OAKLAND — Johnnie Lee Higgins' 80-yard punt return for a touchdown in
the third quarter Sunday marked a team-record third time he has pulled
off the feat this season for the Raiders.
Higgins' other scoring returns came against the Miami Dolphins and
Denver Broncos in back-to-back games in November.
Higgins sprinted into the Raiders record book by taking a Matt Turk punt
at the Oakland 20-yard line, bolting through a mass of blockers and
would-be tacklers and into the open despite four Houston Texans getting
a hand on him.
"When I caught it, I just ran, and then everybody else just started
pushing people out of the way," Higgins said. "I'll just catch and run.
Everybody else, they're just moving people out of my way. They always
tell me, you just got to beat the kicker, and the kicker almost got me."
Higgins broke a tie held by him and four other Raiders. Phillip Buchanon
was the last to accomplish the feat, in 2003.
He is the 13th player in NFL history with three punt returns for
touchdown in a season. Chicago's Devin Hester, Denver's Ricky Upchurch
and Detroit's Jack Christiansen share the all-time record with four.
Schilens shines
Raiders rookie wide receiver Chaz Schilens recorded his first NFL
touchdown in the first quarter. His 20-yard reception gave the Raiders a
7-0 lead.
It also was significant for several other reasons.
It marked Oakland's first game-opening touchdown drive in 19 games,
dating to the 12th game of the 2007 season. It also doubled the number
of such drives that the Raiders notched the previous 55 games.
Finally, the Raiders scored a first-half offensive touchdown for the
second straight game but only the third time in 15 games. They improved
to 3-for-88 this season.
For good measure, the Raiders began the second half with a drive that
culminated with a touchdown pass from JaMarcus Russell to Higgins.
Johnson search party
The Raiders held Texans receiver Andre Johnson without a reception in
the first half and only two for 19 yards overall.
That's a major accomplishment, given Johnson led the league in
receptions (103) and receiving yards (1,408) through 14 games.
Raiders Pro Bowl cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha covered Johnson at times.
But much of the credit goes to cornerback Chris Johnson for locking down
on Andre Johnson more times than not.
Texans quarterback Matt Schaub attempted only one pass Andre Johnson's
way in the first half. Chris Johnson was called for a 9-yard pass
interference penalty.
Asomugha had no passes thrown his way Sunday. He enters the final game
of the season with eight passes completed against him for 133 yards and
no touchdowns.
Mario vs. Mario
Raiders left offensive tackle Mario Henderson made his second straight
start — and only the fourth of his two-year NFL career — in place of
benched regular Kwame Harris. He couldn't have drawn a much tougher
assignment.
Henderson on most plays lined up across from Texans defensive end Mario
Williams. All Henderson did was hold Williams without a sack and prevent
him from even laying a hand on Russell. Williams, a former No. 1 overall
draft pick, entered the game with 11 of Houston's 22 sacks.
"He went through a lot being a young guy, having a lot expected from him
being drafted (in the third round)," fellow offensive tackle Cornell
Green said of Henderson. "He just took everything in and kept working.
That's a positive to see, a guy that can take negativity and still go
out there and play. That's real big."
Extra points
Raiders coach Tom Cable let the clock run as the Texans lined up for a
field goal inside the final minute of the first half. That decision
haunted Cable, as time expired before the Raiders could use their third
timeout with the ball at the Texans' 23-yard line. "... Raiders
defensive end Jay Richardson recorded the first sack of the game, early
in the third quarter. It upped his season total to three. Fellow
defensive end Derrick Burgess added a sack on the next Texans
possession. Burgess ended the game with another sack. "... Houston's
first penalty came with 10:07 to play. The personal foul infraction
turned a third-and-goal from the Raiders 7 into a third-and-22. The
Texans settled for a field goal. "... Asomugha left the game with a sore
neck with about nine minutes left. He was taken to the locker room for
treatment.
