Schedule Note: Intra-division opponents are in
bold text.
Standings Division Conference Game summaries Week 1: vs. Indianapolis Colts Starting lineups: HOUSTON – OFFENSE: QB Matt Schaub, LT Duane Brown, LG Wade Smith, C Chris Myers, RT Antoine Caldwell, RG Eric Winston, WR Andre Johnson, RB Arian Foster, FB Vonta Leach, TE Owen Daniels, WR Kevin Walter. The Texans began their season with a home game against the
Indianapolis Colts, a division rival in which they had only beaten once ever. However, Houston got off to an early 13–0 lead after 30 and 49-yard field goals from
Neil Rackers (who had recently replaced
Kris Brown as the team's kicker) and a 22-yard touchdown pass from
Matt Schaub, leading passer in the league a year ago, to
Kevin Walter. As expected, the Colts wouldn't go down without a fight as Indy scored ten unanswered points to close out the half on a 14-yard touchdown pass from
Peyton Manning to
Reggie Wayne and a 20-yard field goal by
Adam Vinatieri. With the momentum seemingly shifting to Indianapolis, Houston took nearly eight minutes off the third-quarter clock with a 15-play drive (13 rushes) out of the locker room, as
Arian Foster scored from a yard out, his first of three touchdowns on the day. Going into the fourth with Houston leading 20–10, the Texans continued to run, and the Colts continued to pass, as Peyton Manning attempted 57 passes that day, completing 40, a career-high. However, it wouldn't be enough; even though the Colts scored two touchdowns on a 10-yard pass to
Dallas Clark and a 73-yard pass to
Austin Collie, the Texans would score two of their own: 25 and 8-yard runs from Arian Foster en route to a 34–24 Houston win at
Reliant Stadium. Arian Foster finished with 231 rushing yards on 33 carries. Both were Houston records for a game, and the 231 yards was the second most rushing yards on opening week, only behind
O. J. Simpson. Peyton Manning eventually went 40/57 for 433 yards and three touchdowns. Houston began the season 1–0 and won for only the second time against Indianapolis, against fifteen losses. The Colts, after going 0–4 in the 2010 preseason, lost their fifth game overall to start the 2010 year.
Week 2: at Washington Redskins Hoping to maintain their winning streak the Texans flew to
FedExField for an Interconference duel with the Redskins. In the first quarter The Texans trailed early as kicker Graham Gano got a 41 and a 27-yard field goal. In the second quarter the Texans replied and took the lead with QB
Matt Schaub completing a 5-yard TD pass to WR
Jacoby Jones, but fell behind again when RB
Clinton Portis got two 1-yard TD runs to put the Redskins up 20–7. The Texans tried to cut the lead in the third quarter as kicker
Neil Rackers nailed a 47-yard field goal, but the Redskins increased their lead with QB
Donovan McNabb completing a 22-yard TD pass to TE
Chris Cooley. The Texans then went on a scoring rally to successfully cut the lead when QB
Matt Schaub made a 6-yard TD pass to WR
Kevin Walter, followed in the 4th quarter by Rackers making a 43-yard field goal. Then Schaub threw a 34-yard TD pass to WR
Andre Johnson. The Texans pulled out the overtime victory, their first in franchise history, when Rackers booted a 35-yard field goal to win the game for the Texans by the score of 30–27. With the win, Houston improved to 2–0.
Week 3: vs. Dallas Cowboys Hoping to increase their winning streak the Texans played on home ground for an Inter-conference duel with the Cowboys. Houston took the early lead in the 1st quarter when kicker
Neil Rackers hit a 24-yard field goal. Then they fell behind with RB
Marion Barber getting a 1-yard TD run, followed by kicker
David Buehler's 49-yard field goal. The Texans struggled further in the third quarter when QB
Tony Romo completed a 15-yard TD pass to WR
Roy E. Williams. Houston replied with Rackers nailing a 30-yard field goal, but Dallas continued to score when Romo found Williams again on a 63-yard TD pass. Then
David Buehler made a 40-yard field goal. The Texans would finally score when QB
Matt Schaub made a 7-yard TD pass to WR
Kevin Walter. With the loss, the Texans fell to 2–1.
