Texans top Patriots, keep slim playoff hopes alive

HOUSTON — The Houston Texans did their part. Now they wait.

Rookie Arian Foster scored two touchdowns and Bernard Pollard recovered a fumble for a touchdown and had a key interception as the Texans rallied to beat the New England Patriots 34-27 on Sunday.

The victory gives Houston (9-7) its first winning record and keeps its playoff hopes alive. After Denver’s loss to the Chiefs, the Texans need the Bengals to beat the Jets on Sunday night to secure the remaining AFC wild-card spot.

It would be their first postseason appearance in the eight-year history of the franchise.

“We’re winners,” cornerback Dunta Robinson said. “We’re not right at .500. We’re over .500. It’s a great thing. I can say that I was a part of the first winning season for the Houston Texans. We’re a part of something special.”

The Texans trailed by 14 points in the fourth quarter before ending the game with three unanswered touchdowns. Foster scored the go-ahead TD on a 3-yard run with about two minutes remaining.

“We weren’t going to be denied,” coach Gary Kubiak said. “I’m really proud of our football team.”

That score was set up by Pollard’s interception and 15-yard return four plays earlier. Tom Brady was hit by Mario Williams as he released the ball.

Pollard, who delivered the hit that ended Brady’s season in 2008, has become a leader on Houston’s defense after signing in September following his release from the Chiefs.

“A lot of people don’t get second chances and I’m taking full advantage of mine,” Pollard said.

Brady played most of the game despite New England (10-6) having already clinched its playoff spot. He was replaced by rookie Brian Hoyer in the second quarter and on the Patriots’ last drive.

“We didn’t really have anything set,” coach Bill Belichick said. “We just went out and played. We let him play a couple of times, maybe those are good situations that are going to come up for him. We played the game like we thought we needed to play it.”

Five starters, including leading rusher Laurence Maroney, were inactive for the AFC East champion Patriots, but Randy Moss and Wes Welker started with Brady.

Belichick’s decision to play many of his starters will likely be second-guessed after leading receiver Welker was carted off the field with a left knee injury in the first quarter.

Welker’s left leg buckled as he turned to go upfield after a 12-yard reception on New England’s first possession. He remained on the turf for a couple of minutes before hobbling to the sideline with help from Patriots officials and was soon taken to the locker room on a cart.

Belichick did not have an update on Welker’s status after the game and Brady was not made available to reporters.

The Texans defense held on New England’s last possession with Hoyer at quarterback.

Hoyer said he wasn’t surprised when he was sent in with the game on the line.

“That’s the situation you want to be in, to go out there and try to take the team down and score,” he said. “I just do what I’m told, that’s my job, to be ready at a moment’s notice. They told me I was going in; I got loose. You hit a few passes and you don’t convert. It’s disappointing.”

Andre Johnson, who joined the Texans in their second season, couldn’t contain his emotions when the game was decided.

“I just started yelling,” he said. “It was like a sigh of relief. This is something that I’ve been working for since I’ve been here.”

Houston tied the game on a 1-yard run by Foster with about five minutes remaining. The Texans got the ball back after Williams sacked Brady on third-and-4.

Brady was 17 of 26 for 186 yards and Moss had 75 yards receiving.

Matt Schaub threw for 303 yards and two touchdowns and Foster had 119 yards rushing.

NOTES: Johnson finished with 65 yards receiving and has 1,569 for his second straight 1,500-yard season. … Welker’s NFL-high 123 receptions this season are tied with Herman Moore for second most in NFL history. … New England’s Julian Edelman had a career high with 10 receptions for 103 yards.