9:08 p.m.
The Texans beat the Buccaneers 27-20 and finish the 2009 preseason with a record of 2-2. Don't forget to watch Gary Kubiak's press conference live tomorrow afternoon at 3:30 p.m. on Texans TV.
Pretty good night for Rex Grossman: 9-17, 197 yards and 2 TD. QB Rating of 139.8.
9:05 p.m.
On 3rd-and-goal at the Texans' 3, Bucs throw an incompletion to bring up 4th-and-goal.
Texans get a sack from Frank Okam and Khary Campbell to (hopefully) ice this one.
8:01 p.m. The Texans went up 24-13 after a Tampa Bay drive results in a 24-yard field goal.
Rex Grossman is back on the field for his fifth series of the evening. Can he engineer another scoring drive?
Yes.
Glenn Martinez had a big gain and hurdled a defender for extra yardage.
Kris Brown split the uprights for a 45-yard field goal and the Texans are up 27-13.
All told, Grossman led the offense on a 9 play, 56 yard drive that took 4:19 off the clock.
7:51 p.m.
The Texans start quickly in the second half: John Busing picked off a Josh Johnson pass and returned it inside the 5-yard line. On the next play, Andre Hall hurdled the pile and got in for the score.
Texans now lead 24-10.
7:33 p.m.
Freeman hits Cortez Hankton for a 23-yard scoring strike and it cuts the Texans lead to 17-10 with just 8 seconds left in the half. Impressive drive by Freeman: takes the Bucs 74 yards in 10 plays and it only takes 2:14.
It's now halftime, and the Texans are still up a touchdown.
7:18 p.m.
Texans get the INT in Bucs' territory and manage to get a Kris Brown 19-yard field goal to make it 17-3. Brown's now a perfect 5-5 on FG attempts in the preseason.
Quarterback Rex Grossman is now 4-7 for 107 yards and the pair of touchdowns.
But every drive he's been under center, the Texans have scored.
7:06 p.m.
Rex Grossman can strike quickly...and he can also pick you apart.
First drive for Grossman took just two plays...his second drive went 56 yards over 10 plays and chewed up 6:11, resulting in an 11-yd TD pass to James Casey. So far tonight, Grossman is 3-5 for 102 yard and a pair of touchdowns.
6:53 p.m.
Texans defense throwing up a stonewall again. Forced Freeman into throwing one away on 3rd-and-long.
Bucs punt again.
Jacoby Jones early statline: 2 receptions for 108 yards and 1 TD.
6:49 p.m.
Rex Grossman threw one pass on his first series against the Bucs...and it was to Jacoby Jones for an 87-yard touchdown strike.
Texans needed two plays to go 90 yards for the score.
7-3 Houston leads early in the second quarter.
6:37 p.m.
Texans force a punt after giving up a 1st down scramble by Josh Freeman.
David Anderson picks up a first down after a Jacoby Jones deflection. Set up a 1st and 10 at Bucs' 39.
But then Orlovsky was picked off...after the ball hit Anthony Hill's hands.
Defense again forces a punt.
14:47 left in 2nd quarter.
6:24 p.m.
At the 9:37 mark, Anthony Hill got tattoed going over the middle and wan't able to hang on to a 1st-and-10 pass from Dan Orlovsky. Hill's okay but on the sideline.
On 3rd-and-7 Orlovsky was sacked by Kyle Moore.
Texans forced to punt. Bucs take over on their own 30 with 8:22 left in opening quarter.
6:19 p.m.
The Texans defense was put in a tough situation early in the first quarter, but they held their ground and forced the Bucs into a 20-yard FG. Tampa Bay is up 3-0.
Kevin Bentley has a pair of tackles early.
6:07 p.m.
The Texans start out on offense. Dan Orlovsky playing quarterback.
Started with a quick completion to David Anderson for 7 yards.
Then he hit Anthony Hill for a first down...and Hill fumbled it away.
But Brice McCain picked off Josh Freeman's first pass...and fumbled it away to the Bucs.
Even though the Texans challenged McCain's fumble, it's the Bucs ball.
5:46 p.m.
Former Texans defensive end N.D. Kalu will handle the color commentary duties with play-by-play voice Marc Vandermeer tonight on Sportsradio 610 AM.
Nick Scurfield has the lowdown on who's active and who's inactive tonight.
Don't forget: head coach Gary Kubiak's press conference tomorrow will be live at 3:30 PM tomorrow at www.houstontexans.com.
