Matt Schaub hit Andre Johnson for a 48-yard touchdown with 2:01 left in overtime to push the Texans past the Jaguars 43-37 in Houston on Sunday afternoon.
Houston (9-1) trailed Jacksonville (1-9) in the fourth quarter by two touchdowns, but the Texans scored 14 points in the final 5:39 -- they actually missed a game-winning field goal attempt at the end of regulation -- to avoid the biggest upset of the NFL season.
The teams swapped field goals on their first possessions of overtime. Then, a pair of turnovers -- Houston’s on a Schaub interception and Jacksonville’s on downs -- set the Texans up at their own 47-yard line with 2:30 to play. Houston scored on the second play of the series.
The game-winning catch-and-run capped off a career day for Johnson, who finished with 12 receptions for 273 yards and a touchdown. The 273 yards is a career-high and ninth all-time in league history.
Schaub completed 43 of 55 passes for 527 yards, five touchdowns, and two interceptions. His 527 passing yards are tied for the second most in NFL history, trailing Norm Van Brocklin’s 554-yard performance in 1951.
Jaguars QB Blaine Gabbert was knocked out of the game in the first quarter with a right elbow contusion. Back-up Chad Henne came in and played one of the best games of his career. Henne threw for 354 yards and four touchdowns against one of the best defenses in the league.
Rookie WR Justin Blackmon had seven catches for 236 yards and an 81-yard touchdown that gave the Jaguars their 14-point cushion in the fourth quarter. This was the first game in NFL history to see two receivers go for more than 200 receiving yards.
When the game turned: With the score tied at 37 in overtime, Schaub dropped back to pass on first down. He threw a pass intended for Johnson deep down the left side, but it was intercepted by Jaguars CB Derek Cox, who returned the pick to Houston’s 47-yard line. Jacksonville just needed to get points to win the game. Instead, the Jaguars didn't gain any yards on the first three downs. Then, Jacksonville coach Mike Mularkey made an interesting decision, going for it on fourth-and-10. The Jaguars didn't convert, and two plays later, Johnson waltzed into the end zone for the game-winning score.
Highlight moments: Henne hit WR Cecil Shorts for a 67-yard touchdown in the second quarter. … Facing third-and-21 in the fourth quarter, Henne hit Blackmon down the middle. Somehow, Blackmon broke away from three Texans defenders to race 81 yards for a touchdown. … Johnson took a screen pass on the right side, eluded a couple defenders, and made his way down the sideline for the game-winning touchdown.
Top-shelf performances:
- Texans QB Schaub -- 43 of 55, 527 yards, 5 touchdowns, 2 interceptions
- Texans WR Johnson -- 14 receptions, 273 yards, 1 touchdown
- Texans TE Garrett Graham -- 8 receptions, 82 yards, 2 touchdowns
- Jaguars QB Henne -- 16 of 33, 354 yards, 4 touchdowns
- Jaguars WR Blackmon -- 7 receptions, 236 yards, 1 touchdown
- Jaguars WR Shorts -- 3 receptions, 81 yards, 1 touchdown
- Jaguars TE Marcedes Lewis -- 3 receptions, 40 yards, 2 touchdowns
What they said about Johnson:
- Texans coach Gary Kubiak, according to Nick Scurfield of HoustonTexans.com -- “That’s the greatest day by a wide receiver I’ve ever been around. What a huge day.”
- Texans LT Duane Brown, according to Tania Ganguli of The Houston Chronicle -- "He broke out and I exhaled. It'd been a long game. Long game, physical game."
Numbers you should know: Texans RB Arian Foster had 77 rushing yards and 15 receiving yards but failed to score a touchdown for the first time in a game since Dec. 11, 2011 against Cincinnati. That is a streak of 13 games. … Coming into the game, the longest play from scrimmage Houston had allowed this season was 48 yards. Jacksonville had plays of 63, 67, and 81 yards Sunday against the Texans.
Injury update: Texans -- CB Johnathan Joseph left the game with a hamstring injury in overtime. Jaguars -- QB Blaine Gabbert was knocked out of the game in the first quarter with a right elbow contusion. He did not return.
Going forward: Texans -- Houston now hits the road for three straight games, beginning on Thursday with a trip to face Detroit on Thanksgiving. The Texans then have to play at Tennessee and at New England. Jaguars -- Things get a little easier for Jacksonville next week, as it returns home for a game with Tennessee. The Jaguars play at Buffalo the following week.
Follow Texans blogger Sean Bielawski on Twitter, @CBSTexans.