2007 Regular Season

Lore & Background

The Texans began their 2007 campaign at home against the Kansas City Chiefs. After a scoreless first quarter, Houston came out pounding in the second quarter with kicker Kris Brown getting a 26-yard field goal, while QB Matt Schaub completed a 77-yard touchdown pass to WR Andre Johnson. In the third quarter, DE Mario Williams returned a fumble 38 yards for a touchdown. The Chiefs got their only score with a 27-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, the Texans sealed the victory with Brown kicking a 28-yard field goal. Matt Schaub, in his Texans debut, went 16 of 22 for 225 yards with 1 touchdown and 1 interception. With the win, Houston began their season at 1–0.

Reader's Guide

Following their home win over the Chiefs, the Texans flew to Bank of America Stadium for their Week 2 match-up against the Carolina Panthers. In the first quarter, Houston trailed early as QB Jake Delhomme hooked up with WR Steve Smith for a 7-yard and a 12-yard TD pass. Houston responded with QB Matt Schaub completing a 31-yard TD pass to WR Andre Johnson. In the second quarter, Schaub and Johnson hooked up again on a 9-yard TD pass. The Texans took the lead prior to halftime with kicker Kris Brown getting a 25-yard field goal. In the third quarter, Houston increased its lead with RB Ahman Green getting a 13-yard TD run. On the following kickoff, Panthers FB Nick Goings fumbled the ball, causing it to roll into Carolina's end zone, where WR Kevin Walter landed on it for a touchdown. In the fourth quarter, Houston put the game out of reach with Brown kicking a 33-yard field goal. The Panthers mustered up one last score as Delhomme completed a pass to Smith, who broke off many Texans defenders and ran 74 yards for a touchdown. With the win, not only did the Texans begin their season at 2–0 for the first time in franchise history, but their 34 points in one game also became a franchise record.

Did You Know?

• The Texans swapped their first-round pick in the 2007 NFL draft (8th overall) with the Atlanta Falcons for their first-round pick (10th overall) as part of the Matt Schaub deal.
• In drafting Okoye, who was 19 at the time of the draft, the Texans took the youngest player in NFL Draft history.
• The pick immediately after Okoye was 7x Pro Bowler Patrick Willis, chosen by the San Francisco 49ers.
• Guard Kasey Studdard (6th round) became the second Texas Longhorns player drafted by the Texans (Sloan Thomas was taken in the 7th round in 2004).