What About Schaub?

The Saints/Texans contest has definitely lived up to it's billing as a pass-heavy showdown. Matt Schaub and Drew Brees have combined for 393 yards and three TDs through the air, while the two teams have combined for just 56 yards on the ground. Reggie Bush has been especially ineffective, with Houston holding him to 11 runs for a meager 19 yards.

The game started very inauspiciously for Houston. Opening the game with the ball, Houston fumbled twice in it's first three plays, and the second was recovered by New Orleans' Scott Fujita at the Houston 43-yard line. Luckily for Owen Daniels, the man guilty of losing the fumble, Drew Brees came out a little cold and could move his offense just six yards. Olindo Mare's 52-yard field goal attempt was good, and gave New Orleans a 3-0 lead that it wouldn't enjoy for long.

Schaub responded by showing a clever play fake on the third play of the drive, sucking the New Orleans secondary down toward the line of scrimmage enough to let Andre Johnson get loose behind them, and Schaub threw an easy lob to 'Dre, who jaunted 73 yards to the endzone. It was Johnson's first catch in return from his seven-game lay-off.

The Saints used third down conversions, including a 28-yard connection with Marques Colston on 3rd and 20, to move the ball all the way down to Houston's three on the next drive. But Reggie Bush coughed up the ball trying to pound the ball in for the score, which Earl Cochran, of former NFL Europa fame, recovered.

After the Texans punted, the Houston defense again failed to get off the field, allowing two more third down conversions as New Orleans moved into Houston territory again. But Von Hutchins made up for it by picking Brees off at the Houston 26.

After trading punts, Adimchinobi Echemandu got his first carry of the game, and promptly fumbled it away. The ensuing drive ended with a six-yard TD pass from Brees to Devery Henderson, giving New Orleans it's second lead, 10-7.

Schaub again countered, completing passes of 24 and 25 on the first two plays of the next drive, moving them swiftly to the Saints' 21. Ron Dayne followed with his first run over four yards of the game, taking it for 11 to the 10-yard line. The Saints called a timeout with 2:16 left to regroup, but it didn't work. Schaub connected with Joel Dreessen on the next play for his second TD of the first half, giving Houston the 14-10 advantage.

The next drive was a near disaster for the Saints. Brees fumbled as he was sacked by Mario Williams, but New Orleans was lucky enough to recover at their own 11. The punt that followed was returned by Jacoby Jones to the Houston 40, giving Schaub great field position with 1:19 left on the clock.

Schaub immediately went to work, swinging the ball to Ron Dayne for 17 yards. Owen Daniels made the next two catches, for 12 and 13 yards, respectively. But having burned their last timeout after Daniels' first catch of the drive, with only 0:18 seconds left and well within Kris Brown's range, Houston settled for a 36-yard field goal, and closed the half with it's biggest lead of the game.

Both offenses have shown they can play fast and throw at will, and both teams have committed costly turnovers. However, the last minutes of the second quarter saw Houston capture the momentum. While Drew Brees has moved the ball well, Schaub has clearly been more effective, with 10 completions of 10 yards or more.

The Texans have played well and showed New Orleans they can play the same brand of high-flying football the Saints employ, and have played it better, thus far. Houston now has to focus on converting third downs and stopping New Orleans from doing the same, and get Ron Dayne more established on the ground. That, and just let Schaub work, 'cause he has got it working right now. I'll be back after the game for the wrap on what is shaping up to be another win for the Texans.

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