This past week, the Texans diligently prepared to face one of
the most explosive teams in the NFL. Unfortunately, no amount
of preparation can make a team immune to the turnover bug.
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The Texans' defense showed promise in the first half when
linebacker Kailee
Wong sacked Trent Green in the first quarter and cornerback Marcus
Coleman intercepted a Green pass early in the second
quarter. Entering the locker room at halftime, the Texans
trailed by just one touchdown, 14-7.
In the second half, however, the momentum shifted after a fumble
by running back Tony
Hollings and a punt returned for a touchdown by the Chiefs'
return specialist Dante Hall.
"We
went out in the third quarter and fumbled the football and they
went down and scored," head coach Dom
Capers said.
"Everything turned around. The
game got away from us."
After normally sure-handed running back Stacey
Mack coughed up the ball for the Texans' third turnover,
quarterback David
Carr threw his second interception of the game, which was
returned 39 yards for the Chiefs' final score.
"Against
a team like Kansas City with the offense they have, you can't
turn the ball over and give them field position," Capers
said. "I know we are capable of a lot better."
While the Texans struggled with turnovers, Johnson quietly led
both teams in receiving. He made several catches in traffic and
showed his unparalleled strength with some tough runs after the
catch.
On his first touchdown reception of the night, Johnson got
behind the Chiefs' secondary on a third-and-eight situation at
midfield for a 43-yard bomb from Carr. It was the fourth-longest
touchdown reception in Texans' history and the 96-yard drive was
the longest in franchise history.
With the Chiefs leading 42-7 late in the fourth quarter, Johnson
showed a lot of heart and resilience when he turned a short
catch into a four-yard touchdown masterpiece. He muscled out of
the grasp of one defender and dodged two others to cap off a
16-play 73-yard drive.
Unfortunately, the touchdown came too late and the Texans were
left helplessly watching the clock tick down to zero for their
second loss of this young 2003 season.
While the loss hurts, there is no time to dwell. After reviewing
tape of the game tomorrow, the Texans will get ready for the
Jacksonville Jaguars, who will enter Reliant Stadium next
weekend in search of their first victory of the season.
"We
have to go back and get ready to play another game next
weekend," Texans defensive end Gary
Walker said. "When
you start working on Jacksonville on Wednesday, this game will
be behind you. This
is the NFL. You have to
be ready to play every week."
