Last Updated on December 23, 2010 12:33 am by Anthony Rome
Texans vs. Broncos Preview
DENVER, CO (AP) – After sitting No. 2 on the depth chart for most of the season, Tim Tebow finally got to show off his skill set for an entire 60 minutes. He’ll try to make his second start a successful one and help the Denver Broncos avoid their longest losing streak in 20 years.
Following his much-anticipated first NFL start, Tebow will again be under center Sunday when the Broncos host the Houston Texans in a matchup of last-place teams.
According to latest NFL odds, oddsmakers from online sports book SBGGLOBAL.com have made the Texans 2.5-point spread favorites for Sunday’s game against the Broncos. Current NFL Public Betting Information shows that 76% of more than 2,228 bets for this game have been placed on the Texans –2.5.
With Kyle Orton sidelined due to bruised ribs, Tebow made his first career start last Sunday against Oakland. Denver (3-11) lost its fifth straight game but the rookie didn’t seem totally out of his place in a 39-23 defeat, completing 8 of 16 passes for 138 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for 78 yards and a score.
“He handled the entire environment well for us,” Broncos interim coach Eric Studesville said. “He managed the offense, he called everything, he got us in and out of checks and he ran our offense, which is what a quarterback has to do.”
Many doubted Tebow’s ability to be an NFL quarterback coming of out of college due to his run-first approach, and while he finished with the highest passer rating (100.5) of any Denver rookie quarterback in his first start, it wasn’t all smooth sailing.
The 25th overall pick from this year’s draft was sacked twice and completed 2 of 7 passes out of the shotgun while Denver went 2 for 12 on third down.
“I think I did OK,” said Tebow. “We did some things well, some things I have to get better at. We didn’t have any turnovers offensively so that always gives you a better chance. “We just have to execute a little better on third down.
“Honestly, I have to go back and look at the film to know everything. But just be crisper, quicker and better with my reads.”
Tebow didn’t get much help out of the backfield, as Knowshon Moreno was forced to leave in the first quarter with a rib injury after rushing for five yards on four carries.
Moreno, whose status for Sunday is unknown, had been averaging 136.4 yards in his previous five games before getting hurt.
Studesville is confident in his rookie quarterback’s ability to handle the offense. Tebow could have an easier time against the Texans, whose pass defense allows a league-worst 275.1 yards per game.
“We’re finding more and more out about what he does,” Studesville said. “That game gave us a lot of information. And a lot of things that we can work with and go from and a lot of things that we can build on.”
The Broncos haven’t lost six in a row since Nov. 4-Dec. 9, 1990.
The Texans (5-9) were officially eliminated from postseason contention with their seventh loss in eight games, 31-17 at Tennessee last Sunday.
Home for the playoffs is not where star receiver Andre Johnson expected to be after a 4-2 start.
“You have expectations and you don’t reach them so it’s frustrating,” he said. “Especially when you know you have a team that’s very talented. We just haven’t been able to do what we need to do to get to where we want to be.”
Despite dealing with a sprained ankle for much of the season, Johnson ranks third in the NFL with 86 catches. His status against Denver remains uncertain.
Houston’s offense ranks fifth in the league with 377.7 yards per game and sixth with 29 red-zone touchdowns, but the defense is surrendering 27.6 points per game – 30th in the league.
Arian Foster, the league leader with 1,345 rushing yards and 15 total touchdowns, was held to a season-low 15 yards against the Titans. A bounce-back performance seems likely against a Denver defense that has given up 186.0 yards on the ground and eight TDs in the past five games.
Matt Schaub is averaging 351.6 passing yards in his last three games and is 193 yards away from posting back-to-back 4,000-yard seasons.
Houston fell 31-13 in Denver on Nov. 7, 2004, before defeating the Broncos 31-13 at home on Dec. 13, 2007, with Johnson catching six passes for 86 yards and a touchdown.
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