2008 Houston Texans season The 2008 Houston Texans season was the 7th season for the team in the National Football League . Though the Texans lost their first four games of the season , they rallied and won five of their last six games , to finish with an 8 – 8 record for the second consecutive year . The 2008 season also marked the Texans ' first appearance on Monday Night Football . Offseason . Player additions / subtractions . Additions : Subtractions : Draft . The Texans had seven selections in the 2008 NFL Draft . The Texans originally had five before the draft after having traded their second round selection to the Atlanta Falcons to land quarterback Matt Schaub and their sixth - round pick to the Denver Broncos for center Chris Myers . The Texans traded their first - round pick with the Baltimore Ravens for their third and sixth - round selections along with their first - round pick . Coaching staff . Head coach Gary Kubiak will be entering his third year ( 2006 to present ) with the Texans . Alex Gibbs , who implemented his successful zone blocking scheme with the Denver Broncos and the Atlanta Falcons joins the staff as the assistant head coach , replacing Mike Sherman , who left to become the head coach at Texas A & M . Kyle Shanahan , son of Broncos coach Mike Shanahan , takes over as the offensive coordinator this year in place of Sherman . Regular season results . Week 1 : at Pittsburgh Steelers . The Texans began their 2008 campaign on the road against the Pittsburgh Steelers . In the first quarter , Houston trailed early as Steelers RB Willie Parker got a 7 - yard TD run . In the second quarter , the Texans continued to trail as Parker got a 13 - yard TD run , while QB Ben Roethlisberger completed a 13 - yard TD pass to WR Hines Ward . Houston would end the half with kicker Kris Brown getting a 34 - yard field goal . In the third quarter , the Texans continued to trail as Parker got a 4 - yard TD run , while Roethlisberger and Ward hooked up with each other again on a 16 - yard TD pass . In the fourth quarter , Houston replied with QB Matt Schaub completing a 14 - yard TD pass to WR Kevin Walter . Pittsburgh would respond with kicker Jeff Reed nailing a 44 - yard field goal . The Texans would close out the game with Schaub getting a 4 - yard TD run . With the loss , Houston began its season at 0 – 1 . Week 2 : Bye Week . The Texans were originally scheduled to play the Baltimore Ravens in Week 2 , but due to structural damage to Reliant Stadium by Hurricane Ike , the game was postponed until Week 10 . This allowed both Houston and Baltimore to take their bye week . Week 3 : at Tennessee Titans . Coming off their unexpected bye week , the Texans flew to LP Field for a Week 3 AFC South duel with the Tennessee Titans . In the first quarter , Houston struck first with kicker Kris Brown getting a 44 - yard field goal . The Titans responded with RB LenDale White getting a 2 - yard TD run . The Texans answered with Brown kicking a 24 - yard field goal . In the second quarter , Tennessee increased its lead with QB Kerry Collins completing a 9 - yard TD pass to TE Bo Scaife . The Texans would answer with rookie RB Steve Slaton getting a 6 - yard TD run ( with a failed PAT ) . The Titans closed out the first half with White ' s 1 - yard TD run . In the third quarter , Tennessee added on to its lead with kicker Rob Bironas nailing a 44 - yard field goal . In the fourth quarter , the Titans sealed the win with CB Cortland Finnegan returning an interception 99 yards for a touchdown . With the loss , Houston fell to 0 – 2 . Week 4 : at Jacksonville Jaguars . Still searching for their first win of the year , the Texans flew to Jacksonville Municipal Stadium for a Week 4 AFC South duel with the Jacksonville Jaguars . In the first quarter , Houston trailed early as Jaguars FB Montell Owens took a fake punt and ran 41 yards for a touchdown . The Texans got on the board with kicker Kris Brown getting a 27 - yard field goal . In the second quarter , Houston took the lead as QB Matt Schaub completed a 30 - yard TD pass to rookie RB Steve Slaton . Jacksonville ended the half with kicker Josh Scobee getting a 46 - yard field goal . In the third quarter , the Jaguars retook the lead with QB David Garrard completing a 16 - yard TD pass to WR Matt Jones . The Texans would tie the game with Schaub completing a 5 - yard TD pass to WR Kevin Walter . In the fourth quarter , Jacksonville responded with Scobee ' s 40 - yard field goal . Houston would retake the lead with Schaub hooking up with Walter again on an 8 - yard TD pass . However , the Jaguars got the lead again as Garrard got a 5 - yard TD run . The Texans would tie game on