Jets players and plays of the game in the 24-17 loss to the Texans at NRG Stadium on Sunday afternoon:
Players of the Game
RB Bilal Powell — Powell had been sidelined for four games with an ankle sprain, but he was pressed into duty immediately and effectively to move the ball against the hard-charging Texans front seven. On his 41 offensive plays, Powell ran for 22 yards on four carries, had a career-high 67 receiving yards on five receptions — including a 25-yard catch-and-run to start the drive that ended with Ryan Fitzpatrick's keeper TD — and led the Green & White with 89 yards of offense.
WR Eric Decker — Not a touchdown game but an otherwise solid, "Deck"-like outing. Decker had four receptions for 81 yards, all in the second half and all for first downs. And on the drive to the Jets' first touchdown to tie it at 10-10 in the third quarter, Decker picked up 44 more yards for the offense on a Ryan Fitzpatrick long ball during which S Quintin Demps ran into No. 87 for pass interference. It was the longest opponent penalty against the Jets in five years.
NT Damon Harrison — "Snacks" was a rock in the middle of the Jets' run defense, which yielded little of Houston's 123 rushing yards. Harrison had an unofficial total of 12 tackles, which was the game high and a career high as well. Two were solo tackles for no gain against RB Alfred Blue. The Texans averaged a meager 1.8 yards on the running plays in which Harrison was involved in the tackle.
Players of the Game
Calvin Pryor defense of T.J. Yates pass for J.J. Watt, 0:00 to play, first quarter — The Texans were looking to power into the lead with Watt, who had three TD receptions last year and was looking for his fourth. He lined up as the left TE, then went in motion left and at the snap angled into the end zone and trying to bring in Yates' fade throw. But Pryor, back after missing 3½ games with an ankle injury, was all over it despite giving up 7 inches to the 6'6" Watt, leaping perfectly and thrusting his left hand between No. 99's outstretched arms to prevent the catch.
Marcus Williams strip-sacks T.J. Yates, 10:20 to play, second quarter — After holding the ball eight minutes on their field goal drive to a 3-0 lead, the Texans were moving again into Jets territory. But Williams put an end to that on third-and-9 from the 44. The Jets sent six on the blitz, with Williams delaying nicely, then shooting the rapids between LBs David Harris and Demario Davis to take Yates down from behind, separate him from the ball, then falling on the ball when it was kicked back to him.
Brandon Marshall 21-yard TD reception from Ryan Fitzpatrick, 11:23 to play, third quarter — It was another slow start against grabby double teams for Marshall, but he rose above it to get the Jets back in the game at 10-10 with his seventh touchdown grab of the season. The Texans sent six and Marshall was singled by CB Kevin Johnson. He sold the slant route to the rookie, then took off for the goal line, jumped for Fitzpatrick's throw, and turned away with the ball secured as Johnson finally caught up to him too late in the end zone.
