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Schaub, Texans beat Titans in OT

Sep 16, 2013 - 12:47 AM Houston, TX (Sports Network) - Matt Schaub hit DeAndre Hopkins in the back right corner of the end zone to lift the Houston Texans to a 30-24 win over the Tennessee Titans in overtime.

Houston (2-0) trailed 24-16 with just over three minutes left, but drove 87 yards in eight plays, capped by an Arian Foster touchdown and a two-point conversion, to tie things up with 1:53 to play.

After forcing a three-and-out, Houston took over on its own 22-yard line. Schaub hit Keshawn Martin with a short pass, and he broke a tackle and scurried down the right sideline down to the Titans' 46.

A 12-yard completion to Owen Daniels got the Texans within field goal distance.

Randy Bullock, who had missed a pair field goal tries earlier in the game, lined up for the kick four times, and after having two stopped by timeouts and a blocked try erased by an offside penalty, the rookie banged a his 46-yard try off the left upright, sending the game to over time.

The Texans took over in the bonus period. Foster ripped off a 16-yard rush and Ben Tate followed with a 13-yard pickup to get deep into the Tennessee zone.

A 25-yard completion to Hopkins along the right sideline put the ball inside the Titans' 1-yard line. Foster was stood up on first down and Hopkins couldn't come up with Schaub's pass on second, but they went right back to the rookie receiver on third down for the game-winner, an over-the-shoulder grab in the corner.

"It was a great ball by Schaub. He put it in the perfect position for me to go up and catch it," Hopkins said. "We practice that basically every day, the wide receivers. And practice makes perfect."

Schaub finished the game 26-for-48 passing for 298 yards, three touchdowns and a pair of interceptions and Hopkins hauled in seven passes for 117 yards and a score. Tate led the rushing attack with 93 yards on nine carries, and Foster rushed for 79 yards and a score on 19 carries for Houston, which defeated the San Diego Chargers in the season-opener.

Jake Locker completed 17-of-30 passes for 148 yards and two touchdowns and Chris Johnson rushed for 96 yards for the Titans (1-1), who beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 1.

"It's tough. It's really difficult," Locker said. "This is what's tough about this sport. It doesn't all go the way you'd like it in hard fought games like this. That's why you love it so much that's why it's so tough at times."

Tennessee trailed 16-10 after the Texans tackled Johnson in the end zone for a safety early in the final frame, but scored a pair of quick touchdowns to take the lead.

After Shane Lechler pinned the Titans inside their own 1-yard line, Locker hit Kenny Britt with a short pass to give them some breathing room. On the next play, Locker found Nate Washington down the sideline for a 31-yard gain.

Tennessee continued to move the chains until Johnson broke off a 15-yard run to put the ball on the Houston 25.

After an unnecessary roughness penalty moved the ball to the Texans' 10-yard line, Locker floated one over Delanie Walker's shoulder for the touchdown.

Alterraun Verner picked off Schaub on the ensuing possession and returned it 23 yards for a touchdown, making it 24-16.

Houston scored on the games' opening possession to take an early 7-0 lead. Schaub connected with Garrett Graham in the end zone to cap a five-play, 80 yard drive.

Houston drove 80 yards for a score on games' opening drive. On 2nd-and-6 from the Houston 34, Ben Tate broke a 60-yard run around the left end to get the Texans down to the Titans' 6-yard line. Foster bulled his way down to the 1- yard line and Schaub hooked up with Graham on the next play for the score.

Tennessee responded with a 14-play, 80-yard touchdown drive to knot things up. The Texans had sacked Locker on 3rd-and-long, but an illegal use of hands penalty gave the Titans a fresh set of downs, ending with Locker's TD toss to Kendall Wright in the front left corner of the end zone.

Former Texan Bernard Pollard picked off Schaub near midfield and returned it 32 yards to set up a 47-yard Bironas field goal at the end of the first half to send Tennessee into the locker room with a 10-7 edge.

After the teams exchanged three-and-outs to open the third, Houston took a 14-10 lead as Schaub hit Daniels with a beautiful pass over his right shoulder for a 12-yard touchdown strike.

Houston started the drive on its own 45. After a 13-yard Johnson reception and a roughing-the-passer penalty on the first two plays, Houston had the ball on the Titans' 16. Three plays later Schaub found Owen Daniels for the score.

Game Notes

Texans receiver Andre Johnson caught eight passes for 76 yards ... Houston outgained the Titans 452-248 in total net yards ... Washington had three catches for 50 yards for Tennesee ... Brian Cushing and J.J. Watt had two sacks apiece for the Texans ... Houston safety Ed Reed was inactive ... Rapper Vanilla Ice performed at halftime.