Derailed by Ike, Texans get to play home opener

HOUSTON -- Mario Williams is living in his house despite the bustle of workers repairing damage from when Hurricane Ike's powerful winds left a tree resting on its roof.

The rest of the Houston Texans are in a similar situation, preparing for their delayed home opener against Indianapolis in hurricane-damaged Reliant Stadium. Repairs to the retractable roof won't be finished for some time, so they'll play the 100th game in franchise history with the roof open.

That doesn't matter to these road-weary Texans. They're just glad to be home after three tough road losses, with a break between the first and second one that was spent dealing with Ike after it ravaged Southeast Texas on Sept. 13.

"Everything is getting back to normal. I've got guys working and stuff. It's just like anywhere else, where guys got to fix stuff," Williams said gesturing to men furiously working to prepare the stadium for Sunday's game. "We're trying to get stuff done, but it's just good to be back home."

Houston (0-3) can get comfortable here as the Texans play each of their next four games at home after the hurricane rearranged the schedule.

The Texans' return to football at home is just one more sign of recovery in an area that still has a long way to go, but is slowly getting back on track after Ike.

The worst damage is on the coast, but reminders of the storm's wrath remain throughout the nation's fourth-largest city. Many stop lights still aren't functioning or are missing altogether. Downed trees litter parks and yards. Blue FEMA tarps cover damaged roofs and a smattering of homemade signs begging electric company workers for help are evidence that some homes remain without power about three weeks after the storm.

"It's been a hard month," coach Gary Kubiak said. "It's been a hard month lifewise and footballwise for a lot of people. We get to settle down here. We're not going anywhere for the next month. We're going to get to play at our place. It's got to feel good for everybody."

Houston's home opener is the latest for an NFL team since four teams opened the 2001 season the weekend of Oct. 7-8 after their openers were delayed because of the events of Sept. 11.

Sunday's game will mark the earliest Houston has played at Reliant with the roof open since Sept. 18, 2005 when it hosted Pittsburgh.

Fans were so uncomfortable in the heat and complained so loudly after that game the team implemented a rule dictating the roof would be open only if it was between 50-80 degrees outside and there was no chance of precipitation.

A high of 88 degrees is forecast for Sunday, which could will make it hot and sticky, but that could add to Houston's home-field advantage.

Indy's Peyton Manning said his team would be prepared for the conditions.