In the National Football League, three quarters of solid play just isn't enough
to get a win at the end of Sunday's battle. Plays have to be made throughout the
entire game and unfortunately for the Texans, the fourth quarter of last night's
battle against Green Bay didn't produce that game-winning one-two punch.
Houston held onto the ball for just 4:47 in the final 15 minutes of the game. All
three of the Texans fourth-quarter possessions were three-and-out and the unit
gained just 14 yards.
On the other sideline, the Packers turned on the heat when they needed it most,
scoring 13 points in that same span, enough to win by three points in the final
seconds of the game off of a 46-yard Ryan Longwell field goal.
"To win a game like this, you have to out-execute your opponent for four quarters
and that's where we fell short," head coach Dom Capers said Monday following Sunday
night's contest at Reliant Stadium.
"I think for three quarters we did that, unfortunately we didn't get it done in the fourth quarter."
The Texans defense held the Packers fifth-ranked scoring offense to just one
touchdown, but three long plays in the fourth quarter made all the difference
for Green Bay. Packers tight end Bubba Franks snagged a 27-yard pass, receiver
Donald Driver had a 24-yard touchdown catch and Favre hit receiver Robert Ferguson
on a 23-yarder.
"What it came down to in my opinion was we just didn't make enough plays in crunch
time, in the fourth quarter," Caper said. "When you're playing a team like Green
Bay and a quarterback like Brett Favre you can't continue to give him the opportunities
that we gave him in the fourth quarter. Sooner or later he's going to put the
ball in the end zone, he's going to move the ball down into field goal range and
that's really what happened."
Favre marched the Packers offensive unit 81 yards in just under three minutes
in the fourth quarter when he found Driver in the back of the end zone for the
score, his 35th consecutive game throwing a touchdown pass.
One thing was clear to Capers about his young Texans team; they battle until
the bitter end.
"When you go out and fight as hard as our guys fought and there's no question
in my mind, I have got a lot of confidence in our guys in terms of the kind of
effort, their attitude this game," he said. "Believe me there wasn't a guy that
didn't give his heart and soul to this team and that's why its so disappointing
when you come up short."
Capers was also pleased with the Texans special teams efforts. Punter Chad Stanley
averaged 44.0 yards on seven punts, placing three inside the 20-yard line. Return
man J.J. Moses also helped out Houston's offense with their drive starts, averaging
18.3 yards per return on kickoffs.
"I thought our special teams did one of the better jobs of the season," Capers
said. "(The Packers) were leading the league in drive starts when they came in,
starting out at the 32-yard line. For the game we held them to a 22-yard drive
start. Ours was 33 so we had an 11-yard advantage there. The field position was
significantly in our favor."
The team reviewed game film today and will return to practice on Wednesday in
preparations for the second meeting of the season with Tennessee. Houston defeated
the Titans 20-10 on October 17 in Nashville.
The Titans are coming off of a 18-15 win yesterday against another AFC South
opponent, Jacksonville.
Capers said the team's memory will be short as they put yesterday's hearbreaker
behind them and forge ahead for Sunday's home divisional matchup.
We can't let this tough loss have a lingering effect. We've got a Tennessee team
coming in here this weekend that's coming off of a big game against Jacksonville,
it's a division game and we can't let the pain of losing this game last night
impact what we do this next weekend and I believe we'll do that. I mentioned last
night I like the character of our football team. I like the fight in our football
team.
INJURY UPDATE:MRI results on free safety Marcus Coleman showed that he sprained his right shoulder
after making a hit in the fourth quarter on Green Bay's second possession. Coleman
will sit out of practice on Wednesday and is questionable for Sunday's game.
Also being held out of practice on Wednesday is linebacker Jay Foreman with a
neck strain. Defensive end Gary Walker (foot) and cornebacker Jason Simmons (head)
will also be held out of Wednesday's practice session.
