Texans’ Rally Is All for Naught

The crowd was rocking, David Carr and Andre Johnson couldn’t miss and the Houston Texans had just forced the game into overtime by rallying from a 21-point deficit.

Then Daunte Culpepper fired a perfect spiral to a streaking Marcus Robinson, and just like that the comeback was over and the Minnesota Vikings had escaped with a 34-28 win.

Culpepper’s fifth touchdown pass, a 50-yarder to Robinson on the Vikings’ second possession in overtime, allowed Minnesota to win after Carr and Johnson had led the Texans on an electrifying second-half rally.

“We had to fight 60 minutes plus,” said Culpepper, who passed for 396 yards. “It’s a great win.”

It was nearly a disaster for Minnesota (3-1).

The Vikings led, 21-0, in the third quarter and by 28-14 in the fourth before the Texans (2-3) recovered and sent it into overtime. Carr’s second touchdown pass to Johnson, a 22-yarder with 1:53 to play, tied it at 28.

But while the Texans proved they’re never out of any game, the Vikings showed them just how to close one out.

Starting at their own 19, the Vikings moved to midfield in three plays. On first down, Culpepper saw Robinson get a step on a defender and hit him perfectly in stride. He dropped it.

Two plays later, Culpepper went right back to him on third and 12. Robinson split the deep coverage and Culpepper delivered another perfect strike.

Robinson hung on this time, racing all by himself the last 15 yards to the end zone.

“I was still upset about the drop,” Robinson said.

Culpepper said it was an easy choice. The Texans had Randy Moss in double coverage, leaving Robinson wide open. Moss had already caught two touchdowns, including a 50-yarder in the fourth quarter.