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HOUSTON TEXANS POSTGAME NOTES**
Sunday, December 29, 2013
LP Field, Nashville, Tenn.
Paid Attendance: 69,143
TEXANS TEAM NOTES
• Houston's defense finished the season with an average of 317.6 yards allowed, the second-lowest total in franchise history. The 2011 team held opponents to an average of 285.7 yards per game.
• Held the Titans to 4-of-14 on third downs (29 percent) and lowered their opponent season third-down conversion percentage to 34.6. Only the 2012 team held opponents to a lower third-down conversion percentage, 33.0.
• The Texans scored a touchdown on their opening drive for the third time this season and first time since Nov. 3 against Indianapolis. The Texans took a 7-0 lead after RB Jonathan Grimes scored his first career touchdown on a 3-yard run to cap a nine-play, 63-yard drive. Houston also scored on its opening drive against Tennessee in Week 2.
• The Titans won the toss and elected to defer.
• Houston's captains for the game were WR Andre Johnson, QB Matt Schaub, P Shane Lechler and DE J.J. Watt.
• Inactive players for the Texans were QB Case Keenum, WR DeVier Posey, RB Dennis Johnson, FB Toben Opurum, ILB Joe Mays, G Alex Kupper and G Cody White
INDIVIDUAL PLAYER NOTES:
T DUANE BROWN
• Started the 90th game of his career, which ranks sixth in franchise history.
K RANDY BULLOCK
• Made his 12th consecutive field goal in the fourth quarter from 19 yards out. His 12 consecutive field goals made tied Neil Rackers (2010) for the fifth-longest streak in franchise history.
• Made a field goal for the 14th consecutive game, the second-longest streak in franchise history.
• Made his 26th field goal of the season, tying Kris Brown (2005) for the fifth-highest single-season total in franchise history. He finished the season 26-of-35 on field goals.
RB RAY GRAHAM
• Made his NFL debut on offense in the second quarter and recorded his first carry on his first play.
RB JONATHAN GRIMES
• Scored his first career touchdown on a 3-yard run to cap Houston's nine-play, 63-yard scoring drive to start the game. He ran for 27 yards on five carries on the opening drive.
• Posted a team-high 126 yards from scrimmage in his first career start with career highs of 16 carries for 50 yards and six receptions for 76 yards.
WR DeANDRE HOPKINS
• Moved into second place on the franchise's rookie receptions list with his 51st catch of the season in the second quarter. It was Hopkins third catch of the game, good for a gain of 19 yards.
• Finished the season with 52 receptions for 802 yards (15.4 average). His totals rank second only to Andre Johnson's 66 receptions for 976 yards in 2003 among rookies in franchise history.
WR ANDRE JOHNSON
• Extended his franchise records of games played to 154 and consecutive games played with a reception to 117.
• Caught six passes for 49 yards to bring his season totals to 109 receptions for 1,407 yards. He joins Marvin Harrison as only the second player in NFL history with four seasons of 100-plus receptions and 1,400-plus yards.
P SHANE LECHLER
• Finished the season with a franchise-record 47.6 gross punting average, besting Donnie Jones' mark of 47.2, set in 2012.
• Extended his franchise records of games played to 154 and consecutive games played with a reception to 117.
• Placed three punts inside the 20 to raise his season total to 34, setting a career high. He placed 33 punts inside the 20 for Oakland in 2008.
CB BRICE McCAIN
• Recorded his first interception of the season and fifth of his career at the 3:32 mark of the second quarter. DE Antonio Smith was credited with a quarterback hit on the play.
C CHRIS MYERS
• Extended his streak of consecutive games played to 137 and his streak of consecutive starts to 112.
QB MATT SCHAUB
• Was 4-for-4 passing for 31 yards on Houston's opening scoring drive.
• Completed 13-of-20 passes for 134 yards and an 84.2 passer rating in the first half.
RB CHAD SPANN
• Made his NFL debut on the kickoff return team to start the game.
TE PHILLIP SUPERNAW
• Made his NFL debut on the kickoff return team to start the game.
DE J.J. WATT
• Became the second player in franchise history to record back-to-back seasons with 10 or more sacks with a 6-yard sack of Ryan Fitzpatrick in the third quarter. Watt had 20.5 sacks in 2012 and has 10.5 sacks in 2013. Mario Williams had back-to-back 10-plus sack seasons in 2007 and 2008.Â
• Tied a franchise record with his fourth forced fumble of the season in the fourth quarter, knocking the ball loose from Titans RB Chris Johnson. Watt also had four forced fumbles in 2012 and shares the record with Shantee Orr (2005), Bernard Pollard (2010) and Mario Williams (2008).
• Moved past Jevon Kearse and Anthony Smith (36.0) into seventh place for the most sacks through the first three seasons of a career with his third-quarter sack, running his three-season total to 36.5.
