Statistically, Andre Johnson is having his second-best game ever as a pro.
The Texans put four weeks of gut-wrenching divisional losses behind them Sunday in their highest-scoring game of the season.
Andre Johnson was at his best with 10 catches for 184 yards (18.4 avg.) and two touchdowns all in the first half. His first touchdown came on the first play of scrimmage, when he blew past cornerback Marcus Trufant on a 64-yard pass play.
"I think the first play pretty much set the tone for us," Johnson said. "Guys feed off that."
"We caught the perfect coverage," Kubiak said. "We quick-snapped the ball. We did a lot of quick count because this team's a big pressure (team) and we caught them. We caught the safety not being able to get back over the top, so it just worked out."
Johnson finished with 11 receptions for 193 yards (17.5 avg.), while quarterback Matt Schaub overcame his dislocated non-throwing shoulder from a week ago to complete 29-of-39 passes for 365 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.
By halftime, Houston had a 24-7 lead and 364 net yards of offense.
"I would say it's the most explosive half of football I've ever been around as a coach," Kubiak said.
The Texans sealed the win when safety Bernard Pollard picked off quarterback Matt Hasselbeck's pass intended for fullback Justin Griffith. Pollard scored his second-career touchdown 70 yards later, which gave Houston a 34-7 lead with 2:57 left in the third quarter.
{QUOTE}On defense, the Texans forced seven punts and only one third down conversion on 14 attempts. Defensive end Mario Williams contributed two sacks, and linebacker Brian Cushing added another sack, while the Texans finished with 15 tackles for loss.
It's the second-fewest points that the Texans have allowed an opponent this year after holding the Oakland Raiders to two field goals in a 29-6 win during Week 4.
"I told them last week I think they've been playing very well," Kubiak said. "I think they've had this team in position to win every week. I told them I thought they could be dominant.
"So was it their best (performance)? It might have been."
The win puts the Texans back in the thick of the AFC playoff race with a 6-7 record, which is only a game behind the Jacksonville Jaguars (7-6) with three games remaining on the schedule.
The only blemish on the afternoon was on special teams. Kicker Kris Brown had a 26-yard field goal blocked in the second quarter and missed a 48-yard field goal at the end of the first half.
Earlier, though, Brown added to Johnson's touchdown with a 29-yard field goal to give the Texans a 10-0 lead with 9:14 left in the first quarter. He also converted a 31-yard field goal in the third quarter.
The Texans began their third series from their 44-yard line and moved into scoring range when wide receiver David Anderson caught a 27-yard pass. Running back Ryan Moats' four-yard touchdown run helped put Houston ahead 17-0 with 2:50 left in the first quarter.
Linebacker Kevin Bentley, a former member of the Seahawks, deflected Jon Ryan's third punt, which traveled only 18 yards to the Houston 36. The Texans moved inside the 20-yard line on Johnson's 23-yard catch, which he followed with a 17-yard touchdown grab across the middle of the Seahawks' defense.
Seattle gained a first down for a first time with 11:42 left in the first half when linebacker DeMeco Ryans was penalized 15 yards for roughing the passer. Three plays later, Williams sacked quarterback Matt Hasselbeck to force a punt.
Late in the first half after Brown's kick was blocked, the Seahawks drove 84 yards in six plays on a scoring drive. Hasselbeck completed three passes for 56 yards before connecting with tight end John Carlson on a four-yard touchdown with 1:14 left in the first half.
In the two-minute offense, Schaub threw for 55 yards on four completions to put the Texans in field goal range, but Brown's 48-yard attempt missed wide right.
Brown's field goal and Pollard's interception gave the Texans a commanding 27-point lead late in the third quarter.
It appeared that the Seahawks would cut their deficit early in the fourth quarter, when linebacker David Hawthorne picked up Moats' fumble and returned it 51 yards to the Houston 11. But on fourth-and-goal from the eight-yard line, rookie cornerback Brice McCain broke up Hasselbeck's pass intended for T.J. Houshmandzadeh in the corner of the end zone.
The game ended with the Texans stopping Seattle on two more fourth down attempts.
Injuries: Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck injured his right shoulder in the third quarter. He returned to the game on the Seahawks' second drive of the third quarter. Rookie Aaron Curry, the fourth overall pick in the NFL draft, left the game on a stretcher in the fourth quarter.
Quarterback Matt Schaub started despite dislocating his left shoulder at Jacksonville last Sunday. He was joined in the starting lineup by rookie right guard Antoine Caldwell. Rookie cornerback Glover Quin returned to his role as the team's nickel cornerback after suffering a concussion against the Indianapolis Colts and missing last week's game.
The following players were inactive for the Texans: wide receiver Glenn Martinez, free safety Nick Ferguson, running back Chris Henry, cornerback Mark Parson, guard Tutan Reyes, defensive end Tim Bulman, defensive tackle Frank Okam and quarterback Dan Orlovsky.
