Texans beat Lions 35-10, earn playoff spot

Earl "Bones" Bowman had a steep hill to overcome this season: earning the hearts of Texans fans that were devoted to the cause of Shonn Greene. But Bones has a heart too, and tipped his hat today to his mentor and now-Raiders HB.

Rewind one season ago to Week 17 against the Cleveland Browns. It's overtime, and the Texans have the ball. Then-QB Matt Schaub chucks the ball to then-HB Shonn Greene, and something amazing happens. A screen pass has Greene breaking multiple tackles to rumble 79 yards for a game-winning TD.

Bones paid homage in the best way he could. On a screen pass, he ran 78 yards while breaking fewer tackles, but using his speed to take him to the end zone.

The Texans' squad were excited to get WR Santonio Holmes back, even though he didn't have a single reception. Instead, Cassel found Anquan Boldin for two TD receptions, and one particularly amazing catch went to, who else, Andre Johnson. From their own 1-yd. line, Johnson took the ball 99 yards for a touchdown.

In the 4th Qtr, Carson Palmer threw an interception to Cortland Finnegan, which he promptly returned for another TD.

The highlights don't tell the full story of this game, complete with Texans star MLB Titus Ridder having his ribs broken (he will be out two weeks), while Ridder's best friend and OLB Brandon Hiller herniated the disk of Lions TE Tony Scheffler, who was the primary target of Carson Palmer today, as Texans CB Nnamdi Asomugha made a point to hold Lions WR Calvin Johnson Jr. to only two receptions.

The Texans earn the right to face either the (likely) Titans or the Chiefs in the playoffs now, which gives Bones a... smile. When asked about only having 55 yards rushing today and possibly missing out on the top five list of rushers in the league for the season, he said, "I try not to pay attention to those things. I just look for holes, and I go straight for the defenders. I'm just happy to be a Houston Texan in Wisconsin."

Bones' words were cut off as he began eating cheese curds.

Stats:
Lions / Texans
Total Offense Yards - 214 / 386
Passing Offense Yards - 161 / 335
Rushing Offense Yards - 53 / 51
First Downs - 11 / 11
3rd Down % - 12.5 / 66.7
Turnovers - 2 / 1
Redzone Scoring % - 0.0 / 100.0
Time of Possession - 15.4 / 16.7

Passing:
[DET] Carson Palmer QB - 13/25 for 165 yds, 2 INTs
[HOU] Matt Cassel QB - 14/20 for 344 yds, 4 TDs, 1 INT

Rushing:
[DET] Aaron Brown HB - 10 for 41 yds, 1 TD, 4.1 avg
[HOU] Earl Bowman HB - 13 for 55 yds, 4.2 avg

Receiving:
[DET] Tony Scheffler TE - 5 for 81 yds
[DET] Aaron Brown HB - 5 for 34 yds
[HOU] Andre Johnson WR - 5 for 155 yds, 1 TD
[HOU] Earl Bowman HB - 2 for 84 yds, 1 TD
[HOU] Anquan Boldin WR - 4 for 76 yds, 2 TDs

CONGRATS Mike! From wanting to quit the league to a playoff team, awesome.

Yeah, big up yo'self, Mike. Quite a turnaround, and glad to see another 4th Stringer representing.

congrats Mike (and everyone else who made the post season)

Nice!

I think that's the end of the Lions. Sixth seed has just gotten really interesting

Way to go, Mike! This is huge!

Congrats Mike. Hate to lose, but glad to see you make the playoffs.