Rapid Reaction: Houston Texans lose to Baltimore Ravens, 30-9

Sep 22, 2013; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens safety James Ihedigbo (32) knocks the ball away from Houston Texans tight end Owen Daniels (81) at M

At least the Houston Texans didn’t have to sweat out a fourth quarter nail biter this week, though a game like today, a 30-9 loss to the Baltimore Ravens can cause just as much stress as the close ones … or maybe more.

When a team can only score points off field goals for the entire game (yes, Houston to zero touchdowns), you can expect that team to lose the game.

Welcome to Texans football for week three.

It just wasn’t a good day offensively for the Texans in either the first or second half, and to make matters worse losing Andre Johnson in the third quarter, plus playing without the services of left tackle Duane Brown … that’s not a formula for success to defeat any team. Especially against a franchise like the Ravens that are the defending Super Bowl champions, and who had Ray Lewis in the house.

All of this loss can’t go on the defense either … when your offense gives up a interception for a touchdown, and then your special teams gives up a touchdown on a punt return, well that’s a mixture for a bad day you just want to forget.

When the starting quarterback, Matt Schaub, has under 100 yards passing in the first half with no touchdowns, and your No. 1 wide receiver (Andre Johnson) fails to play a full game for the second straight week with an injury, chances are a loss  is in the works.

For the game, Schaub finished 25-of-35 for 194 yards and one interception. Arian Foster had just 12 carries for 54 yards and Ben Tate had nine carries for 36 yards. Both each had a long rush of 10 yards.

DeAndre Hopkins led the Texans in receiving with 60 yards on six receptions.

The Texans’ defense held the Ravens to 236 yards, as Joe Flacco had 171 yards passing with zero touchdowns or interceptions. Bernard Pierce rushed for 65 yards for the Ravens. Torrey Smith led the Ravens with 92 yards receiving.

J.J. Watt led the Texans with six tackles and one sack (that’s three for the season).

Houston was first to score on a Randy Bullock 27-yard field goal for the 3-0 advantage. Houston added to their lead in the second quarter when Bullock kicked a 29-yard field goal for the 6-0 lead.

Field goals only go so far and the Ravens cut the lead in half with a 28-yard field goal by Justin Tucker. They followed that with a 37-yard interception of Matt Schaub by Daryl Smith for touchdown.

Again the Ravens added more points in the second, with an 82-yard punt return touchdown from Tandon Doss.

Bullock kicked his third straight field goal, this on 47 yards to basically end the second half.

Baltimore came back to open the third with a nine play 80-yard drive, capping off with a 1-yard run by Bernard Pierce for the only score in the third by either team.

In the fourth, Tucker put the Ravens ahead by 18 points with a 45-yard field goal. Tucker for good measure converted a 43-yard field goal for the eventual 30-9 final score.

Let us know your thoughts on the week three loss to the Ravens.