Patriots crush Texans

Football Betting Lines

12/17/2006 - Foxborough, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kevin Faulk scored a pair of touchdowns and New England scored 16 points off four David Carr interceptions, as the Patriots crushed the Houston Texans, 40-7, at Gillette Stadium.

Tom Brady completed 16-of-23 passes for 109 yards and two touchdowns while Corey Dillon gained 61 yards on 20 carries for the Patriots (10-4), who have won four of their last five games.

Stephen Gostkowski booted four field goals and Asante Samuel picked off his eighth pass of the season for New England, which will have to wait to clinch the division since the New York Jets defeated Minnesota 26-13. Ellis Hobbs returned a kick for a TD and picked off a pass in the contest.

Carr was truly abysmal, going 16-of-28 for 127 yards and no touchdowns and Ron Dayne ran the ball 18 times for 94 yards and a TD for the Texans (4-10), who have lost two in a row and four of their last five games.

After Houston's failed fake punt on 4th-and-1 at its own 42, the Patriots countered with a seven-play drive, resulting in a Faulk 11-yard TD scamper for a 7-0 margin.

On the Texans next offensive play, Richard Seymour tipped Carr's pass and came down with the interception at the Houston 24. However, the Patriots couldn't move the ball and had to settle for a 36-yard Gostkowski field goal, extending the lead to 10-0.

The Texans eventually made it to the Pats 49, which was the only time in the first half they passed midfield, but on the next play, Tedy Bruschi tipped a pass that James Sanders intercepted and he returned it 21 yards to the Houston 44. The possession was capped by a 43-yard screen pass to Faulk, who went untouched into the end zone for a 17-0 advantage.

Troy Brown's fair catch of Chad Stanley's punt put the Pats at the Houston 46, but Bryan Pittman's 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty moved the ball to the 31. Gostkowski ended the possession with a 32-yarder.

The rout was on as New England made its third first-half trip to the end zone. The Pats used seven-plays, covering 67 yards, as Jabar Gaffney hauled in a six-yard touchdown pass with 1:11 to play in the second quarter for a 27-0 drubbing. The score was made possible on Dunta Robinson's 36-yard pass interference penalty, putting the ball at the Houston 12.

Houston finally got on the board with its opening drive of the third quarter. Dayne spearheaded the drive, gaining 37 yards on six carries and one catch, the last of which was a one-yard touchdown run.

However, Hobbs returned the ensuing kickoff 93 yards for the touchdown and a 34-7 score.

After Carr threw his third pick of the day, this time to Hobbs, the Pats got the ball at the Houston 29, and Gostkowski finished the drive with a 31-yard field goal.

Less than 1 1/2 minutes later, Samuel intercepted Carr and returned it 33 yards to the Texans five-yard line. Gostkowski then booted a 21-yarder for a 40-7 pasting.

Game Notes

Brady is 12-1 in December at home...New England is 21-6 in final month of the season in the Bill Belichick era, including 14 wins in its last 16 contests...New England broke the 40-point plateau for the first time since December 5, 2004, when it beat Cleveland 42-15...The Texans made their first visit to Foxborough...The Pats have shut out their opponents four times in the first half and have seven halves of this season when they have not allowed any points...New England linebacker Tully Banta-Cain had two sacks...The Patriots are 4-1 when wearing their silver jerseys...Houston had 198 total yards of offense and was just 3-of-11 on third-down conversions...The last Patriot with eight interceptions in one season was Ronnie Lippett.