Week 4: at Oakland Raiders Hoping to rebound from their loss to the Cowboys the Texans flew to
Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum for an AFC duel with the Raiders. The Texans took the early lead in the 1st quarter as RB
Derrick Ward got a 33-yard TD run. The Raiders replied with RB
Michael Bush making a 2-yard TD run. The Texans got the lead back when QB
Matt Schaub completed an 11-yard TD pass to TE
Joel Dreessen. The Raiders responded in the 2nd quarter with QB
Bruce Gradkowski getting a 13-yard TD pass to FB
Marcel Reece. In the 3rd quarter the Texans started to rally with RB
Arian Foster making a 74-yard TD run, followed by kicker
Neil Rackers getting a 35-yard field goal, then in the 4th quarter Schaub threw a 10-yard TD pass to RB
Arian Foster. The lead was cut with Gradkowski found TE
Zach Miller on a 14-yard TD pass, and kicker
Sebastian Janikowski nailing a 39-yard field goal. With the win, the Texans improved to 3–1.
Week 5: vs. New York Giants Coming off their win over the Raiders the Texans played on home ground for an Interconference duel with the Giants. In the first quarter the Texans trailed early when QB
Eli Manning made a 6-yard TD pass to WR
Hakeem Nicks. Then RB
Brandon Jacobs got a 1-yard TD run. This was followed in the 2nd quarter by Manning finding Hicks again on a 12-yard TD pass. The Texans tried to cut the lead when kicker
Neil Rackers hit a 38-yard field goal, which was responded by
Lawrence Tynes' 45-yard field goal. The Texans' offense managed to break through in the third quarter when RB
Derrick Ward got a 1-yard TD run, but was closed off after Tynes made a 42-yard field goal; followed by Manning completing a 4-yard TD pass to WR
Steve Smith. With the loss, Houston fell to 3–2.
Week 6: vs. Kansas City Chiefs Hoping to rebound from their loss to the Giants the Texans played on home ground for an AFC duel against the Chiefs. In the first quarter the Chiefs took the early lead with QB
Matt Cassel getting a 2-yard TD pass to OLB
Mike Vrabel. The Texans responded and tied the game with QB
Matt Schaub making a 5-yard TD pass to TE
Joel Dreessen. The Chiefs rallied with Cassel making a 17 and then a 42-yard TD pass to WR
Dwayne Bowe in the 3rd quarter. The Texans replied with RB
Derrick Ward getting a 38-yard TD run. Then kicker
Ryan Succop made a 24-yard field goal to put the Chiefs up 24–14. In the fourth quarter the Texans closed the gap with RB
Arian Foster making a 2-yard TD run, but the Chiefs tried to pull away with RB
Thomas Jones getting an 11-yard TD run. However, the Texans replied and eventually snatched the win with Foster making a 1-yard TD run, and then with Schaub finding WR
Andre Johnson on an 11-yard TD pass. With the win, Houston went into their bye week at 4–2.
Week 8: at Indianapolis Colts Starting lineups: HOUSTON – DEFENSE: DE Antonio Smith, DT Shaun Cody, DT Amobi Okoye, DE Mario Williams, LB Brian Cushing, LB Kevin Bentley, LB Darryl Sharpton, CB Glover Quinn, CB Kareem Jackson, SS Bernard Pollard, FS Eugene Wilson. Coming off their bye week the Texans played at
Lucas Oil Stadium for an AFC South division rivalry match against the Indianapolis Colts. In the first quarter the Texans trailed early as QB
Peyton Manning completed a 2-yard TD pass to TE
Jacob Tamme. The Texans struggled further in the 2nd quarter when
Matt Schaub's pass was intercepted by CB
Kelvin Hayden and returned 25 yards for a touchdown. They soon responded with kicker
Neil Rackers nailing a 53-yard field goal. The Texans fell further behind with kicker
Adam Vinatieri getting a 48-yard field goal. This was followed in the third quarter by Manning throwing a 15-yard TD pass to WR
Reggie Wayne. The Texans' offense broke through with Schaub connecting to WR
Andre Johnson on a 28-yard TD pass. The Colts replied with Vinatieri hitting a 23-yard field goal. The Texans tried to fight back but only came away with a touchdown after RB
Arian Foster got a 6-yard TD run. The Colts closed the game with Vinatieri making a 36-yard field goal. With the loss, Houston fell to 4–3.
