HOUSTON—Sage Rosenfels and Ron Dayne had touchdown runs, and Mario Williams became the Texan’s career sacks leader, helping Houston take a 17-13 lead over the Denver Broncos after three quarters Thursday night.
Tony Scheffler caught a short pass from Jay Cutler and leaped for a touchdown in the final minute of the third quarter for Denver. Scheffler was upended at the goal line by Houston cornerback Von Hutchins and fumbled as he came down.
Officials ruled that Scheffler broke the plane of the goal line before Hutchins hit him, but Houston coach Gary Kubiak challenged the call. After review, the play stood.
The Broncos had more yards and more first downs than the Texans through three quarters, but struggled to finish drives until Scheffler scored.
Williams, the much-maligned No. 1 overall pick in last year’s draft, dragged down Cutler early in the third quarter for his 16th sack in 30 career games. He passed Kailee Wong on Houston’s career list.
Williams has 11 1/2 sacks this season. He also wrapped up Cutler in the second quarter, setting a team record with a sack in his fifth consecutive game.
The Texans led 10-6 at halftime and drove into Denver territory midway through the third quarter.
Rosenfels, starting for injured Matt Schaub for the second straight game, hit Owen Daniels for a 29-yard gain to the Broncos 11. After Denver was flagged for 12 men on the field, Dayne bulled into the end zone with 5:17 left in the quarter.
Cutler threw incomplete on a fourth-down play from the Houston 35 with 2:53 left in the quarter.
Dre Bly then intercepted Rosenfels’ pass to Andre Johnson and returned it to the Texans 27. Cutler scrambled to the Houston 12, setting up Scheffler’s touchdown.
Denver’s Brandon Marshall had 11 catches for 107 yards through three quarters.
The Texans led 7-0 after scoring on their first possession for the third straight game. Rosenfels went 4-for-4 on the drive, including a 22-yard strike to Johnson.
Darius Walker ran 12 yards to the Denver 5 on a sweep, and Rosenfels scored on the next play with 11:04 left in the quarter. It was Rosenfels’ first career rushing TD.
Jason Elam kicked a 41-yard field goal with 8:49 left in the first half.
Andre Davis returned the ensuing kickoff 50 yards to the Denver 43. On first down, Rosenfels found Davis wide open for a 20-yard gain. But the drive stalled and Kris Brown booted a 41-yard field goal with 7:38 left in the half.
Marshall picked up first downs on three straight passes from Cutler as Denver drove into Houston territory again. On third down from the Houston 29, Marshall bobbled and dropped Cutler’s pass to the corner of the end zone.
Elam kicked a 47-yard field goal with 4:31 left before halftime.
The Broncos announced that linebacker Ian Gold injured his right knee in the first quarter and would not return. Gold is Denver’s third-leading tackler.
The Broncos and Texans were meeting in the regular season for the first time since Kubiak became Houston’s coach in 2006.
Kubiak was Mike Shanahan’s offensive coordinator in Denver from 1995-2005. The Broncos gained more yards and scored more touchdowns than any team in their 11 seasons together.
Houston quarterbacks coach Kyle Shanahan, Mike’s son, was one of Kubiak’s first hires after he took over the team.
The roof at Reliant Stadium was open for the first time in seven games this season.
