Texans Pick Up Victory No. 2

The Houston Texans found a good way to quiet critics who accused them of tanking games to stay ahead in the race for the No. 1 draft pick.

After three heartbreaking losses in a row, they finally held on to a lead to beat the Arizona Cardinals, 30-19, on Sunday at Houston.

“We know we’re not out there trying to throw games,” Texan receiver Andre Johnson said. “If we were really trying to lose, how did we win this one?”

They won it by jumping to a 24-10 halftime lead with a combined three touchdowns from backup running backs Jonathan Wells and Vernand Morency and by taking advantage of an injury-plagued and mistake-prone Arizona (4-10) team.

And by winning, the Texans may have jeopardized their chances of landing Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush in the draft if he leaves USC.

“Reggie Bush is a tremendous athlete, and I don’t know if it’s correct for me to say this or not, but I don’t want him,” Texan safety Jason Simmons said. “If we get him, it means we’re the worst team in the league.”

Some fans didn’t share his feelings. Late in the fourth quarter, a sad-looking young man held up a homemade sign reading “Bye Bye Bush.”

Houston (2-12) is tied with San Francisco for the worst record in the NFL. The Texans face the 49ers in the season finale New Year’s Day.

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Cleveland 9, Oakland 7 -- Phil Dawson’s last-second kick and a replay reversal at Oakland were enough to give rookie Charlie Frye his first NFL win.

Dawson kicked a 37-yard field goal two plays after Reuben Droughns’ apparent fumble was overturned by replay.

Frye, a third-round pick from Akron, calmly engineered the last-minute drive that helped Cleveland (5-9) end a three-game skid.

After Droughns lost the ball at the Oakland 19 with less than a minute left, it appeared that the Raiders (4-10) would escape with the win. But after a long replay review, referee Mike Carey ruled that Droughns was down before the ball came loose, giving the Browns another chance.

Coach Romeo Crennel played it safe, having Frye take a knee to let the clock run down. Dawson then kicked his third field goal of the game to win it.

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Jacksonville 10, San Francisco 9 -- David Garrard ran for a touchdown and Josh Scobee kicked the winning field goal at Jacksonville, Fla.

The Jaguars (10-4) won for the sixth time in seven games -- all of the victories coming against teams with losing records -- and can return to the postseason for the first time since 1999 with a victory against Houston or Tennessee to end the season.

San Francisco (2-12), which has lost 12 of 13 since beating St. Louis in its opener, led 9-7 after Joe Nedney’s 33-yard field goal on the second play of the fourth quarter. But Nedney’s ensuing kickoff went out of bounds and gave the Jaguars good field position.

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Philadelphia 17, St. Louis 16 -- On a rare day when neither quarterback threw for 100 yards, Mike McMahon did the bare minimum to win.

The Eagles’ backup had three passes intercepted but also tossed the game-winning touchdown pass to long snapper Mike Bartrum on the first play of the fourth quarter in a lackluster victory at St. Louis.

The most electrifying play came early, a 59-yard touchdown sprint by Ryan Moats, who squirted through a pileup at the line and broke three tackles for the Eagles’ (6-8) first score.

McMahon, starting for injured Donovan McNabb, was 15 for 28 for 97 yards.

That was enough to trump Ram rookie Ryan Fitzpatrick, who was 10 for 24 for 69 yards. The Rams are 5-9.

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Miami 24, New York Jets 20 -- Replacing an injured Gus Frerotte to start the second half, Sage Rosenfels threw a 50-yard completion for the go-ahead touchdown at Miami, and the Dolphins earned their fourth win in a row.

Despite the victory, Miami (7-7) was eliminated from the AFC playoff race.

The injury-plagued Jets (3-11), playing their final away game, finished 0-8 on the road for the first time.