Week 9: vs. San Diego Chargers Starting lineups: HOUSTON – OFFENSE: QB Matt Schaub, LT Duane Brown, LG Wade Smith, C Chris Myers, RG Mike Brisiel, RT Eric Winston, WR Andre Johnson, RB Arian Foster, FB Vonta Leach, TE Joel Dreessen, WR Kevin Walter. HOUSTON – DEFENSE: LDE Antonio Smith, DT Shaun Cody, DT Amobi Okoye, RDE Mario Williams, SLB Kevin Bentley, MLB Brian Cushing, WLB Zac Diles, CB Glover Quinn, CB Kareem Jackson, SS Bernard Pollard, FS Eugene Wilson. The Texans' eighth game was an AFC duel with the Chargers. In the first quarter the Texans took the early lead as RB
Arian Foster got an 8-yard TD run. The Chargers replied with QB
Philip Rivers making a 55-yard TD pass to WR
Seyi Ajirotutu. The Texans led again with kicker
Neil Rackers nailing a 27-yard field goal, but fell behind after Rivers got an 11-yard TD pass to TE
Randy McMichael. They took the lead in the second quarter as Foster made a 2-yard TD run, followed by Rackers hitting a 21 and a 25-yard field goal. The Texans lost the lead with Rivers finding McMichael again on a 12-yard TD pass. This was followed in the 4th quarter by Rivers' 28-yard TD pass to Ajirotutu (With a successful 2-point conversion as FB
Mike Tolbert ran to the endzone). With the loss, Houston fell to 4–4.
Week 10: at Jacksonville Jaguars The Texans' ninth match was an AFC South rivalry match against the Jaguars at
EverBank Field. In the first quarter the Texans trailed early as kicker
Josh Scobee hit a 38-yard field goal. They replied after kicker
Neil Rackers made a 24-yard field goal. They trailed again in the 2nd quarter with RB
Maurice Jones-Drew getting a 3 and a 9-yard TD run. However, the lead didn't last long after RB
Arian Foster got a 1-yard TD run, and QB
Matt Schaub threw a 9-yard TD pass to WR
Andre Johnson. The Jaguars stayed in the lead when QB
David Garrard completed a 52-yard TD pass to TE
Zach Miller, but the Texans replied again with Schaub finding WR
Kevin Walter on an 18-yard TD pass. Suddenly, the Texans' defense broke through with only a few seconds remaining after Garrard made a 50-yard
Hail Mary pass to WR
Mike Thomas. The ball was batted into his hands by Texans Defensive back Glover Quin, who made an attempt to bat the ball to the ground. With the loss, the Texans fell to 4–5.
