Texans Top Lions 34-31 In OT After Coach's Mistake
LARRY LAGE,AP Sports Writer
DETROIT (AP) — The Houston Texans took advantage of a big mistake by Detroit Lions coach Jim Schwartz.
Shayne Graham's 32-yard field goal with 2:21 left overtime lifted Houston to a 34-31 win over Detroit on Thursday after Schwartz broke an NFL rule on a scoring play.
Detroit kicker Jason Hanson had a chance to get Schwartz off the hook, but his 47-yard field goal attempt on the fifth possession of the extra period hit the right upright.
Schwartz threw a challenge flag when Houston's Justin Forsett scored on an 81-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. Replays showed Forsett was down near midfield, but Schwartz negated the automatic review by challenging the play and was called for unsportsmanlike conduct.
"It's on me," Schwartz said to his assistant coaches and players on the sideline as he tapped his chest. "It's on me."
Yes, it was.
That touchdown pulled Houston within three points counted and Schwartz was called for unsportsmanlike conduct.
AFC South-leading Houston (10-1) took its first lead when Graham made up for missing a field goal earlier in a turnover-filled OT. The Texans have won five straight — two in a row in OT — and if a handful of teams lose they might be in the playoffs by the time they get back on the practice field after a long weekend.
Detroit (4-7) has lost three straight to make it extremely difficult to reach its goal of earning a spot in consecutive postseasons for the first time since the mid-1990s.
And as if the Lions don't have enough problems, defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh could be in trouble with the league again after his left cleat connected with Matt Schaub's groin area in the first quarter. It wasn't clear on replays Thursday whether it was intentional, but it might be tough for Suh to get the benefit of doubt.
Suh was on his chest, taken down by an offensive lineman, when he extended his left foot below Schaub's belt.
Last year on Thanksgiving, Suh was ejected for stomping on the right arm of Green Bay offensive lineman Evan Dietrich-Smith and was suspended for two games. He has been fined in previous seasons for roughing up quarterbacks: Cincinnati's Andy Dalton, Chicago's Jay Cutler and Cleveland's Jake Delhomme.
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