The Texans 30-14 win over the Oakland Raiders was such a team effort that head coach Bill O'Brien gave out multiple game balls.
1. The entire offensive line:
The offensive line has blocked for two back-to-back 100-plus rushing yard games. In the fourth quarter, the Texans ran the ball 16-consecutive times on a drive that lasted 9:21 and
ended in a 46-yard field goal by Randy Bullock. They also have protected Ryan Fitzpatrick, not giving up a sack in the first two games. O'Brien was pleased with how much the offensive line has improved as a unit.
"That's been a key to these last two wins," O'Brien said of the o-line's performance. "To be able to in the fourth quarter of both games to possess the ball for that amount of time, when you can possess the ball with the lead that means you're running the football. Most, if not all, of the credit goes to the offensive line because they do a fantastic job of being on the right landmark, understand the scheme that we're running, having to deal with the different fronts that Oakland or Washington was giving them, so we give a lot of credit to the offensive line."
2. Arian Foster:
Foster has passed the century mark in rushing yards in both of the Texans games. He added a touchdown in the first quarter, almost scored two but the replay official reversed the call on
his 41-yard touchdown run on the opening drive. Veteran center Chris Myers called Foster "the definition of a star running back." The three-time Pro Bowl back carried a hefty workload, 28 carries for 138 yards at Oakland. He had 150 yards from the line of scrimmage and has accumulated 55 carries for 241 yards through Houston's first two games.
"Again, just like last week, I felt like he got stronger as the game went on," O'Brien said Sunday. "He's got really good vision, really good cutting ability, took care of the ball well. He's just an all-around really, really good running back."
3. Kareem Jackson:
Kareem Jackson picked off Oakland's Derek Carr and returned the ball 65 yards for the longest interception return of his career. He joked after the game, he had visions of scoring in
his head but got winded. Through two games, the fifth-year cornerback has 10 tackles (eight solo), two passes defensed, and one interception. Both he and Brooks Reed each had a pick in Sunday's win over the Raiders.
"Those are game changing plays, especially the one with Jackson," O'Brien said. "Not to take anything away from Brooks but, at that time though, with Brooks we had a pretty good lead. With Jackson's, that was really in the game. They were driving the ball a little bit. Kareem, we gave him a game ball on defense yesterday. We thought he played a whale of a game. That interception that he had and then I think he returned to set up which should be a touchdown in that situation. We should offensively be able to capitalize with a touchdown, but we only got a field goal. What a great play and that means a lot to our team. Those are game changing plays."
