Week 5: Giants @ Texans

Amazing what new ownership can do to energize a team sitting at 0-4.

As the 3-1 Giants entered Reliant Stadium in Houston, the Texans’ season hung in the balance. An 0-5 start basically removes any hope of post-season play. A 1-4 start? Not exactly in the cat-bird’s seat, but in a division where no one has started particularly , it isn’t crippling.

“Dude, we needed a win like a pimp needs a ho,” injured Andre Johnson said.

And, for a while, a win looked like a formality, as Matt Schaub led the Texans to a 24-7 2nd quarter lead.

Then all Hades broke loose, as the Giants returned the ensuing kickoff for a TD.

“I don’t even think I know who returned that kick,” Neal Rackers said. “He ran like he had Montezuma’s Revenge or something.”

With about a minute before halftime, the Giants passed their way straight down the field, making the score 24-21, moving the momentum pendulum clearly in their direction.

“I don’t know what happened,” Mario Williams said. “It’s like they put us in a Jedi-mind-hold or something. We just flopped and farted a 24-7 lead away.”

New York promptly took the opening kickoff, and drove down the field quickly, taking a 28-24 lead.

Then Houston finally woke up.

With Andre Johnson out for more than a month, the Texans’ passing game now has to rely on whoever is open. And this day, Jacoby Jones was the benefactor, racking up 12 catches, 374 yards and 2 TDs.

“That may be the craziest performance I’ve ever seen,” Steve Slaton said. “Those are video game numbers right there.”

On the arm of Schaub (24/41, 602 yds, 6 TDs) and hands of Jones, the Texans moved the ball consistently.

But, this game proved one thing: No lead is safe.

Leading 45-35 with 4 minutes to go, Steve Slaton ran for a 38 yd TD, to go send the Texans up 52-35. Once again, the Giants came back with a vengeance, but ultimately to no avail, as they scored a meaningless TD as time expired to make the final 52-49.

“You know… if we could find a way to slow people down, we might earn our paychecks,” Amobi Okoye said after the game. “Until then, I guess we’re playing for free.”

Should the Texan defense not tighten up, they may just find themselves playing elsewhere.

Nice recap, sounded like a real back and forth game.

Good recap. Nice to see someone else with a recap for a change.

Phenom 912 wrote:

Good recap. Nice to see someone else with a recap for a change.

Navel is really good with recaps, he is doing Player of the Week and Game of the Week in the league I'm co-running. Really good stuff.

Thanks guys.
Had to use my journalism degree for something...