In a game that saw C.J. Stroud leave early with a concussion, the Texans failed to score a single touchdown and lost as time expired on a Broncos field goal.
In a much-needed game for the Houston Texans on Sunday afternoon against the Denver Broncos, they fell just short, dropping to 3-5 on the season.
The game started off on a high note for Houston, as the Texans were able to block a first quarter field goal attempt — a spark that looked like it could swing early momentum. However, the big storyline of the first half came shortly after when C.J. Stroud went down with an injury. After sliding just shy of a first-down marker, Stroud took a high hit from a Broncos defender and was later ruled out with a concussion.
He stayed down for a moment as teammates surrounded him before eventually walking off under his own power and heading to the locker room, where he was later declared out for the remainder of the game as Davis Mills took over.
Despite losing their star quarterback, the Texans managed to move the ball enough to generate offense through the kicking game. They connected on two first-half field goals to get on the board to go up 6-0, then added a third and fourth later in the first half, including one as time expired in the second quarter, to extend their advantage to 12-7 going into the break.
From there, a fifth field goal midway through the third quarter put the Texans up 15-7, but they wouldn't score again the rest of the game. At that point, it became all Denver. The Broncos scored 11 unanswered points in the fourth quarter, including a touchdown and a successful two-point conversion to tie the game at 15-all with just over 12 minutes left.
The Texans’ defense came up with a huge stop with 1:21 remaining to force a punt, but the offense failed to capitalize, burning only 24 seconds before giving the ball back. On the ensuing possession, a 25-yard scramble by Bo Nix highlighted Denver’s final drive, which set up the Broncos for the game-winning field goal as time expired, sealing an 18-15 victory over Houston.
Now 3-5, the Texans will pivot their focus to next week's divisional contest against the Jacksonville Jaguars.