Warpath Drumbeat Paces Texans Past Chiefs for 4th Quarter Comeback

It was Armed Forces Day, but it was the Houston Texans who were under attack for most of the afternoon by the visiting Kansas City Chiefs beneath an open-roof at Reliant Stadium.

Half-way through the 3rd Quarter, the Texans were "doubled-up" by the Chiefs in time of possession (25 minutes), total yards (228), and first downs (19). Matters were made worse when Kansas City WR Dwayne Bowe (18 yards per catch on 6 receptions for 108 yards and 2 TDs) broke loose on a simple slant pattern for a 42 yard TD that had more YAC than an exotic petting zoo. This put the Chiefs up 21-7 as the Texans found themselves mired in a most unsettling streak: They were in the midst of racking up 11 consecutive quarters of home-turf play failing to lead an NFL game against visiting opponents.

But the Houston Texans offense responded with the even-keel, calm leadership of Matt Schaub (75% on 25 of 33, 305 yards, 2 TDs/0 picks, and a 123.9 QB rating) coupled with the running game of Arian Foster (4 yards per carry on 18 attempts for 79 yards and 2 TDs) and continued emergence of Derek Ward (19 yards per carry on 3 attempts for 58 yards and 1 TD) which eventually brought the home team within three points for a 31-28 deficit with 3:30 remaining in the 4th quarter.

With DeMeco Ryans now long out of the game due to an earlier in the game season-ending achilles' heel injury, the Texans Defense made a statement of a stop: They held the Chiefs to a 3-n-out. The Texans were able to again march down the field with big plays that included swing passes to Foster, seam-routes to Daniels, and with only 28 seconds remaining in regulation...a back of the end zone TD pass to Andre Johnson (17 yards per catch on 8 receptions for 138 yards and 1 TD) for their first lead of the day.

The Texans hung on for a 35-31 victory as an effective but now desperate Kansas City offense (429 total yards with 228 rushing and 201 receiving) with only :22 remaining concluded their day with an Amobe Okoye sack of Matt Cassel (69% on 20 of 29, 201 yards, 3 TDs/0 picks, and a 122.9 QB rating) as time expired.