Alex Smith scores rushing touchdown after faking to ... nobody

Alex Smith trucks into the end zone. (Colin E. Braley/AP)

The Houston Texans did not give up rushing touchdowns to quarterbacks Jake Locker, Russell Wilson or Colin Kaepernick when they played the Tennessee Titans, Seattle Seahawks, and San Francisco 49ers this season. But they did give up a rushing touchdown to quarterback Alex Smith with 59 seconds left in the first half of Sunday's game -- and the way in which Smith did was rather embarrassing to any defense.

The Chiefs went with a little option play, and Smith faked a handoff to  ... well, nobody. Running back Jamaal Charles was in the backfield, but he went to Smith's right before heading left to block Texans linebacker Whitney Mercilus. Smith faked to air, paused a second and then rushed easily into the end zone from five yards out as his teammates blocked it to perfection.

The score brought the Chiefs back into the game from a 14-3 deficit. 

Smith has never put up amazing stats as a passer or runner, but it's worth remembering that he played in a pseudo-spread offense at Utah under Urban Meyer, and he's athletic enough to give defenses pause when they're not paying attention.