Brown ' s 47 - yard field goal . However , in overtime , Jacksonville sealed Houston ' s fate as Scobee nailed the game - winning 37 - yard field goal . With the loss , the Texans fell to 0 – 3 . Week 5 : vs . Indianapolis Colts . Hoping to rebound from their divisional road loss to the Jaguars , the Texans finally got to play their home opener as they played a Week 5 AFC South duel with the Indianapolis Colts . Due to an illness , QB Matt Schaub was unable to play , allowing backup QB Sage Rosenfels to get the start . In the first quarter , Houston trailed early as Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri got a 46 - yard field goal , along with RB Joseph Addai getting a 1 - yard TD run . In the second quarter , the Texans responded with rookie RB Steve Slaton getting a 1 - yard TD run , kicker Kris Brown getting a 37 - yard field goal , and Rosenfels completing a 5 - yard TD pass to WR Andre Johnson . In the third quarter , Houston increased its lead with Brown nailing a 43 - yard field goal . In the fourth quarter , the Texans continued its run with Slaton getting a 1 - yard TD run , expanding their lead to 17 points . What followed would go down into NFL history books , as Sage Rosenfels fumbled twice and threw two interceptions to blow the biggest lead inside of 5 minutes in NFL history . The key play was known as the ' Rosencopter ' play , when on third - and - eight , Rosenfels opted to try to hurdle a defender rather than sliding short of the first down . Gary Brackett recovered the fumble for a 58 yard touchdown , and Rosenfels was never the same afterwards , turning the ball over twice more . With the loss , Houston fell to 0 – 4 . Week 6 : vs . Miami Dolphins . Coming off a heartbreaking home loss to the Colts , the Texans stayed at home for a Week 6 duel with the Miami Dolphins . In the first quarter , Houston trailed early as Dolphins QB Chad Pennington completed a 53 - yard TD pass to RB Patrick Cobbs . The Texans would respond with kicker Kris Brown getting a 27 - yard field goal . In the second quarter , Miami added on to its lead as Pennington completed an 80 - yard TD pass to Cobbs . Houston would answer with Brown kicking a 33 - yard field goal and WR Jacoby Jones returning a punt 70 yards for a touchdown . In the third quarter , the Texans took the lead with QB Matt Schaub completing a 12 - yar TD pass to WR Andre Johnson , but the Dolphins replied with RB Ricky Williams getting a 5 - yard TD run . In the fourth quarter , Houston regained the lead as Brown got a 42 - yard field goal , yet Miami struck back RB Ronnie Brown got a 6 - yard TD run . Fortunately , the Texans got the last laugh as Schaub got the game - winning 3 - yard TD run ( with a failed 2 - point conversion ) . With the wild win , Houston improved to 1 – 4 . Week 7 : vs . Detroit Lions . Coming off their last - second win over the Dolphins , the Texans continued their home stand with a Week 7 interconference duel with the winless Detroit Lions . In the first quarter , Houston drew first blood as QB Matt Schaub completed a 2 - yard TD pass to TE Owen Daniels , along with RB Ahman Green getting a 1 - yard TD run . In the second quarter , the Texans increased their lead as rookie RB Steve Slaton got a 1 - yard TD run . The Lions would respond with kicker Jason Hanson getting a 54 - yard field goal . In the third quarter , Detroit tried to catch up as RB Kevin Smith got a 26 - yard TD run . Houston would answer with Schaub hooking up with Daniels again on a 1 - yard TD pass . In the fourth quarter , the Lions tried to rally as QB Dan Orlovsky completed a 96 - yard TD pass to WR Calvin Johnson , along with Hanson nailing a 54 - yard field goal . Fortunately , the Texans ' defense stiffened for the victory . With the win , Houston improved to 2 – 4 . Week 8 : vs . Cincinnati Bengals . Coming off their win over the Lions , the Texans closed out their four - game home stand against the winless Cincinnati Bengals . In the first quarter , Houston drew first blood as WR Jacoby Jones returned a punt 73 yards for a touchdown . The Bengals responded with kicker Shayne Graham getting a 43 - yard field goal . The Texans increased their lead as QB Matt Schaub completed a 6 - yard TD pass to WR David Anderson . Cincinnati would close out the half as Graham nailed a 32 - yard field goal . In the third quarter , Houston began to pull away as Schaub completed a 7 - yard and a 39 - yard TD pass to WR Kevin Walter . In the fourth quarter , the Texans closed out their home stand in style with rookie RB Steve Slaton getting a 20 - yard TD run . With the win , not only did Houston improve to 3 – 4 , but they won three straight games for the first