand scheme of things, but Smith’s 74-yard touchdown catch says something about his determination and desire to win. He broke five tackles en route to the end zone.
BIG MISTAKE: The Panthers had a chance to recover an on-side kick late in the game, but Na’il Diggs and Richard Marshall collided while trying to get the loose ball and it rolled out of bounds.
COMMENT: What a discouraging loss this is for the Panthers, who seemed to have the Texans right where they wanted them early in the game. I will say one thing – this Texans team is better than a lot of people think.
FINAL SCORE: Houston 34, Carolina 21