Meeting Favre gives Texans a chance at redemption

[August 28, 2009]  HOUSTON (AP) -- The Texans were expecting former Houston backup Sage Rosenfels to visit.

Instead, Brett Favre will be dropping by Monday night as Houston tries to rebound from a preseason loss to the New Orleans Saints.

Coach Gary Kubiak said he believes his team will benefit from dealing with the combination of Favre and All-Pro running back Adrian Peterson.

"He's one of the greatest to ever play the game and then you put one of the best running backs to come around in a long time with him; that's very, very difficult," he said. "They're as good as we'll face all year long with what they're capable of doing to you. It's a good test, and we need it after the other night."

Houston's defensive players said meeting Favre in prime time is a good chance to redeem themselves after that 38-14 defeat against New Orleans.

Defensive tackle Amobi Okoye said the days leading up to seeing the twice-retired, almost 40-year-old Favre have been filled with interesting requests.

"A lot of people have been telling me, 'Why don't you get a hit on Favre for me, send him back through time,' that kind of thing," he said. "It's from friends, fans, people who have gotten fed up with everything on the news about him."

Linebacker DeMeco Ryans is disappointed the first team defense won't get to see Rosenfels, who spent the last three seasons in Houston before signing with Minnesota in hopes of becoming the starter. But he's focused on Peterson, not Favre.

Houston's run defense is one of the team's biggest worries after Mike Bell, who is fighting for a roster spot with the Saints, had 10 carries for 100 yards mostly against the first team.

"I don't think a lot of us are too concerned with Favre and his passing game. We're really concerned with how we can stop the run," he said. "It's our opportunity to showcase our talent. If we really are a good team, we have to show people that, and this is a great opportunity to do it."

Mario Williams has played his best in the two prime time games he's appeared in, combining for 6 1/2 sacks and forcing a fumble. The top overall pick in 2006 said he'll approach this game the same way, even though it's preseason.

And he's looking forward to getting a "crack" at Favre.

"To me a sack is a sack," he said. "But I guess if everybody's going to be watching him, hopefully if I'm closer to him, I guess they'll be watching me. I'll take it that way and see what happens."

Houston is still waiting to see first-round pick Brian Cushing in a game after the linebacker injured his knee early in training camp. Cushing did individual drills in practice Thursday, and Kubiak hopes he starts working with the team later this week.

Cushing said it's unlikely that he'll play against the Vikings, but Kubiak is more optimistic.

"I hope that he's begging to play on Monday night," Kubiak said. "I'm hoping he makes that much progress. ... He's awfully close, but we've just got to be careful with what we're doing with him.

[Associated Press; By KRISTIE RIEKEN]

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