Texans Report Card vs Cardinals

Find out how the Houston Texans rated against the Arizona Cardinals.

PASSING OFFENSE: B -- QB Matt Schaub was terrible in the first half with 10-of-18 for 92 yards and terrific in the second with 25-of-32 for 279 yards and two touchdowns. He put the Texans on the Arizona 1 on their last series but they couldn't score. Schaub threw one interception, and it was a big one, a 49-yard touchdown return by CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. Schaub also overthrew a wide-open TE Joel Dreessen on the last series that ended on the Cardinals' 1.

RUSHING OFFENSE: F -- RB Steve Slaton has become a more effective receiver than runner. He has 39 yards on 13 carries to go with six catches for 59 yards. The run blocking was almost invisible. Chris Brown, who is supposed to be the power back, carried two times at the Cardinals' 1-yard line on the last series and got stuffed both times.

PASS DEFENSE: B-minus -- In the first half, the Texans allowed 297 yards and three touchdowns, including two Kurt Warner to Larry Fitzgerald passes. Warner was 20-of-23 for 262 in the first half. He threw for 40 yards in the second half when the Texans pressured him up the middle and forced four three-and-outs. The defense was outstanding in the second half, allowing 43 yards and only one first down.

RUSH DEFENSE: A-plus -- For the second game in a row, the Texans smothered the run. After allowing 45 yards against Oakland, they surrendered 44 against Arizona. The Cardinals were limited to 2.8 yards a carry. The front seven was all over rookie Chris Wells, who finished with seven carries for 24 yards.

SPECIAL TEAMS: B -- Not often does a team get a 62-yard punt return and a 63-yard kickoff return into opposing territory and not come away with a point, but that's what happened. Jacoby Jones and Andre Davis set up the offense with great field position, but the offense couldn't covert. Kris Brown had a 35-yard field goal blocked. Matt Turk had a 29-yard punt that set up a Cardinals' touchdown. The coverage teams were superb.

COACHING: C-minus -- The team was flat in the first half and fell behind 21-0. Coach Gary Kubiak and his assistants got the team turned around in the second half, and they tied the score 21-21. After falling behind 21-21, they reached the Arizona 1 and failed to score on three attempts, including two in a short-yardage offense with their best weapon, WR Andre Johnson, on the bench.