National Football League

Texans-Redskins Preview

Published Sep. 15, 2010 9:59 p.m. ET

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Arian Foster put on quite a show last week. As a result, he'll be looking to add to his NFL-leading rushing total Sunday.

Foster and the Texans take on the Washington Redskins with Houston looking to go 2-0 for the second time in team history.

Foster rushed for a franchise-record 231 yards and three touchdowns as Houston defeated Indianapolis 34-24 last week. It was the Texans' second win in 17 games against the Colts.

"We heard all offseason that our running game wasn't efficient," said Foster, an undrafted free agent. "You can either let it get to you, or let it get in you, and I feel like we let it get in us, and we used it."

Foster's performance allowed four-time Pro Bowl receiver Andre Johnson and quarterback Matt Schaub to have quiet days. Johnson had three receptions for 33 yards, while Schaub went 9 of 17 for 107 yards and a touchdown.

Schaub had no problem taking a back seat to the running game.

"I'll take it every single week if that's the outcome," he said.

Tight end Owen Daniels returned after missing the Texans' last eight games of 2009 with a torn ACL. He caught one pass for nine yards.

"He played 40 plays-plus. That's probably a little more than we wanted him to play, but he felt good; he kept going," coach Gary Kubiak told the Texans' official website. "... His knee felt good. I think he's only going to get better each week."

The Texans were 2-0 in 2007, when they went on to finish 8-8.

Washington is also looking for a 2-0 start after defeating Dallas 13-7 last Sunday with the help of a negated touchdown on the last play. Tony Romo's 13-yard pass to Roy Williams in the end zone was disallowed because tackle Alex Barron was whistled for holding linebacker Brian Orakpo, giving Washington a victorious start in its new era with quarterback McNabb and coach Mike Shanahan.

Now Shanahan would prefer some more scoring. Washington won last week without an offensive touchdown, with cornerback DeAngelo Hall's return of a fumble recovery being the Redskins' only TD.

"Hopefully, 'Shanahan football' will be scoring a few more points," the coach said.

McNabb looked rusty at times, completing 15 of 32 passes for 171 yards. His 46.9 completion percentage was his lowest with at least 30 passing attempts since Sept. 9, 2007.

"There's a new offensive scheme, new personnel, new coaching staff and just different concepts," McNabb told the Redskins' official website. "That was a change for me. I had to really focus, sit down and really put my nose to the playbook and make sure I knew what I was doing."

McNabb came into the game listed as questionable after missing the last two weeks of the preseason with an ankle injury but made it through without issue.

"I think as time goes on with our system, he will be more comfortable with the system, more comfortable with the terminology," Shanahan said. It just comes with playing the position.

"Obviously, he's got a lot of game experience, but there is nothing like calling the plays and executing a different offense in the heat of battle. And in the first game I thought he did a good job."

After butting heads with Shanahan in the preseason, defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth was not in the starting lineup and didn't have much of an impact, participating in about 16 plays while recording one tackle.

"The situation is what it is,'' he said. "I was on nickel package. I did my job out there."

Haynesworth suffered another setback Wednesday when he was limited in practice with an ankle injury. His status for Sunday is unclear.

Washington has won both meetings with Houston, taking the most recent meeting 31-15 at Reliant Stadium in 2006.

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