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HOUSTON - Michael Vick's return was less than triumphant.
Domanick Davis ran for two quick touchdowns early in the third quarter and David Carr made his own unplanned appearance Sunday, rallying the Texans to a 17-13 victory over the Falcons on Sunday.
It was Vick's first game since fracturing his right leg in the second week of preseason.
"I think I've got my elusiveness back," Vick said. "I have to take my hat off to their defense. They gave me some looks I hadn't seen in a long time. They did their homework and it was just their day."
Vick, the top overall draft choice in 2001 who set a league rushing mark for quarterbacks with 1,066 yards over his first two seasons, made his debut with 2:14 left in the third quarter. He completed a 9-yard pass to Justin Griffith on his first play, though the drive ended with a punt.
Vick relieved Doug Johnson, who started eight times in Vick's absence. Johnson was 12-of-27 for 116 yards and an interception that cost the Falcons, who have lost three straight and 10 of 11.
Texans linebacker Jay Foreman was miffed Atlanta didn't start its best quarterback.
"At the start we thought he was hurt, then we could see he was throwing on the sidelines and wasn't hurt," Foreman said. "They took the Texans like it was a warmup game, and we took it personal."
Cornerback Marcus Coleman had a different take.
"Apparently he could have started. We're just glad he didn't," Coleman said.
Vick was 8-of-11 for 60 yards and ran three times for 16 yards in just more than a quarter.
Carr was supposed to miss the game after spraining his right shoulder two weeks ago. But he was pressed into action when Tony Banks broke his right hand on another player's helmet near the end of the first half.
Carr, playing in obvious pain, led a 63-yard drive on Houston's first possession of the second half, getting 36 yards himself with a Vick-like run to the Atlanta 22. Davis ran untouched for a 7-yard touchdown and a 10-7 lead.
Johnson's next play was an interception by Coleman, who ran it back 22 yards to the Atlanta 13. Davis took it from there, punching it in from 2 yards for his second score in less than three minutes.