Mario Williams, Steve Slaton and the Texans put on quite a show in their “Monday Night Football” debut. Williams had a season-high three sacks and forced a fumble, and Slaton ran for a pair of touchdowns to lead the Texans to a 30-17 win over the slumping Jacksonville Jaguars.
Andre Johnson added a touchdown reception, and Kris Brown kicked three field goals in the win.
The top pick in the 2006 draft, Williams forced a fumble by David Garrard on his last sack, and Houston (5-7) recovered on the 7.
“Our defense played extremely well, gave us tremendous opportunities,” coach Gary Kubiak said.
Slaton scored on the next play to make it 23-3 with about 5 minutes left. The rookie tacked on a 40-yard TD run and finished with 130 yards rushing on 21 carries. He also had two catches for 52 yards.
“To watch him get stronger at the end of the game is impressive,” Kubiak said.
The Texans were clad in their “Battle Red” uniforms for their first Monday night game. The city of Houston hosted a Monday night game for the first time since Nov. 21, 1994, when the Giants beat the Oilers 13-10 at the Astrodome.
Jacksonville (4-8), a playoff team last season, has lost three straight and five of six. The Jaguars had three turnovers and missed a field goal. Garrard fell to the grass twice without being touched.
The Jaguars’ only TDs came in the last 3 minutes. Fred Taylor went in from the 4 to cut it to 23-10, and Reggie Williams scored on an 18-yard catch with 45 seconds left.
Burress posts $100K bail: Taken to court in handcuffs, the Giants’ Plaxico Burress posted $100,000 bail on weapons possession charges Monday as the frenzy grew around the star receiver who accidentally shot himself in a nightclub.
Authorities said linebacker teammate Antonio Pierce was being investigated over his role in the weekend shooting, while the Super Bowl champion Giants weren’t sure what action they would take, if any, against Burress. The NFL said it was monitoring developments. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg also weighed in, saying it would be an outrage “if we didn’t prosecute to the fullest extent of the law.”
Burress was charged with two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, which could result in a prison sentence of 31/2 years to 15 years if he is convicted. He was not required to enter a plea and is due back in court March 31.
Extra points: The Lions put wide receiver Mike Furrey on injured reserve (concussion) and signed receiver Keary Colbert, giving him a chance to play for his third NFL team this season. … Colts coach Tony Dungy says it’s unlikely middle linebacker Gary Brackett (right fibia) will play Sunday against Cincinnati. … Browns quarterback Derek Anderson will miss the final four games after tearing a ligament in his left knee on Sunday. With Brady Quinn also done for the season with a finger injury, the Browns will start third-stringer Ken Dorsey . Return specialist Joshua Cribbs, who played quarterback at Kent State, will serve as Dorsey’s backup.
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Compiled by Ed Cavanaugh from Tribune news services.
