The Texans look like the new bullies in the AFC — at least for now.
Matt Schaub threw two touchdown passes, Arian Foster ran for two scores and the host Texans dominated a showdown of the conference’s top two teams, routing the Ravens 43-13 yesterday.
Johnathan Joseph returned an interception 52 yards for a touchdown and the Texans (6-1) finally beat Baltimore, who’d won all six previous meetings and eliminated them from last year’s playoffs.
Houston heads into its bye week with a much better outlook after getting embarrassed by Aaron Rodgers and Green Bay last week. Schaub completed 23 of 37 passes for 256 yards and the Texans set a franchise record for points in a game and finished with 420 yards.
“We were really into what we were doing,” Texans coach Gary Kubiak said, “and we were there all day long, so it was a good team effort.”
The Ravens (5-2), meanwhile, missed star linebacker Ray Lewis, who was placed on injured reserve this week with a torn triceps.
Baltimore gave up its most points since a 44-20 loss to Indianapolis in 2007.
Baltimore’s offense didn’t look any better.
Joe Flacco was off-target and under pressure most of the game, Ray Rice was held to 42 yards rushing and no Baltimore receiver had a reception longer than 15 yards.
“They played well. We didn’t,” Flacco said. “They played fast and we just weren’t able to stand up to it today and give it a good fight.”
Titans 35, Bills 34
In Orchard Park, Matt Hasselbeck hit Nate Washington for a 15-yard touchdown pass on fourth down with 1:03 left in a wild win over the Bills.
In a game dominated by offense, it was the Titans defense that set up the decisive drive with cornerback Jason McCourty intercepting Ryan Fitzpatrick’s pass at midfield with under 3 minutes left.
The Titans (3-4) have won two straight with Hasselbeck replacing injured starter Jake Locker and won their first road game after three consecutive losses.
The Bills (3-4) have lost three of their past four while stumbling into their bye week.
Steelers 24, Bengals 17
In Cincinnati, Ben Roethlisberger threw a touchdown pass, and the Steelers overcame their injury-depleted running game to beat the Bengals.
Shaun Suisham kicked field goals of 42, 47 and 42 yards, and the Steelers clamped down on Cincinnati’s Dalton-to-Green connection, holding it to one completion.
The Steelers (3-3) won on the road for the first time this season and improved to 12-2 at Paul Brown Stadium. The Bengals (3-4) fell to 0-6 the last two seasons against Baltimore and Pittsburgh.
Raiders 26, Jaguars 23 (OT)
In Oakland, Calif., Sebastian Janikowski kicked a 40-yard field goal after Cecil Shorts fumbled on the opening possession of overtime and the Raiders rallied from 14 points down in the second half to beat the Jaguars.
Carson Palmer threw one TD pass and ran for another to force overtime for the Raiders (2-4) before they won it after Lammar Houston forced a fumble that Joselio Hanson recovered at the Jacksonville 21. The Jaguars fell to 1-5.