HOUSTON // It took them "only" 10 seasons to do it, but the suddenly imposing Houston Texans for the first time have three more victories than defeats.
Arian Foster rushed for 124 yards and Bob Tate added 115 more as the Texans overpowered the Cleveland Browns 30-12 on Sunday and took their record to 6-3.
The Texans were created in 2002 and have managed a winning record only once (9-7, 2009) in nine full seasons. And never were they three games above .500.
Houston's template for victory has become clear: throttle the opposition's offence and pound their defence with the running game.
"It's football, and it's a physical game, and we're a physical team," the linebacker, Brian Cushing, said after the Texans limited the Browns to 172 yards,
He gave credit to Wade Phillips, the new defensive coordinator, for the Texans' toughness. They have limited three successive opponents to 175 yards or fewer.
"The talk was that we were soft, and all of a sudden we were dirty, but this defence is very motivated," Cushing said.
"To have the opportunity to play under coach Phillips and to see the way he's turned us around is just extraordinary."
Houston's offence showed plenty of aggression, too, as the Texans rolled up a franchise-record 261 rushing yards.
"I felt like going into this game that this was a game we should dominate, and I feel like we did," said Eric Winston, the tackle. "We're bullies, and we're being mean to everybody."
Foster is happy the Texans remain atop the AFC South standings, but said the team will not be satisfied until reaching the goal of making the play-offs for the first time.
"We're sitting where we want to be, first in the division, 6-3," he said. "But as everyone knows, things can go downhill fast in this league, so we have to remain focused."
The Texans kept constant pressure on Colt McCoy, the Cleveland quarterback, who was making his first NFL start in the state where he starred in college for at the University of Texas. McCoy was sacked four times and completed only 14 passes for 146 yards with an interception.
"They came from the first snap to the last, and it's frustrating," McCoy said. "They were able to create a lot of pressure up front. At times, it was hard to overcome."
