Schaub And Texans End Bengals' Last-Minute Magic

CINCINNATI -- Matt Schaub and a formidable defense made the Cincinnati Bengals' late-game magic go poof.

Schaub threw four more touchdown passes, extending his early season tear, and the Texans' defense pitched another second-half shutout Sunday, setting up a 28-17 victory that was soothing all-around.

"I'm excited for all these guys," Houston coach Gary Kubiak said. "I told them before I walked out of the team meeting last night, 'You guys have played so hard and you deserve to feel better on Sunday afternoon."'

There were cheers and laughter in the locker room after the Texans (3-3) did everything they hoped to do against one of the NFL's most surprising teams. The Bengals (4-2) had won games by living on the edge, keeping it close until the closing minutes and then pulling it out with an improbable scoring drive.

That can go on for only so long.

"We've been saying the same things week-in and week-out," receiver Chad Ochocinco said. "The way we've been winning the past four weeks is not going to work the entire season."

It didn't get them anywhere against Houston, which knew what it had to do.

The Texans have been unhappy with their slow starts on offense. They got going on Schaub's first pass - a quick screen to Andre Johnson that the receiver took 59 yards against a defense already struggling to keep up.

It was the start of Schaub's second straight impressive game - four touchdown passes, matching his career high, and 392 yards, the second-highest total of his career. In his last two games, Schaub has gone 63 of 90 for 763 yards with six touchdowns and a passer rating of 108.7.

Remarkably, he's done it behind an offensive line missing both starting guards, out for the season with injuries.

"We are making plays downfield," Schaub said. "I can't talk enough about our offensive line and how it allows me to step up and have time. There are two young offensive guards in there."

The Bengals suffered a major setback when defensive end Antwan Odom, who came in tied for the NFL sacks lead, injured his right Achilles' tendon in the first quarter. Coach Marvin Lewis said the injury is "probably pretty severe," and Odom was going for tests.

Johnson finished with 135 yards on eight catches, and running back Steve Slaton had a career-high 102 yards on six catches. It was the first time since 2005 that a pair of Texans topped 100 yards receiving.

"He was efficient," Bengals safety Chris Crocker said of Schaub, "but they had guys running wide open. And when they were open, he found them."

Cincinnati's offense gave a familiar performance. The Bengals scored 10 points in the final 48 seconds of the first half for a 17-14 lead, reminding everyone of their knack for last-minute brilliance. They've scored 54 of their 118 points in the last two minutes of halves or overtime.

For the first time, they couldn't conjure a second-half comeback. The Texans' defense limited the Bengals to only six yards in the third quarter - the best such feat in franchise history. Running back Cedric Benson, the NFL's leading rusher, managed only 44 yards on 16 carries overall.

For the third game in a row, Houston's defense didn't allow a point in the second half.

When linebacker Brian Cushing picked off Carson Palmer's pass with 1:49 left, Cincinnati's amazing run was done. The Bengals had won each of their last four games in the final 22 seconds. The last moments of this one were spent watching Schaub twice take a knee.

"It's a tough game to lose and a tough pill to swallow, especially after the way we felt the last few weeks," Palmer said.