Texans squeak past the Dolphins

Texans: 27, Dolphins: 24

At one point in the game, the Texans were up 21-3. But the resilient Water-Mammals battled back.

In the second half, the Texans were held to two field goals, while the Phins continued to pound the ball with Jamaal Charles. Charles was held to just under 150 yards, an accomplishment by the Texans' standards against Miami. Additionally, Charles had 17 yards on 5 receptions, but the Texans did their best to anticipate many screen passes, and had stopped him from making huge gains on it. On one screen pass LB Titus Ridder slid over and stuffed Charles the second he caught the ball for a loss.

The Texans' sturdy defense held up yesterday. Chad Henne was on the receiving end of a 19-yard sack by LB Brandon Hiller (DE Will Smith also recorded a sack). LB Rey Maualuga knocked Henne's arm as he was winding back to pass and caused a fumble, which the Texans' LB recovered. Texans' CB/FS Sherrick McManis had a HUGE interception, which he went high in the air to grab, fully stretched out.

The Texans' scores, after some great runs by HB Earl "Bones" Bowman, came from big receptions by WR Lenoy "The Playboy" Tucker. Playboy's two TDs set the game in motion, while an impressive 98-yard kickoff return for a TD by Calvin Mayes "Hayes" put the team 'up top.'

But the game ball went to newly-acquired CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. When in man coverage, he was a shut-down corner all game, and only gave up passes when not on direct assignment. And with just under a minute left in the game and the Dolphins driving down the field, DRC stepped in front of a pass intended for, I believe, former Texans WR Santonio Holmes. That timely interception sealed the game for Houston/Milwaukee.

This was a wildly entertaining game, and it makes me wish I played CMonks every week. Probably my favorite close game since my loss to the Titans late last season. If Madden were smart, they'd match the Texans and Dolphins up every season just for the sheer entertainment factor. Loved Chris' fight to the end, and were that last pick not thrown, I bet the outcome would be different.

Both teams face stout division rivals next week, with the Texans playing the Colts and the Dolphins taking on the Patriots.

Stats:

Dolphins / Texans
Total Offense Yards - 294 / 238
Passing Offense Yards - 158 / 157
Rushing Offense Yards - 136 / 81
First Downs - 15 / 9
3rd Down % - 55.6 / 33.3
4th Down % - 100.0 / 0.0
Turnovers - 3 / 0
Redzone Scoring % - 100.0 / 100.0
Time of Possession - 19.0 / 13.0


Passing:
[MIA] Chad Henne QB - 18/26 (69.2%) 184 yds, 1 TD, 2 INTs
[HOU] Matthew Stafford QB - 8/16 (50.0%) 157 yds 2 TDs

Rushing:
[MIA] Jamaal Charles HB - 15 for 143 yds (9.5 avg), 2 TDs
[HOU] Earl "Bones" Bowman HB - 12 for 85 yds (7.1 avg)

Receiving:
[MIA] Santonio Holmes WR - 2 for 45 yds
[MIA] Owen Daniels TE - 3 for 37 yds, 1 TD
[MIA] Le'Ron McClain FB - 5 for 28 yds
[MIA] Jamaal Charles HB - 5 for 17 yds
[HOU] Lenoy "The Playboy" Tucker WR - 2 for 58 yds, 2 TDs
[HOU] Roddy White WR - 2 for 48 yds

Check out Mayes' great moves in his KR-for-TD:

I think any time a team is up 21-3 and the other team comes back...other team should automatically win.

That doesn't make any sense.

Unwritten rule

Dascenzo wrote:That doesn't make any sense.

Truth.

Do y'all actually think I am being serious?