Page 31 - bon-dia-aruba-20211228

A31
sports Diamars 28 December 2021

Texans have best rushing game of season in win over Chargers

(AP) — The Houston Texans had out, Mills completed passes to seven ral season in 2002. After finally winning consecutive
their best rushing game of the different players and the Texans had games, the Texans are focused on
year to overcome 16 absences be- three receivers with at least 50 yards. NEXT STEPS blocking out any outside negativity
cause of COVID-19 and upset the After dealing a blow to the playoff and continuing the streak this week.
Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday “A lot of guys stepped up this week hopes of the Chargers, the Texans
to win consecutive games for the ... when their numbers were called will face another team fighting for a “This football team is only concerned
first time this season. (and) were in the right spots and postseason spot when they visit the with what’s happening in the locker
were winning on their routes,” Mills San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. room,” Culley said. “We know there’s
Rex Burkhead ran for a career-high said. “When you can spread the ball a lot of noise outside of this locker
149 yards and two touchdowns play- around on offense like that, it makes The 49ers are allowing the fourth- room. We’ve tried all year long to stay
ing behind a makeshift offensive line it easier for everybody.” fewest yards in the NFL and are com- away from that noise ... (and) we’re
missing three starters to lead Hous- ing off a close loss to Tennessee. going to go play it to try to win three
ton to the 41-29 victory. His big day WHAT NEEDS HELP in a row.”
helped the Texans (4-11) pile up a The Texans forced three turnovers
season-high 189 yards rushing. Sunday to help slow down the Char-
gers, but Houston’s defense will need
“He’s been Mr. Consistent for us,” to improve after allowing 417 yards.
coach David Culley said. “He’s a guy
that’s going to get north and south. Houston ranks 30th in the NFL by
He just knows how to play the game.” allowing 380.9 yards a game and Jus-
tin Herbert’s 336 yards passing are
Houston had struggled to run the ball the most the team has allowed this
all season and entered Sunday’s game season.
ranked last in the NFL in yards rush-
ing by managing a paltry 77.5 yards a The good news for the Texans is that
game. several defensive starters who missed
Sunday’s game could return this
Burkhead’s game was the first 100- week, including linebacker Kamu
yard performance by a Texan this sea- Grugier-Hill, who leads the team
son. And his work helped them break with 94 tackles, and defensive end
100 yards rushing as a team for just Jonathan Greenard, who has a team-
the third time this year and first since leading eight sacks.
Oct. 17 when Mark Ingram, who has
since been traded to New Orleans, STOCK UP
had 73 yards rushing and Phillip Defensive back Jonathan Owens,
Lindsay added 39. who spent most of the season on the
practice squad, got his first career in-
Burkhead had a season-high 22 car- terception when he picked off Her-
ries against the Chargers on a day bert at the goal line in the second
where David Johnson sat out with a quarter. He added the first fumble
quadriceps injury. It was just the sec- recovery of his career in the fourth
ond 100-yard game of his nine-year quarter when he pounced on a fum-
career and first since the last game of ble by Justin Jackson.
the 2016 season with the Bengals.
Owens’ girlfriend, Olympic gold
The veteran was asked about his run- medal-winning gymnast Simone
ning style. Biles, attended Sunday’s game and
was seen on the in-stadium video
“You can’t just be one dimensional board clapping and cheering after the
or guys are going to key on you,” he interception.
said. “I try to mix it up. My dad was a
running back growing up. He always STOCK DOWN
preached to me about being versatile. TE Pharaoh Brown continues to pile
And not always just hitting the hole up penalties each week. The third-
fast, you’ve got to be patient at times.” year player had two false start penal-
ties Sunday to give him nine penalties
WHAT’S WORKING this season in limited playing time.
While Burkhead’s performance stole
the show Sunday, rookie Davis Mills INJURED
and Houston’s passing game also had Culley hopes that many of the players
a great day against the Chargers. on the COVID-19 list will be able to
return this week and said he’d have
Mills, a third-round pick from Stan- more details on who could be back on
ford, was 21 of 27 for 254 yards and Wednesday. He added that the team
two touchdowns to win his second didn’t have any new positives Mon-
game after opening his NFL career at day. ... WR Phillip Dorsett injured
0-7. an ankle Sunday and could miss next
week’s game. ... Johnson is day to day
“He’s a very mature guy,” Culley said. with his injury.
“And he’s getting better and better the
more he plays. He understands what KEY NUMBER
his job is.” 2,000 — The performance by Mills
on Sunday gave him 2,200 yards
Mills directed an offense that set a passing this season to make him the
season high in points despite play- second rookie quarterback in fran-
ing without leading receiver Bran- chise history to eclipse the 2,000-yard
din Cooks, who missed the game mark, and the first since David Carr
on the COVID-19 list. With Cooks had 2,592 yards in the team’s inaugu-