Rapid Reaction: Texans 31, Bears 24

<em>Posted by ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky</em> <p>Sure, it's nice that the Texans were able to get to 8-8 again with their <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/recap?gameId=281228034" shape="rect" target="_blank">win over the Bears</a>. Matching last season's record means while they didn't get better, they didn't get worse.</p> <img align="right" alt="" height="80" src="http://assets.espn.go.com/i/teamlogos/nfl/med/trans/hou.gif" width="80" /><img align="right" alt="" height="80" src="http://assets.espn.go.com/i/teamlogos/nfl/med/trans/chi.gif" width="80" /> <p>But there were things on Sunday about how they won that were more significant than that they won.</p> <p>One of the league's worst giveaway teams lost the ball just once on a <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=11323" shape="rect" target="_new">Steve Slaton</a> fumble.</p> <p>One of the league's worst red zone offenses got touchdowns on three of four trips inside the Bears' 20 and 24 points total.</p> <p>The Texans were also able to get the ball to their biggest weapon, as <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=5615" shape="rect" target="_new">Matt Schaub</a> threw to <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=4461" shape="rect" target="_new">Andre Johnson</a> 10 times for 148 yards and two touchdowns.</p> <p>Against a quality defense, the Texans kept the ball for 37:34 in a game where the Bears had much higher stakes -- they started the game still alive for a playoff berth, and could have earned one with a win, a Tampa Bay loss (which happened) and a Dallas loss.</p> <p>The Texans will hear a lot this offseason about turnover reduction and red zone production. Their coaches will need only to point to the last game of 2008 to show what a difference improvement in those areas can make in 2009.</p>

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