If the Houston Texans want to be taken seriously in the NFL, they have to earn a wild-card berth or win the AFC South this season.But on Sunday against the Jets, the Texans looked terrible.
They gained just 183 total offensive yards as their offensive line had problems containing New York's pass rush. Quarterback Matt Schaub, who insists he's healthy, completed just 18 of 33 passes for 166 yards. The Texans had no offensive touchdowns. Running back Steve Slaton averaged just 1.9 yards per carry and wide receiver Andre Johnson had four catches for 35 yards.
The Texans were beaten up in Week 1, though it doesn't excuse their miserable performance -- and things don't get any easier this week then they visit the Titans.
"Disappointed," free safety John Busing said of the Texans' mood. "We put in a lot of work through OTAs [organized team activities], training camp and leading up to this game, and this isn't the foot we want to put forward. We want to come out with something different. Pretty disappointed right now, but we're going to turn it around."
If Texans fall to 0-2, they will then face two must-win home games against the Jaguars on Sept. 27 and the Raiders on Oct. 4.
"I feel bad after each loss," Texans coach Gary Kubiak said. "Obviously this this the first one this year and it's as bad as you can feel. We got a long way to go. We've got 15 weeks, so that's the good thing."
CRABTREE MESS DRAGS ON: San Francisco wide receiver -- or potential 2010 draft-eligible wide receiver -- Michael Crabtree is losing the PR battle by not coming to terms with the Niners
According to various media reports, 49ers owner and president Jed York would like to meet Crabtree soon to work out a deal. But Crabtree's agent, Eugene Parker, told FanHouse on Wednesday that nothing is scheduled.
If the 49ers really want to work a deal with Crabtree, they shouldn't do it in the media. Parker has already said Crabtree is willing to sit down with the team and discuss the possibility of reducing their contract demands.
OWENS' TROUBLES NOTHING NEW: When Terrell Owens played in Dallas, he had problems with cornerbacks jamming him at the line of scrimmage. And because he was a sloppy route runner, Cowboys quarterback then Tony Romo often had trouble finding him on pass attempts.Now with Buffalo, Owens appeared upset following the Bills' Monday night loss to New England, and blew off the media after the game. His performance in the 25-24 defeat could have led to Owens' frustration -- he caught just two balls for 46 yards.
At first glance, the Pats jammed Owens at the line of scrimmage and sometimes had a safety shading him. Other times, Owens just couldn't get open.
But Owens would like quarterback Trent Edwards to ignore the coverage and give him more chances to make plays.
"It's always a work in progress, and Trent has to better assess what he's seeing out there and take some shots down the field," Owens said. "We're going to do that, and by no means was that the reason that we lost the game."
FOURTH DOWN: Cowboys QB Tony Romo said his right ankle is fine and he should play Sunday night against the Giants in the first regular season game at Cowboys Stadium. Romo had his sprained right ankle heavily taped before practice on Wednesday. ... Also, Cowboys SS Gerald Sensabaugh is appealing a $5,000 fine for a helmet-to-helmet hit in Sunday's game vs. the Buccaneers. ... Raiders DE Greg Ellis forced a fumble and recorded a sack in his debut vs. the Chargers on Monday night.
