Arian Foster stars as Texans beat Jets, keep clean slate

East Rutherford, NJ, United States (4E Sports) – Running back Arian Foster tallied a season-high 152 yards on 29 carries and a touchdown as the Houston Texans maintained their immaculate record with a 23-17 triumph over the skidding New York Jets Monday at MetLife Stadium.

The victory boosted Houston to a 5-0 record for the first time in team history while the injury-depleted Jets (2-3) tasted a second consecutive loss.

Houston’s victory came at a high price, though, when it lost inside linebacker Brian Cushing to a left knee injury in the second quarter.

NFL.com later reported a tweet from Houston Chronicle’s John McClain that Cushing “appears done for the season with a torn ACL”.

Matt Schaub completed 14 of 28 passes for 209 yards and his 37-yard touchdown pass to tight end Owen Daniels handed the Texans a 7-0 advantage in the first period.

Jets playmaker Mark Sanchez retaliated with a four-play, 47-yard drive that ended with a 27-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jeff Cumberland, knotting the count at seven apiece.

Foster’s 13-yard touchdown run in the second quarter after a five-play, 65-yard drive orchestrated by Schaub gave Houston the lead for good. A 27-yard field goal by Shayne Graham extended the Texans’ lead to 17-7 at the half.

After Graham booted in a 27-yard field goal to open the third, Joe McKnight scored on a 100-yard punt return to bring the Jets to within 20-14. Graham answered with a 22-yard field goal for a 23-14 advantage.

The Texans were held scoreless in the fourth period but the Jets failed to capitalize, producing just a field goal by Nick Polk.

Sanchez, who finished 14-for-31 for 230 yards, tried to spark a game-tying drive but cornerback Kareem Jackson quashed it with an interception near midfield at the two-minute warning.

“That’s a good football team that we played,” Jets head coach Rex Ryan said. “The thing that’s upsetting is the fact that we helped them. Clearly, that’s a good team that doesn’t need any help. We’re kicking ourselves.”

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