NFL

Houston league's only winless team no longer

By Times Staff
Published October 31, 2005

HOUSTON - The Texans were far from great, and they were barely good enough to get their first win.

Houston didn't find the end zone after its first possession, but managed to break a seven-game losing streak with kicking and special teams.

Kris Brown hit a 40-yard field goal, his fourth, with 2:45 left to win it. The kick was set up by a 63-yard kickoff return by rookie Jerome Mathis, who also scored Houston's lone touchdown, a 34-yard reception on the first drive of the game.

"It's kind of nice to get that W," quarterback David Carr said. "Even though that was one of the ugliest games I've ever played in."

Cleveland kicker Phil Dawson tied it at 16 with a 37-yard field goal with 5:06 left.

[Last modified October 31, 2005, 03:00:27]