time in franchise history . Week 9 : at Minnesota Vikings . Coming off their home win over the Bengals , the Texans flew to the Hubert H . Humphrey Metrodome for a Week 9 interconference duel with the Minnesota Vikings . In the first quarter , Houston trailed early as Vikings RB Adrian Peterson got a 1 - yard TD run . The Texans responded with CB Jacques Reeves returning an interception 44 yards for a touchdown . In the second quarter , Minnesota answered with QB Gus Frerotte completing an 8 - yard TD pass to WR Sidney Rice and a 49 - yard TD pass to WR Bernard Berrian . In the third quarter , Houston tried to rally as QB Sage Rosenfels completed a 3 - yard TD pass to WR David Anderson . In the fourth quarter , the Vikings replied with Frerotte completing a 25 - yard TD pass to TE Visanthe Shiancoe . The Texans tried to comeback as Rosenfels completed a 14 - yard TD pass to WR Andre Johnson . However , the Vikings ' defense stiffened for the win . With the loss , Houston fell to 3 – 5 . QB Matt Schaub ( 21 / 29 for 224 yards and 1 interception ) , who started the game , left after the first half with a sprained left knee . Week 10 : vs . Baltimore Ravens . Hoping to rebound from their road loss to the Vikings , the Texans went home for a Week 10 duel with the Baltimore Ravens . Both teams were supposed to play each other in Week 2 , but Hurricane Ike forced them to reschedule their game to this week . With QB Matt Schaub out with an injury , back - up QB Sage Rosenfels was given the start . In the first quarter , Houston trailed early as Ravens QB Joe Flacco completed a 43 - yard TD pass to WR Yamon Figurs . In the second quarter , the Texans responded with kicker Kris Brown getting a 23 - yard field goal . Baltimore would answer on a Houston blunder , as rookie OT Duane Brown committed a holding penalty in his own endzone , giving the Ravens a safety . Baltimore added onto their lead as kicker Steven Hauschka got a 54 - yard field goal . The Texans closed out the half with Brown nailing a 48 - yard field goal . In the third quarter , the Ravens increased their lead as RB Willis McGahee got a 1 - yard TD run . Houston responded as Rosenfels completed a 60 - yard TD pass to WR Kevin Walter . However , in the fourth quarter , Baltimore greatly pulled away as Flacco completed a 1 - yard TD pass to TE Todd Heap ( with a 2 - point conversion pass to WR Derrick Mason ) , QB Troy Smith completed a 14 - yard TD pass to Heap , and McGahee getting a 4 - yard TD run . With the loss , the Texans fell to 3 – 6 . Week 11 : at Indianapolis Colts . Trying to snap a two - game losing streak and avenge their Week 5 collapse , the Texans flew to Lucas Oil Stadium for a Week 11 AFC South rematch with the Indianapolis Colts . In the first quarter , Houston struck first as kicker Kris Brown got a 28 - yard field goal . The Colts responded with kicker Adam Vinatieri getting a 40 - yard field goal . The Texans would answer with Brown making a 34 - yard field goal . In the second quarter , Indianapolis tied the game with Vinatieri getting a 39 - yard fiel goal . Houston replied with RB Ahman Green getting a 1 - yard TD run . The Colts closed out the half with Vinatieri making a 32 - yard field goal . In the third quarter , Indianapolis got the lead as QB Peyton Manning completed a 23 - yard TD pass to RB Joseph Addai . The Texans regained the lead as rookie RB Steve Slaton getting a 71 - yard TD run . The Colts would answer with Addai getting a 7 - yard TD run . In the fourth quarter , Indianapolis increased their lead as Manning completed a 10 - yard TD pass to WR Marvin Harrison . Houston tried to comeback as Green got a 2 - yard TD run , but the Colts pulled away as Vinatieri nailed a 31 - yard field goal . With the loss , the Texans fell to 3 – 7 . Week 12 : at Cleveland Browns . Trying to snap a three - game losing streak , the Texans flew to Cleveland Browns Stadium for a Week 12 duel with the Cleveland Browns . In the first quarter , Houston drew first blood as QB Sage Rosenfels completed a 17 - yard TD pass to WR Kevin Walter . In the second quarter , the Texans increased their lead as kicker Kris Brown got a 31 - yard field goal . The Browns would respond with kicker Phil Dawson getting a pair of 32 - yard field goals . Houston would end the half with Brown making a 31 - yard field goal . In the third quarter , the Texans continued their dominance as Brown nailed a 36 - yard field goal . From there on out , Houston ' s defense kept Cleveland ' s offense in check . With the win , not only did the Texans improve to 4 – 7 , but they finally got their first road win of the season . Week 13 : vs . Jacksonville Jaguars . Coming off their