Final
Foster, Texans take down Ravens
Oct 21, 2012 - 10:18 PM Houston, TX (Sports Network) - Major contributions from Ray Lewis and Lardarius Webb helped the Baltimore Ravens down the Houston Texans in last year's AFC divisional playoff game.Neither, though, were in uniform on Sunday and the Texans took advantage of Baltimore's injury-depleted defense.
Arian Foster ran for two touchdowns and Matt Schaub threw for a pair of scores in the Texans' 43-13 rout of the Ravens.
Schaub completed 23-of-37 passes for 256 yards, while Foster tallied 98 yards on the ground for Houston (6-1), which rebounded from last Sunday's 42-24 loss to the Green Bay Packers.
"It's about responding to adversity, and this team really did it this week," Texans head coach Gary Kubiak said. "It was a team effort. The thing I'm most proud of is that everybody pitched in."
Kevin Walter caught four passes for 74 yards and a touchdown, Owen Daniels hauled in seven balls for 59 yards and a score and Andre Johnson added 86 yards on nine receptions in the victory.
Lewis (torn triceps) and Webb (torn ACL) were injured during last Sunday's game against the Dallas Cowboys. Both are expected to miss the remainder of the season.
Lewis recorded a team-high seven tackles and Webb intercepted two passes in the Ravens' 20-13 triumph over Houston on Jan. 15 to advance to the conference championship game.
Without two of its defensive stalwarts, Baltimore trailed, 29-3, at halftime. The Texans picked up 258 total yards, 16 first downs and held onto the ball for 20:53 in the opening 30 minutes.
It was the most points allowed by the Ravens defense in the first half since they gave up 37 to the Indianapolis Colts on Dec. 9, 2007.
Houston outgained Baltimore, 420-176, in the contest. This came after the Ravens defense allowed 481 total yards and a franchise-record 227 rushing yards against the Dallas Cowboys last Sunday.
The Ravens, however, did get back reigning Defensive Player of the Year Terrell Suggs from a torn Achilles. He recorded four tackles and a sack.
"It's not the end of the world," Suggs said of the loss. "But it's not something we're going to take lightly, either."
Harassed for most of the afternoon, Joe Flacco registered just 147 yards through the air with a touchdown and two interceptions on 21-of-43 efficiency for the Ravens (5-2), who had their four-game winning streak snapped.
Ray Rice ran for a mere 42 yards on just nine carries in defeat.
Baltimore went 45 yards in eight plays on its opening possession before Justin Tucker split the uprights from 51 yards out.
The Ravens, who picked up three first downs on the march, registered just one more over the rest of the first half.
Houston, which went three-and-out on each of its first two touches and punted after picking up just one first down on its third trek, used its special teams and defense to change the momentum of the contest.
Donnie Jones had his punt check up inside the 3-yard line and Alan Ball was able to throw the ball backward prior to it crossing the plane.
Connor Barwin sacked Flacco in the end zone on the third play of Baltimore's ensuing series for a safety.
Schaub then hit Walter for a 25-yard score over the middle to cap the Texans' 8-play, 67-yard trek following the free kick.
J.J. Watt tipped Flacco's pass at the line of scrimmage on the second play of the Ravens' next possession, which landed into the arms of Johnathan Joseph and he ran the ball back 52 yards the other way down the left sideline for the score.
Daniels hauled in a diving 1-yard touchdown midway through the second quarter and Shayne Graham added a pair of field goals, 33 and 29 yards, respectively, which gave Houston its huge halftime cushion.
Flacco found Tandon Doss for a 15-yard score on Baltimore's second possession of the second half.
Foster ran for both of his scores in the final 30 minutes, which was wrapped around a Tucker 54-yard field goal to cap the scoring.
Game Notes
Tucker has kicked a franchise-record four field goals from 50-plus yards this season ... This was Houston's first win over Baltimore in seven chances ... The Ravens, who finished 4-for-15 on third down, were 0-for-7 in the first half.
- BALTIMORE: 13
HOUSTON: 43
Final
Oct 21 4:12 PM - BALTIMORE: 13
HOUSTON: 43
End of Regulation
Oct 21 4:12 PM - BALTIMORE: 10
HOUSTON: 36
End of 3rd
Oct 21 3:33 PM - BALTIMORE: 3
HOUSTON: 29
Halftime
Oct 21 2:46 PM - Joe Flacco pass intercepted by Johnathan Joseph at the Houston 48 and returned for 52 yards.
Ravens 3, Texans 15 2nd - 14:51Oct 21 1:45 PM - BALTIMORE: 3
HOUSTON: 9
End of 1st
Oct 21 1:41 PM - BALTIMORE: 0
HOUSTON: 0
1st Quarter - 15:00
Oct 21 1:03 PM
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