GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NFL: HOUSTON (1-0) at CAROLINA (1-0)

NFL: HOUSTON (1-0) at CAROLINA (1-0)

<h3>Texans look for 2-0 start against Carolina</h3>





Houston (1-0) at Carolina (1-0) Sunday, 1:00 pm EDT

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (Ticker) - The Houston Texans have anopportunity to accomplish something they never did in five yearswith David Carr as their starting quarterback.


The Texans seek their first 2-0 start in the franchise's briefhistory on Sunday when they visit the Carolina Panthers.

Houston elected to go in a different direction after enduringfive straight losing seasons under Carr, the No. 1 overall pickin 2002. The Texans acquired Matt Schaub from the AtlantaFalcons to take over for Carr, who was released in March afterposting a 24-56 record.


The Schaub era got off to a good start last week as the Texansdefeated the Kansas City Chiefs, 20-3.


A backup to Michael Vick in Atlanta for three years, Schaubcompleted 16-of-22 passes for 225 yards - including a 77-yardtouchdown to Andre Johnson in the second quarter - in hisHouston debut.


Ahman Green, another newcomer who was acquired to boost therunning game, rushed for 73 yards on 16 carries as the Texanswon their first season opener since 2003. Houston began lastyear 0-3 after starting the two previous seasons 0-2.

Trying to rebound from a disappointing season, the Panthersopened with a solid 27-13 victory at St. Louis. Jake Delhommecompleted 18-of-27 passes for 201 yards and three touchdowns,while DeShaun Foster rushed for 94 yards on 17 carries.

"Last year we started 0-2 and had to win two games just to getback to .500," Delhomme said. "That's hard to do in thisleague."


The Texans also will have to contend with Steve Smith, whocaught seven passes for 118 yards last week, including a68-yarder for a score.


"This football team we're playing this week was everybody's pickto represent the NFC last year in the Super Bowl and they wentthrough a tremendous amount of injuries," Houston coach GaryKubiak said.


After finishing 11-5 and reaching the NFC championship game in2005, Carolina (1-0) began last season with Super Bowlaspirations, but the Panthers experienced an up-and-down yearand finished out of the playoffs with an 8-8 record.

"They are healthy now," Kubiak added. "They went into St. Louisagainst one of the top offenses in the game and they weredominating, not only good, they were dominating. They ran theball. They threw it. Their quarterback played great."

Houston won the only previous meeting between the teams, a 14-10victory in the 2003 season.

 

NFL: HOUSTON at CAROLINA

<div class="pre">NFL
HOUSTON 0
CAROLINA 0 14:53 LEFT, 1ST QTR

HST BALL ON HST 8 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: HOUSTON at CAROLINA

<div class="pre">NFL HOUSTON 0
CAROLINA 0 13:08 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NFL: HOUSTON at CAROLINA

<div class="pre">NFL
HOUSTON 0
CAROLINA 0 11:09 LEFT, 1ST QTR

CAR BALL ON CAR 36 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: HOUSTON at CAROLINA

<div class="pre">NFL HOUSTON 0
CAROLINA 0 8:53 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NFL: HOUSTON at CAROLINA

<div class="pre">NFL HOUSTON 0
CAROLINA 0 7:18 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NFL: HOUSTON at CAROLINA

<div class="pre">NFL TD CAR
STEVE SMITH 7 YD PASS FROM JAKE DELHOMME
(JOHN KASAY KICK)

HOUSTON 0
CAROLINA 7 6:38 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NFL: HOUSTON at CAROLINA

<div class="pre">NFL
HOUSTON 0
CAROLINA 7 6:34 LEFT, 1ST QTR

HST BALL ON HST 15 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: HOUSTON at CAROLINA

<div class="pre">NFL TD CAR
STEVE SMITH 7 YD PASS FROM JAKE DELHOMME
(JOHN KASAY KICK)

HOUSTON 0
CAROLINA 7 6:38 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NFL: HOUSTON at CAROLINA

<div class="pre">NFL TD CAR
STEVE SMITH 12 YD PASS FROM JAKE DELHOMME
(JOHN KASAY KICK)

HOUSTON 0
CAROLINA 14 5:04 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NFL: HOUSTON at CAROLINA

<div class="pre">NFL TD CAR
STEVE SMITH 12 YD PASS FROM JAKE DELHOMME
(JOHN KASAY KICK)

HOUSTON 0
CAROLINA 14 5:04 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NFL: HOUSTON at CAROLINA

<div class="pre">NFL TD CAR
STEVE SMITH 12 YD PASS FROM JAKE DELHOMME
(JOHN KASAY KICK)

HOUSTON 0
CAROLINA 14 5:04 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NFL: HOUSTON at CAROLINA

<div class="pre">NFL TD HST
ANDRE JOHNSON 31 YD PASS FROM MATT SCHAUB
(KRIS BROWN KICK)

HOUSTON 7
CAROLINA 14 3:48 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NFL: HOUSTON at CAROLINA

<div class="pre">NFL
HOUSTON 7
CAROLINA 14 3:43 LEFT, 1ST QTR

CAR BALL ON CAR 24 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: HOUSTON at CAROLINA

<div class="pre">NFL
HOUSTON 7
CAROLINA 14 1:06 LEFT, 1ST QTR

HST BALL ON HST 20 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: HOUSTON at CAROLINA

<div class="pre">NFL END, 1ST QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
HOUSTON 7 7
CAROLINA 14 14 END, 1ST QTR

SCORING SUMMARY

1ST QUARTER: CAR - TD, STEVE SMITH 7 YD PASS FROM JAKE
DELHOMME (JOHN KASAY KICK), 8:22.
Drive: 9 plays, 64 yards in 4:31.
Key plays: Delhomme 28-yard pass to
Smith on 3rd-and-6 to Houston 32;
Delhomme 11-yard pass to King on
3rd-and-10 to Houston 21;
Delhomme 10-yard pass to Foster to
Houston 7. CAROLINA 7-0
CAR - TD, STEVE SMITH 12 YD PASS FROM JAKE
DELHOMME (JOHN KASAY KICK), 9:56.
Drive: 2 plays, 13 yards in 0:41.
Key plays: Lucas 16-yard fumble
return to the Houston 13. CAROLINA
14-0
HST - TD, ANDRE JOHNSON 31 YD PASS FROM MATT
SCHAUB (KRIS BROWN KICK), 11:12.
Drive: 3 plays, 65 yards in 1:16.
Key plays: Schaub 33-yard pass to A
Johnson to Carolina 32. CAROLINA
14-7</div>

 

NFL: HOUSTON at CAROLINA

<div class="pre">NFL HOUSTON 7
CAROLINA 14 14:55 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NFL: HOUSTON at CAROLINA

<div class="pre">NFL HOUSTON 7
CAROLINA 14 12:38 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NFL: HOUSTON at CAROLINA

<div class="pre">NFL HOUSTON 7
CAROLINA 14 9:53 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NFL: HOUSTON at CAROLINA

<div class="pre">NFL
HOUSTON 7
CAROLINA 14 9:48 LEFT, 2ND QTR

CAR BALL ON CAR 4 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>