With star running back Arian Foster out with a hamstring injury (a near game-time decision), the Houston Texans (2-0) and head coach Bill O'Brien were forced to change up their game plan on the fly against the New York Giants (0-2) in East Rutherford, NJ.
Here's what we saw in the first half:
The Arian Foster Effect: It's not quite the Butterfly Effect, but it may be close. Without their star halfback to open up one-on-one coverage for the team's receivers, Texans QB Ryan Fitzpatrick was forced to take a page out of his old Buffalo Bills playbook on Houston's first drive.
That gunslinging mentality that he brought to the table in Northern New York comes with its share of turnovers, however, as evidenced by the deep ball that Prince Amukamara picked off to keep the game scoreless early on.
Neither Offense Gets It Going: The Giants couldn't take advantage of the Fitzpatrick turnover, as they would cough it up themselves on their very next drive. All the way down at the Houston 10, an Eli Manning connection to TE Larry Donnell was subsequently fumbled away at the 4 - killing a major chance for a response and punching the Giants' crowd right in the gut.
Houston wouldn't be able to capitalize, however, as the game remained scoreless heading into the middle of the 2nd quarter.
Eli Manning Strikes Back: Manning has heard all the criticism levied at him, discounting everything from his leadership qualities to his athletic skill set.
As if on cue, the two-time Super Bowl champion (and two-time Super Bowl MVP) went on a late tear in the second quarter, as he finished off an impressive nine-play drive with a 23-yard TD strike to WR Victor Cruz. The Giants were the first on the board, and had the pendulum of momentum swinging in their favor.
Antrel Rolle's Big Moment: With Fitzpatrick on his heels, the Giants' defense had another big play just waiting to happen. It came with under 2 minutes left, when Antrel Rolle picked off an ill-advised 3rd-and-19 throw deep in Texans territory. Two plays later, and RB Rashad Jennings would waltz in from a yard out to give the Giants a 14-0 advantage.
New York Player of the Half: QB Eli Manning (14-of-18, 179 yards, 1 TD)
Houston Player of the Half: RB Alfred Blue (6 carries, 30 yards)
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