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Titans cap drama-filled week with shutout loss to Texans

Nov 29, 2010 - 12:15 AM Houston, TX (Sports Network) - Matt Schaub threw two second-quarter touchdown passes, as the Houston Texans snapped a four-game losing streak with a 20-0 victory over AFC South rival Tennessee.

Schaub finished with 178 yards on 25-of-35 efficiency for the Texans (5-6), whose last two setbacks came in heartbreaking fashion.

A week after Jacksonville's Hail Mary toss on the final play resulted in a stunning defeat on November 14, Houston rallied in the fourth quarter to take a four-point lead against the New York Jets, only to see it erased in a last- minute drive.

Arian Foster had 143 yards on 30 carries for Houston, while adding 75 yards on nine receptions.

Andre Johnson caught nine passes for 56 yards and one score, but was ejected, along with Cortland Finnegan, in the fourth quarter after throwing punches at the Titans cornerback.

Rookie quarterback Rusty Smith made his first NFL start for Tennessee, completing 17-of-31 passes for 138 yards. He was also picked off three times by Glover Quin.

Smith, a sixth-round draft pick this year out of Florida Atlantic, made his debut in last Sunday's overtime loss to Washington after Vince Young sustained an injury that will require season-ending surgery to repair a flexor tendon in his right thumb. That was only the beginning of the drama.

Upon being removed from the game, Young tossed his pads into the stands while leaving the field and got into a heated postgame exchange with head coach Jeff Fisher. After being placed on injured reserve, the combustible quarterback was told not to attend a team meeting on Tuesday. Young then texted Fisher an apology Wednesday, the same day Titans offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger had been diagnosed with cancer. Heimerdinger worked Sunday's game against Houston and will start his treatment Monday.

Chris Johnson was limited to just five yards on seven carries for Tennessee (5-6), which was dealt its fourth straight loss.

"(Smith) made some good throws," Fisher said. "Obviously we didn't play well enough to win the game. We had a couple balls we'd like to have back. Everybody has to help. Our defense can walk away saying they played really hard until the end."

Quin picked off Smith on the first play of the second quarter, setting Houston up at the Tennessee 25. Four plays later, Schaub hooked up with Joel Dreessen for a one-yard touchdown to give the Texans a 7-0 lead.

Houston extended its lead to 14-0 when Schaub found Andre Johnson in the back of the end zone for a two-yard touchdown with 4:42 remaining in the first half. The score capped a nine-play, 71-yard drive.

Neil Rackers hit a 35-yard field goal to put the Texans up 17-0 in the third quarter.

The Titans moved into Houston territory for the first time with 13:11 remaining in the fourth quarter. However, the drive ended with Quin hauling in a pass intended for Justin Gage at the three-yard line.

It was during the ensuing possession that Johnson and Finnegan were involved in a fist fight. After they ripped off each other's helmets, Johnson threw Finnegan to the ground and took a couple swings at him before players and officials intervened.

"I really don't have anything to say about Cortland (Finnegan)," the Houston wide receiver said. "I would like to apologize to the organization, our owner, and my teammates. What happened out there today was not me. I just lost my cool and I wish that I could take back what happened, but I can't. It's over and done with now. I'm pretty sure that I'll be disciplined for it. When that time comes, I'll find out what it is and have to deal with it from there."

Rackers made a 33-yard field goal with three minutes left to finish the scoring.

Game Notes

The Texans notched the second shutout in franchise history and the first at Reliant Stadium...Gage caught four passes for 50 yards...The Titans recorded only nine first downs in comparison to Houston's 24...The Texans limited Tennessee to just 162 yards of total offense...Houston has won three of the last four meetings.