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Texans look for 2-0 start against Carolina

Sep 16, 2007 - 11:08 AM Houston (1-0) at Carolina (1-0) Sunday, 1:00 pm EDT

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (Ticker) - The Houston Texans have an opportunity to accomplish something they never did in five years with David Carr as their starting quarterback.

The Texans seek their first 2-0 start in the franchise's brief history on Sunday when they visit the Carolina Panthers.

Houston elected to go in a different direction after enduring five straight losing seasons under Carr, the No. 1 overall pick in 2002. The Texans acquired Matt Schaub from the Atlanta Falcons to take over for Carr, who was released in March after posting a 24-56 record.

The Schaub era got off to a good start last week as the Texans defeated the Kansas City Chiefs, 20-3.

A backup to Michael Vick in Atlanta for three years, Schaub completed 16-of-22 passes for 225 yards - including a 77-yard touchdown to Andre Johnson in the second quarter - in his Houston debut.

Ahman Green, another newcomer who was acquired to boost the running game, rushed for 73 yards on 16 carries as the Texans won their first season opener since 2003. Houston began last year 0-3 after starting the two previous seasons 0-2.

Trying to rebound from a disappointing season, the Panthers opened with a solid 27-13 victory at St. Louis. Jake Delhomme completed 18-of-27 passes for 201 yards and three touchdowns, while DeShaun Foster rushed for 94 yards on 17 carries.

"Last year we started 0-2 and had to win two games just to get back to .500," Delhomme said. "That's hard to do in this league."

The Texans also will have to contend with Steve Smith, who caught seven passes for 118 yards last week, including a 68-yarder for a score.

"This football team we're playing this week was everybody's pick to represent the NFC last year in the Super Bowl and they went through a tremendous amount of injuries," Houston coach Gary Kubiak said.

After finishing 11-5 and reaching the NFC championship game in 2005, Carolina (1-0) began last season with Super Bowl aspirations, but the Panthers experienced an up-and-down year and finished out of the playoffs with an 8-8 record.

"They are healthy now," Kubiak added. "They went into St. Louis against one of the top offenses in the game and they were dominating, not only good, they were dominating. They ran the ball. They threw it. Their quarterback played great."

Houston won the only previous meeting between the teams, a 14-10 victory in the 2003 season.