National Football League

Williams becomes "Prime Time" in night games

Published Nov. 17, 2009 11:30 p.m. ET

foxsports

Mario Williams has already earned the nickname "Super Mario" among Houston Texans fans. If he continues the dominance he's shown in his first two night games against the Titans this Monday, a more apt moniker might the one Deion Sanders favored in his 14-year NFL career. Just call Williams "Prime Time." The top overall draft pick in 2006 has had the two best games of his four-year career in prime time, combining for 6 1/2 sacks and a forced fumble in two wins. The Texans are hoping he's due for another big game against the streaking Titans. The defensive end has just four sacks in Houston's first nine games while struggling with a sore shoulder. "I'm glad we have a prime time game coming up," cornerback Dunta Robinson said. "Maybe after this game, he'll have 9 1/2 sacks." Williams insists he doesn't get any more excited to play on national television. "Every game is going to be different," he said. "Hopefully we can go out and do the same thing as a team and get a victory." Coach Gary Kubiak said Williams always plays hard, but it's impossible not to notice another level of intensity in him during night games. His first night game came in December 2007 when Houston beat the Broncos 31-13 on a Thursday. Williams had a career-high 3 1/2 sacks and thrilled the crowd by striking a Superman-like pose after his second sack and sashaying like a hula dancer in a nod to his desire to go to Hawaii for the Pro Bowl after the third one. It was the nation's first look at the player Houston drafted after passing on Reggie Bush and Vince Young. That game helped erase some of the negativity that began on draft day and dogged him throughout a rookie season where he finished with 4 1/2 sacks. In Houston's first Monday night game last year, a 30-17 win over the Jaguars, Williams' three sacks were the most he'd had since the Denver game and he also forced a fumble. Kubiak didn't realize just how good Williams has been in night games and seemed surprised when told of his numbers. "Really? I'm all for it," Kubiak said. "Hopefully he likes prime time games and hopefully this will be a big one." Kubiak also said he thinks Houston's bye week helped Williams' sore shoulder heal. "I know his sack numbers aren't big, but he's been getting some pressure on the quarterback," Kubiak said. "Obviously we need him playing at a high level for us to move forward." Even if he won't admit getting more amped up for night games, Williams did acknowledge the significance of Monday's game. "At this point, every game is going to be very important obviously," Williams said. "It's November, it's time to try to get that last stretch so we've got to go out and play hard." The game is the first of three straight against AFC South opponents for a Houston team looking for the first playoff berth in franchise history. The Texans beat Tennessee 34-31 in Week 2, but were unable to contain Chris Johnson. The speedy back finished with 197 yards rushing, 87 yards receiving and three touchdowns of longer than 50 yards. Tennessee has now won three straight after an 0-6 start and Johnson leads the NFL in yards rushing with 1,091. Williams knows the key to success against the Titans is making sure Johnson doesn't have another game like he had in his first meeting with the Texans. "You contain him the first two or three plays and then all of a sudden he busts out the big one," Williams said. "The thing we have to minimize is the big plays."