The Texans beat the Dolphins in week 2 "the old fashioned way", by winning the Time of Possession and Turnover battles. The first of two turnovers the Texans had was caused by the new outside linebacker Mario Williams. Mario hit the arm of Dolphins quarterback Chad Henne on the first play of the second quarter. The ball floated in air for at least five minutes before Jonathon Joseph, the Texans newest cornerback, picked it off and was downed at the Fins seven yard line. That turnover lead to a Matt Schaub to Owen Daniels touchdown, the first in the game, putting the Texans up 13-3.
The first turnover put a breath of life into an offense that sputtered in the red zone in the first quarter coming away with six points not the fourteen that should have been on the board. The early second quarter score would be all the Texans could muster until Neil Rackers field goal at the end of the half.
In the second quarter the Dolphins had two drives into the red zone. They ran the ball up the middle with ease on the legs of rookie running back Daniel Thomas. Who finished with 107 yards on 18 carries. If not for touchdown saving tackles by Glover Quinn the out come of the first half would have been a lot different. The Dolphins also had some help from a huge pass interference penalty on Kareem Jackson, (SHOCKER), on their second drive of the quarter.
Who ever said Dolphins are smart were not referring to the offensive play calls in the red zone. After running the ball, at will, the Fins decided to switch to the pass. Allowing the Texans to swat down a pass, put pressure on Henne, and receiver Brandon Marshall to drop a sure touchdown. The Dolphins play calling lead to two field goal attempts for kicker Dan Carpenter. Attempts you ask, why did you write attempts? Well the first field goal attempt was a line drive shot which defensive end J.J. Watt knocked down with his big bear paw. The second... The second was just a poor kick that found itself wide left. If i was Dan Carpenters agent I would be entertaining offers from the CFL.
With the last possession of the first half, Schaub threw a bomb to Andre Johnson setting up the field goal which put the Texans ahead 16-3 at the half. Now one would generally be happy with a 16-3 lead at the half, and I think the Texans faithful were. The second quarter did showcase a major weakness of the Texans defense. Running the ball between the tackles. If not for some poor play calling in the red zone the game could have taken a nasty turn. However, I was impressed that the defense did not give up any big plays, ie 20yds. or more. Aside from the one big pass interference penalty on Jackson. Holding teams to field goal attempts and causing turnovers is just what the offense ordered when they signed Wade Philips.
With their second possession of the third quarter, the Fins gave the Texans defense a different look. Chad Henne and the Fins offense went "no huddle" and ran only two different plays; or at least it seemed that way. The Fins again ran the ball between the tackles with Thomas gashing the Texans defense. They also took advantage of sidelined cornerback Jonathon Joseph's replacement, by throwing to Brandon Marshall for their only touchdown of the game. Jason Allen was well over matched by the Fins #1 receiver. Not the return Allen wanted against his old team.
The Texans played poor in the third quarter shooting themselves in the foot with penalties and poor blocking from their offensive line. On their second drive of the half, Matt Schaub was sacked twice swinging the momentum in favor of the Fins. On the very next possession the Texans defense answered with a turnover. Thomas was again gashing the defense between the tackles when Kareem Jackson put his helment on the ball knocking it loose. Glover Quinn the Texans safety jumped on it stopping the bleeding.
On the Dolphins first drive of the fourth quarter they once again found themselves in the red zone and once again tried to take advantage of Jonathon Joseph's absence by throwing to Brandon Marshall. This time the Texans were prepaired doubling Marshall with Allen and Manning. The Texans held them to a field goal which brought the score to a unconfortable 16-13.
With the game on the line the Texans did somthing Houston fans had not seen in the past. They buckled up their chin straps and tightened their cleets. In five plays the offense went 63yds. and capped it off with a Schaub to Johnson touchdown pass. That touchdown put the Texans ahead 23-13 and in control of the game. In the Dolphins final two drives of the game, the defense had 3 quarterback hurries, one batted ball and one huge sack by Antonio Smith. The defense came through in the end and allowed Ben Tate, who finished with 103 rushing yards, to run out the clock and win the Time of Possession battle 34:06 to 25:54.
The team showed some grit for the first time in franchise history, and they will need plenty of it next week in New Orleans. They have some things to clean up and will have to worry about communicating due to crowd noise, something Dolphin opponents do not worry about in September. Putting pressure on Drew Breese and keeping Ingram from running inside are the two major worries next week. IN WADE WE TRUST, is Texan fans new motto. I hope his defense can deliver.
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