road win over the Browns , the Texans went home , donned their alternate uniforms , and played in their very first Monday Night Football game in franchise history , as they played a Week 13 AFC South rematch with the Jacksonville Jaguars . In the first quarter , Houston drew first blood as QB Sage Rosenfels completed a 31 - yard TD pass to WR Andre Johnson , while kicker Kris Brown got a 38 - yard field goal . After a scoreless second quarter , the Texans increased their lead early in the third quarter as Brown got a 50 - yard field goal . The Jaguars would respond with kicker Josh Scobee getting a 29 - yard field goal , yet Houston answered with Brown nailing a 20 - yard field goal . In the fourth quarter , Houston began to pull away as rookie RB Steve Slaton got a 7 - yard TD run . Jacksonville would answer with RB Fred Taylor getting a 4 - yard TD run , yet the Texans immediately replied as Slaton got a 40 - yard TD run . The Jaguars would close out the game with QB David Garrard completing an 18 - yard TD pass to WR Reggie Williams . With the win , Houston improved to 5 – 7 . This was the first time that Houston hosted a football game on Monday night in 14 years . The last Monday night game that was held in Houston was on November 21 , 1994 in the Houston Astrodome when the Houston Oilers were defeated by the New York Giants 13 – 10 . Week 14 : at Green Bay Packers . With their MNF home win over the Jaguars fresh in their minds , the Texans flew to Lambeau Field for a Week 14 interconference duel with the Green Bay Packers . Houston shot early in the first quarter as QB Matt Schaub completed a 58 - yard TD pass to wide receiver Kevin Walter . The Packers would respond in the second quarter with QB Aaron Rodgers completing a 20 - yard touchdown pass to TE Donald Lee , yet the Texans would close out the half with a 30 - yard field goal from kicker Kris Brown . Houston would get the third quarter ' s only points as Brown got a 41 - yard field goal . Green Bay would answer in the fourth quarter as RB Ryan Grant got a 6 - yard touchdown run , yet the Texans replied with Schaub completing an 11 - yard touchdown pass and a 2 - point conversion pass to wide receiver Andre Johnson . The Packers would tie the game as Rodgers completed a 9 - yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Jordy Nelson . Forunately , Houston got the last laugh as Brown nailed the game - winning 40 - yard field goal . With the win , the Texans improved to 6 – 7 . Week 16 : at Oakland Raiders . Coming off their divisional upset win at home over the Titans , the Texans flew to Oakland - Alameda County Coliseum for a Week 16 duel with the Oakland Raiders . Houston would trail early in the first quarter as Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell completed a 20 - yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Chaz Schilens . The Texans would respond with fullback Vonta Leach ' s 1 - yard touchdown run . However , Oakland responded with kicker Sebastian Janikowski getting a 33 - yard and a 30 - yard field goal . Houston would tie the game in the second quarter as kicker Kris Brown got a 53 - yard and a 24 - yard field goal . In the third quarter , the Raiders scored two unanswered touchdowns : wide receiver Johnnie Lee Higgins caught a 29 - yard touchdown pass from Russell , followed by an 80 - yard punt return for a touchdown . The Texans tried to come back in the fourth quarter : Brown nailed a 40 - yard field goal , but that was too little , too late . With the loss , Houston fell to 7 – 8 . Week 17 : vs . Chicago Bears . Hoping to end their season on a high note , the Texans closed out their season at home in a Week 17 interconference duel with the Chicago Bears . Houston would trail early in the first quarter as Bears quarterback Kyle Orton completed a 4 - yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Brandon Lloyd , followed by a 37 - yard field goal from kicker Robbie Gould . The Texans would respond and take the lead as quarterback Matt Schaub a 43 - yard and a 3 - yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Andre Johnson . In the third quarter , Houston would add on to their lead as running back Ryan Moats getting a 2 - yard touchdown run . Chicago would answer with Orton completing a 1 - yard touchdown pass to tight end Greg Olsen . In the fourth quarter , the Texans would pull away as kicker Kris Brown nailed a 22 - yard field goal , followed by rookie running back Steve Slaton ' s 2 - yard touchdown run . The Bears would try to comeback as Orton got a 1 - yard touchdown run , yet Houston ' s defense would stiffen for the victory . With the win , the Texans closed out their season at 8 – 8 .