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Nonetheless, Carr's teammates are still talking about his first half against the Cardinals, when Carr was given more liberties on offense to change the plays at the line of scrimmage.
It wasn't completely different than in past games, but Carr never had spent such an extended amount of time at the line making decisions. Carr proved he could handle the task as he helped orchestrate a 24-point first half. Pendry took over calling the plays in the second half so he could manage the clock with the Texans holding the lead.
The offense went on to score just six more points in the 30-19 victory.
Carr told Manfull he has not pointed out to Pendry the 24-6 point differential in their halves.
"No. No chance," the quarterback said laughing. "Joe would punch me in the face. I'll stay away from that one."
Some of Carr's teammates are venturing into that territory. They have praised Carr for his play in the first half and pointed out how the offense was in a better rhythm.
As Manfull explained, "It's almost as if Carr is running for a political office as the Texans approach their game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Saturday. No one is mentioning the other candidate, but the majority of the votes in the locker room are in favor of Carr getting four more quarters. ..."
"It was new for the offense, because normally the plays are sent in from the sidelines," receiver Andre Johnson said. "In the game Sunday, they just let Dave pretty much call the plays. It worked out pretty well.
"It was different. Everybody likes different things rather than doing the same thing over and over again. It worked out well. Hopefully we keep doing it."
Against Jacksonville this season, Carr had some leeway during the game to change plays when the Texans ran the ball. Last week, he had freedom in run and pass situations.
This week, the plan is for Pendry to make the calls in passing situations. Carr's decision-making will be restricted to run situations.
Pendry is adamant that there was nothing different in Carr or the offense from the first half to the second.
But Manfull suggests the numbers tell another story.
In the first half, Carr completed 16 of 20 passes for 93 yards. The Texans had 190 total offensive yards in the half.
In the second half, Carr completed six of 13 passes and the Texans finished the half with 63 total yards on offense.
He was also sacked three times and threw one interception.
"He was the same in both halves," Pendry said. "It was the same game plan. The players think it's a big deal but there was no difference. I made a big deal about it last week, saying, 'It's his,' and such. But we've done it all year. All of a sudden because we audibled at the line they think it's different."
The players insist there was a difference during the first half, and they want to try to duplicate it this week against their biggest rival. "I would love to call the plays every down," Carr said. "I have fun doing it, and I think the guys get into a flow. ..."
Also of interest. ... The Texans' special-teams play has been a positive in a tough season for the franchise.
As Pro Football Weekly noted, rookie Jerome Mathis earned Pro Bowl honors by averaging 29.8 yards per return. Special-teams coordinator Joe Marciano told PFW he's seeing teams use exotic coverages to try to contain Mathis, a former All-American in the 200 meters at Hampton.
"When he gets the ball, I don't want [the opponent] to know if he's going left, right or up the middle," Marciano said. "We're doing things we've never done before because we have a speed guy."
Mathis benefits from an unheralded group of blockers.
Fullback Moran Norris and halfback Jonathan Wells are the rookie's lead blockers, while cornerback Jason Bell, linebacker Troy Evans and safety Ramon Walker all drew compliments from Marciano for their work.
Marciano said the unit's continuity is a key to their success, as well as their pride in their work. Norris, Wells, Bell, Evans and Walker are backups who have carved nice niches for themselves with their work on special teams. ...
Of course, Wells could get another chance to prove his worth as an offensive weapon today. Domanick Davis is officially a "Dreaded Game-Time Decision."
Davis will work out before the game to see if he is able to play, but he hasn't practiced or played in two weeks because of fluid and swelling in his knee.