Week 11: at New York Jets Starting lineups: HOUSTON – OFFENSE: QB Matt Schaub, LT Duane Brown, LG Wade Smith, C Chris Myers, RG Mike Brisiel, RT Eric Winston, WR Andre Johnson, RB Arian Foster, FB Vonta Leach, TE Joel Dreessen, WR Kevin Walter. HOUSTON – DEFENSE: LDE Antonio Smith, NT Shaun Cody, DT Amobi Okoye, RDE Mario Williams, SLB Brian Cushing, MLB Kevin Bentley, WLB Darryl Sharpton, LCB Glover Quinn, RCB Kareem Jackson, SS Bernard Pollard, FS Eugene Wilson. In an attempt to break a three-game losing streak the Texans flew to
New Meadowlands Stadium for an AFC duel with the Jets. In the first quarter the Texans trailed early as kicker
Nick Folk nailed a 37-yard field goal. They replied in the second quarter with RB
Arian Foster getting a 2-yard TD run. The Texans struggled further as QB
Mark Sanchez threw a 4-yard TD pass to WR
Santonio Holmes; followed by Folk making a 30-yard field goal. The Jets' lead extended in the third quarter with Sanchez found Holmes again on a 41-yard TD pass. In the fourth quarter Folk made a 30-yard field goal to put the Jets up 23–7. The Texans rallied to take the lead back with kicker
Neil Rackers nailing a 38-yard field goal, followed by QB
Matt Schaub completing a 43-yard TD pass to TE
Joel Dreessen, followed by Foster getting a 1-yard TD run, and then Rackers got a 22-yard field goal. The Texans' defense however broke through with Sanchez finding Holmes again on a 6-yard TD pass. With the loss, Houston fell to 4–6.
Week 12: vs. Tennessee Titans Starting lineups: HOUSTON – OFFENSE: QB Matt Schaub, LT Duane Brown, LG Wade Smith, C Chris Myers, RG Mike Brisiel, RT Eric Winston, WR Andre Johnson, RB Arian Foster, FB Vonta Leach, TE Joel Dreessen, WR Kevin Walter. Hoping to snap a four-game losing streak the Texans played on home ground for an AFC South rivalry match against the Titans. The Texans took control throughout the game as QB
Matt Schaub got a 1-yard TD pass to TE
Joel Dreessen, followed by his 2-yard TD pass to WR
Andre Johnson. The lead was increased when kicker
Neil Rackers hit a 35 and a 33-yard field goal. With the easy win, the Texans improved to 5–6. However, in the fourth quarter, Johnson was ejected following a fight with Titans CB
Cortland Finnegan, who was also ejected. This was the Texans first
shutout win since
2004, and they would not have a shutout win again until
2025, which was also a home game against the
Titans.
Week 13: at Philadelphia Eagles Starting lineups: HOUSTON – OFFENSE: QB Matt Schaub, LT Duane Brown, LG Wade Smith, C Chris Myers, RG Mike Brisiel, RT Eric Winston, WR Andre Johnson, RB Arian Foster, FB Vonta Leach, TE Joel Dreessen, WR Kevin Walter. HOUSTON – DEFENSE: DE Antonio Smith, DT Shaun Cody, DT Amobi Okoye, DE Mario Williams, LB Brian Cushing, LB Kevin Bentley, LB Darryl Sharpton, CB Glover Quinn, CB Kareem Jackson, SS Bernard Pollard, FS Eugene Wilson. Coming off their shutout win over the Titans, the Texans flew to
Lincoln Financial Field for a Week 13 interconference duel with the
Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday night. Houston trailed early in the first quarter as Eagles quarterback
Michael Vick completed a 1-yard touchdown pass to running back
LeSean McCoy. The Texans answered with a 48-yard field goal from kicker
Neil Rackers, but Philadelphia struck back with McCoy getting a 4-yard touchdown run, followed by kicker
David Akers getting a 36-yard field goal. Houston replied with quarterback
Matt Schaub finding wide receiver
Jacoby Jones on an 8-yard touchdown pass. The Eagles would close out the half with Akers making a 22-yard field goal. The Texans took the lead in the third quarter with running back
Arian Foster catching a 13-yard touchdown pass from Schaub and getting a 3-yard touchdown run. Philadelphia regained the lead with Vick getting a 2-yard touchdown run, followed by his 5-yard touchdown pass to fullback
Owen Schmitt. Houston tried to rally, but the Eagles' defense prevented any progress. With the loss, the Texans fell to 5–7.
