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Schaub returns to town as Texans visit Falcons

Sep 30, 2007 - 12:23 PM Houston (2-1) at Atlanta (0-3) Sunday 1:00 pm EDT

ATLANTA (Ticker) - The Atlanta Falcons will get a glimpse at what could have been their future.

The Houston Texans, featuring former Atlanta quarterback Matt Schaub, visit the winless Falcons on Sunday.

Schaub has the surprising Texans off to a 2-1 start, with the only loss a 30-24 setback to defending Super Bowl champion Indianapolis last Sunday.

With Michael Vick seemingly entrenched at quarterback, first-year Falcons coach Bobby Petrino felt comfortable enough to send Schaub to Houston for a pair of second-round picks in 2008. The teams also swapped first-round picks in April.

While Schaub has been better than advertised for the Texans, the deal turned into a disaster for Atlanta when Vick was indicted on federal dogfighting chargers, leaving the offense in the hands of journeyman Joey Harrington.

The Falcons managed just 10 points in their first two losses before doubling that total in Sunday's 27-20 defeat to the Carolina Panthers.

Harrington actually acquitted himself well Sunday, completing 31-of-44 passes for 361 yards and two touchdowns. Still, the loss dropped Harrington to 23-46 as an NFL starter and left the Falcons as one of only five 0-3 teams in the league.

Schaub, meanwhile, has been stellar in his first chance to be a full-time starter. He had his worst effort of the season in the loss to the Colts, completing 27-of-33 passes for 236 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. That game was without star receiver Andre Johnson, who sat out with a sprained left knee.

Following a season-opening 20-3 victory over Kansas City, Schaub showed his mettle in Week Two, guiding the Texans from a two-touchdown deficit to a 34-21 victory at Carolina.

Schaub finished 20-of-28 for 228 yards and two touchdown passes - both to Johnson, who had seven receptions for 120 yards. His status remains iffy for this week.

"As far as Andre (Johnson), he's still on the immobilizer today," Texans coach Gary Kubiak said Monday. "I think we'll take him off that tomorrow or the next day; then we'll start to go day-to-day and see what kind of progress he makes. I would think he's still doubtful as we go into this week."