"One of the few bright spots for the Texans on Sunday was kicker Kris Brown, who reached several milestones at the Raiders’ expense.

His three field goals gave him 28 for the season, one more than his old franchise record set last year. (His personal best was 30 for Pittsburgh in 2001, when he attempted 44.) He also connected on his 300th career extra point following the Texans’ first-quarter touchdown. And Brown’s final field goal, a 40-yarder, gave him 117 points on the season, two more than his previous record of 115 last year.

His 53-yarder in the second quarter – a remarkable kick considering the weather and the slippery field – was his second of more than 50 in 2008 and his 16th over 10 seasons.

Nothing special

Save for Kris Brown, the Texans delivered one of their worst games of the year on special teams, allowing Johnnie Lee Higgins to return a punt 80 yards for a touchdown and doing nothing to counter themselves.

“We got beat in that phase – handily,” head coach Gary Kubiak said.

Second-year return man Jacoby Jones fumbled a punt return and, although the Texans retained possession when Jacques Reeves recovered, Kubiak said, “I’m concerned. He said his shoulder was bothering him. We were going to go with David (Anderson), but (Jones) said he was fine late, so we gave him another chance.

“That’s been a concern all year. His putting the ball on the ground right there (at the Texans’ 16 in the second quarter) could have cost us very dearly.”< Jones did make an effort to redeem himself with a 23-yard return to the Raiders’ 40 in the fourth quarter, but Matt Schaub promptly threw an interception.

The return for a score by Higgins was the first against the Texans since the middle of the 2006 season.

Houston also let the Raiders cover a surprise first-quarter onside kick, which led to a 30-yard goal and gave Oakland a 13-7 first-quarter lead."