No Doubt: Texans' Davis Is A Kick Returner

HOUSTON - Earlier this season, Houston Texans coach Gary Kubiak wasn't sure if Andre Davis could be a kick returner in the NFL.

Davis made a believer out of everyone Sunday.

Davis returned two kickoffs for touchdowns to lead the Texans to a 42-28 win against the Jacksonville Jaguars (11-5), who rested many starters with their playoff spot secure.

Jacksonville will play at Pittsburgh on Saturday night.

"I had a conversation about him, and the conversation was, 'Do we think he's a kick returner?'" Kubiak said. "I can't remember how our conversation ended, but there's no doubt that he's a kick returner."

The victory gave the Texans (8-8) a .500 finish for the first time in their six-year history, and their 42 points were a team record.

"It's kind of bad that it feels this good, but I'll take it," said offensive lineman Chester Pitts, who has started every game in team history. "It's been a long road. I've been through a lot with this team and ... I appreciate every part of it."

Ron Dayne added two touchdowns and 88 yards rushing for Houston in his return after missing two starts with a sore ankle. He set a career-high with 773 yards this season.

"It just felt good to be able to get the win and not be losers anymore," Dayne said.

Davis' two returns came on consecutive kickoffs. He became the first player in the NFL this season to return two for scores in a game and the seventh player in league history to achieve the feat.

He also had a fumble recovery that led to a TD. He is an unrestricted free agent.

"I was a little bit worried about where I stood on the team," he said. "I realized that this game is about getting opportunities and making the most of them."

His first return, a 97-yarder, came 15 seconds before halftime and put Houston ahead 21-14. He evaded the first wave of defenders before cutting to the outside, where he tightroped the sideline the rest of the way for the score.

"I think I have that type of sneaky speed where a lot of guys don't think I'm going to run that fast until I get by them," said Davis, a college track standout.

He turned in the longest play in Texans history on the second one. Davis dashed 104 yards on the opening kickoff of the second half to make it 28-14. This time, he got a block from Charlie Anderson and then zigzagged down the middle of the field before breaking away from the pack and racing to the end zone.

The Jaguars started Quinn Gray, who threw four TD passes, in place of David Garrard. Six other starters, including running back Fred Taylor and defensive end Paul Spicer, were inactive.

"Bottom line is our approach today was to be smart," Coach Jack Del Rio said. "We earned that right. We earned the ability to be able to do that. We hope to be as fresh as possible going forward next week."

Davis is the first player to have two kickoff returns for touchdowns in a game since Chicago's Devin Hester did it Dec. 11, 2006, against St. Louis. Davis now has three kickoff returns for touchdowns this season and four in his career.

Fullback Vonta Leach met him on the Houston sideline after the second one and waved a towel as if he was fanning a flame. Davis walked by, smiling.

Gray was 25 of 39 for 302 yards, while Matt Jones had eight receptions for 138 yards.

"It's not really satisfying," Gray said. "Stats are good for the books and the records, but when it comes to this team we always want to win."

Ernest Wilford's 6-yard TD catch less than 30 seconds before halftime briefly tied the game at 14 before Davis had his first score.

The Texans had gone ahead 14-7 with about 3 1/2 minutes left in the half on a short fourth-down pass from Sage Rosenfels to Owen Daniels.

Jacksonville7777-28Houston021147-42 First Quarter

Jac-R.Williams 22 pass from Gray (Scobee kick), 7:12.

Second Quarter

Hou-Dayne 2 run (K.Brown kick), 14:57.

Hou-Daniels 2 pass from Rosenfels (K.Brown kick), 3:21.

Jac-Wilford 6 pass from Gray (Scobee kick), :29.

Hou-A.Davis 97 kickoff return (K.Brown kick), :15.

Third Quarter

Hou-A.Davis 104 kickoff return (K.Brown kick), 14:47.

Hou-Dayne 12 run (K.Brown kick), 7:19.

Jac-M.Jones 5 pass from Gray (Scobee kick), 1:53.

Fourth Quarter

Hou-Walker 1 run (K.Brown kick), 13:07.

Jac-Wilford 17 pass from Gray (Scobee kick), 2:56.

A-70,660.

JacHouFirst downs2419Total Net Yards381290Rushes-yards23-9634-170Passing285120Punt Returns1-04-50Kickoff Returns6-1065-234Interceptions Ret.1-70-0Comp-Att-Int25-39-011-18-1Sacked-Yards Lost2-171-8Punts4-49.82-36.5Fumbles-Lost1-10-0Penalties-Yards8-453-20Time of Possession31:4728:13 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING-Jacksonville, G.Jones 14-71, Toefield 7-15, R.Williams 1-8, Gray 1-2. Houston, Dayne 21-88, Walker 10-86, Rosenfels 3-(minus 4).

PASSING-Jacksonville, Gray 25-39-0-302. Houston, Rosenfels 11-18-1-128.

RECEIVING-Jacksonville, M.Jones 8-138, Wilford 6-58, R.Williams 3-37, Angulo 3-33, G.Jones 3-27, Smolko 1-5, Toefield 1-4. Houston, A.Johnson 6-74, Leach 2-18, A.Davis 1-20, J.Jones 1-14, Daniels 1-2.

MISSED FIELD GOALS-None.