Week 14: vs. Baltimore Ravens Battle Red Day Hoping to rebound from their road loss to the Eagles, the Texans went home, donned their alternate uniforms, and played a Week 14 Monday night duel with the
Baltimore Ravens. Houston trailed in the first quarter as Ravens running back
Willis McGahee got a 1-yard touchdown run. Baltimore added onto their lead in the second quarter as quarterback
Joe Flacco completed a 9-yard and a 26-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver
Derrick Mason. The Texans would answer with quarterback
Matt Schaub finding wide receiver
Andre Johnson on a 46-yard touchdown pass. The Ravens struck back in the third quarter as wide receiver
David Reed returned the second half's opening kickoff 103 yards for a touchdown. Houston continued to hang around with a 24-yard and a 42-yard field goal from kicker
Neil Rackers. The Texans tied the game in the fourth quarter as Schaub connected with wide receiver
Jacoby Jones on a 7-yard touchdown pass, followed by a 5-yard touchdown pass to Johnson and a successful two-point conversion pass to Jones and the game headed to overtime. The Ravens won the toss, but failed to advance the ball and punted to the Texans 9. On the second play, Schaub's pass was intercepted by
Josh Wilson, who ran untouched into the end zone. With the loss, not only did Houston fall to 5–8, but they became the first team in NFL history to have four games where they have come back and either tie or the lead, only to end up losing the game.
Week 15: at Tennessee Titans Hoping to break a two-game losing streak the Texans flew to
LP Field for an AFC South rivalry rematch against the Titans. The Texans trailed early after QB
Kerry Collins threw a 3 and a 1-yard TD pass to WR
Nate Washington and to WR
Justin Gage. This was followed by RB
Chris Johnson getting an 11-yard TD run. The Texans got on the scoreboard after kicker
Neil Rackers made a 37-yard field goal, but fell further behind after kicker
Rob Bironas hit a 30-yard field goal. The Texans tried to cut the lead with QB
Matt Schaub getting a 12-yard TD pass to WR
Andre Johnson, but the Titans would pull away with RB
Javon Ringer getting a 7-yard TD run. The Texans tried to come back into the game, but only came away with Schaub throwing a 4-yard TD pass to WR
Kevin Walter. With the loss, the Texans fell to 5–9, and were officially eliminated from postseason contention.
Week 16: at Denver Broncos The Texans' fifteenth game was an AFC duel with the Broncos. The Texans commanded the first half with RB
Arian Foster getting a 3-yard TD run, followed by QB
Matt Schaub getting a 3-yard TD pass to TE
Owen Daniels, then with kicker
Neil Rackers hitting a 34-yard field goal. The Broncos got on the board with RB
Correll Buckhalter getting a 3-yard TD run, but the Texans scored again with Rackers nailing a 54-yard field goal. The Broncos replied as kicker
Steven Hauschka got a 27-yard field goal, but the Texans extended their lead with Rackers hitting a 57-yard field goal. However, they failed to maintain this lead after QB
Tim Tebow completed a 23-yard TD pass to Buckhalter, followed by Tebow scrambling 6-yards for a touchdown. With the close loss, the Texans fell to 5–10.
Week 17: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars The Texans' final game was a division rivalry rematch against the Jaguars. The Texans took the lead as RB
Arian Foster got a 2-yard TD run, followed by kicker
Neil Rackers making a 26-yard field goal. The Jaguars responded with RB
Rashad Jennings getting a 3-yard TD run, but Houston scored further as RB
Derrick Ward made a 35-yard TD run. The Jaguars managed to tie the game with kicker
Josh Scobee hitting a 39-yard field goal, followed by Edwards completing a 7-yard TD pass to
Marcedes Lewis. However, the Texans pulled away from the tie with Rackers making a 33-yard field goal, followed by QB
Matt Schaub completing a 5-yard TD pass to TE
Owen Daniels, then with Foster getting a 35-yard TD run. With the win, Houston ended their season with a 6–10 record. ==Statistics==