Regardless of the Texans not being able to begin
themselves in the first quarter, the Houston defense and defensive end J.J.
Watt acquired help of rookie Ryan Tannehill’s naivety in the second quarter placing
the grounds for a blowout of the Miami Dolphins.
Tannehill, the eighth overall pick in the
2011 draft, completed 20 of 36 passes for 219 yards in his NFL debut, but he
threw three interceptions.
Leading Houston 3-0 in the second quarter,
Tannehill threw an interception to Jonathan Joseph. Joseph returned the ball 50
yards to set the Texans up on the Dolphin’s 12 yard line. That possession led
to a three and out, before a Shane Graham field goal that tied the game at 3-3.
The next possession for the Dolphins saw
the same result. Tannehill was intercepted by Linebacker Brian Cushing after
Watt deflected Tannehill’s pass intended for WR Legadune Naaanee. Cushing’s
interception led to a seven play drive that ended in Arian Foster scoring his
first of two touchdowns on the day to give the Texans a 10-3 lead that they
would not look back from.
"We were explosive as a team in that
period of the second quarter," Texans coach Gary Kubiak said of his
defense's six minutes of opportunism.
Watt wasn’t done causing nightmares for
Tannehill. The first play of the following drive Watt deflected another pass
that was intercepted by Kareem Jackson. Jackson’s interception led to another
Foster touchdown and a 17-3 lead.
"I know I have long arms," Watt
said. "You can't get a sack every play, so you might as well try to bat
the ball."
Tannehill wasn’t the only Dolphin
struggling with turnovers, on the first play of the drive that followed
Foster’s second touchdown carry, Running Back Daniel Thomas fumbled on the
Dolphin’s 32 yard line and left the game injured. Three plays later Quarterback
Matt Schaub found Wide Receiver Andre Johnson for a 14 yard touchdown
reception.
Four straight turnovers buried the Dolphins
chances for a win, and the Texans coasted to victory in the second half.
Schaub threw for 266 yards in his first
game of 2012, with the one TD going to Johnson. Schaub announced after the game
that he had signed a four-year contract extension that will keep a Texan through
the 2016 season.
"I'm excited for it to be done and
over with so every ounce of focus and energy can be directed to this
season," said Schaub, whose previous contract was due to expire after this
season.
"I liked the way we were able to work
through our uneasiness early in the game," Kubiak said, "and be a
darn good football team there in the second quarter."
The Texans are now (1-0) on the season and
will face the Jacksonville Jaguars in Jacksonville next Sunday at 1 P.M.
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