Houston, TX (Sports Network) - Arian Foster ran for a pair of touchdowns
during a 24-point barrage late in the first half, as the Houston Texans opened
the season with a 30-10 victory over the Miami Dolphins at Reliant Stadium.
The Texans looked sluggish early and trailed 3-0 midway through the second
quarter, but the stout Houston defense forced four consecutive Miami turnovers
-- including three interceptions of Dolphins rookie quarterback Ryan Tannehill
-- in the final 6 1/2 minutes of the half and the offense took advantage with
four scores to turn the game around.
Foster, who was questionable for the game because of a knee issue, ran for 79
yards and two scores on 26 carries for Houston (1-0), which is considered a
Super Bowl contender after reaching the playoffs for the first time as AFC
South champs last year.
Houston quarterback Matt Schaub, who missed the final six games of the 2011
regular season and the team's playoff run because of a foot injury, had a nice
return. He completed 20-of-31 passes for 266 yards with a touchdown in the
victory.
Tannehill, the first Dolphins rookie quarterback to start a season opener, did
not look like the second coming of Dan Marino, who was the last Miami
quarterback selected with a first-round draft pick. The Texas A&M product,
chosen eighth overall in April, threw for 219 yards on 20-of-36 efficiency for
a Miami offense that did not produce a touchdown.
It was a losing debut for new Miami coach Joe Philbin, who was Green Bay's
offensive coordinator last season. The Dolphins (0-1) are coming off a 6-10
mark in 2011 that included an 0-7 start, and are trying to avoid a fourth
straight losing season.
The Sports Network