Reliant Stadium--- It was all set up so perfectly. The NFL schedule gods gift-wrapped a home game featuring a rookie quarterback--- who by the way had only started 16 college games--- to feast upon for the much-anticipated season opener in front of the Texans faithful.

After all, this is supposed to be the season where the franchise had finally turned the corner; a season that on paper, is considered to be the best team ever fielded by the Texans organization, after a solid draft and a myriad of off-season moves.

There is no way a team slated to challenge for supremacy in the mighty AFC South, could possibly lose a game like this, in front of their own frenzied capacity crowd, with the stakes ever so high.

Could they?

I guess it was not only the fact that the Texans lost their first game of the season 24-7 to the New York Jets, but more so it was how they lost.

The final point tally does not properly tell the true tale of the tape. It does not tell how one of the most dominant receivers in football (Andre Johnson) was a total non-factor. It does not tell how one of the most prolific NFL offenses in all 2008 only managed paltry 183-yards of total production. And more importantly, it does not tell how unprepared a NFL coaching staff--- who had months to prepare for this game mind you--- appeared to be all game long.

Texans veteran offensive tackle Eric Winston said that he was “disappointed and mad” after the game.

Here’s my question: why didn’t he and his teammates get mad during the game when they had a chance to do something about it?

Rookie QB Mark Sanchez dazzled during his NFL debut; at times looking as though he was the second coming of Johnny Unitas. The former Trojan completed 18 of 32 of his passes for 272 yards and a touchdown. Even more impressively, he demonstrated poise beyond his years, by coolly standing in the pocket on numerous occasions to complete passes with Texans defenders in his face.

The Jets offense led by Sanchez, managed a total of 462 yards against the Texans so-called revamped defense, leaving everyone to wonder, what might be in store for the much-maligned unit next week, with the wily vet Kerry Collins and the well-rested Tennessee Titans waiting in the wings.

The Jets took control from the start, with a field goal in the first quarter and a 30-yard touchdown toss from Sanchez to Chansi Stuckey in the second quarter to take a 10-0 shutout into halftime. The Texans got their first break of the game in the fourth quarter with a Sanchez interception that led to a touchdown, but the Jets quickly diffused any threat of a miraculous opening day come back as Thomas Jones took one to the house on a scamper from 38-yards out to push the lead to 24-7.

Jones led all rushers with 107-yards on 20 carries. His counterpart Steve Slaton was limited to 17-yards on 9 carries.

The Jets defense was as good as Sanchez, keeping pressure on Schaub throughout the game and sacking him twice. The Texans offense, which was without starting wide out Kevin Walter, was pathetic, producing only 11 first downs on the day. The normally efficient unit also came up well on the short end of the time-of possession total 38:11 to 21:14.

The Texans return back to Reliant Stadium for consecutive games against Jacksonville and Oakland after their trip to Nashville to take on the Titans next week.