Ka’imi Fairbairn booted 4 subject targets — three of 50-plus yards — and the host Houston Texans rode a stifling defensive efficiency to a 19-13 victory over the Chicago Bears on Sunday night time.
Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams threw two interceptions and absorbed seven sacks, with Texans defensive ends Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr. combining for 3 of these to tempo the suffocating assault. Williams handed for 174 yards because the Bears (1-1) totaled simply 205 yards of offense.
Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud handed for 260 yards and a landing to Nico Collins, who completed with eight catches for 135 yards. Houston prolonged its result in 19-10 with 13:39 remaining when Fairbairn drilled a 53-yard subject purpose after Derek Stingley Jr. picked off Williams.
The third quarter was a slog, with the groups combining for 9 penalties and 6 punts. Whereas the Bears totaled 9 penalties for 60 yards for the sport, Houston completed with 12 penalties for 115 yards.
Earlier than Chicago settled in defensively, the Texans scored on their first three possessions.
The Texans coated solely 33 yards on their first drive however that proved adequate, as Fairbairn made good on a 56-yard subject purpose that resulted in a 3-0 lead with 10:20 left within the first quarter.
Williams engineered a direct reply, finishing all 5 of his go makes an attempt for 55 yards to guide the Bears into Houston territory. However Hunter and Anderson mixed for a third-down sack that compelled Chicago to accept a game-tying, 53-yard Cairo Santos subject purpose on the 3:51 mark of the primary.
Stroud and the Texans returned serve, changing a fourth down at midfield earlier than Collins discovered on the spot redemption with a 28-yard scoring seize after his 15-yard penalty pushed the Texans out of the crimson zone. Houston took a 10-3 lead on the primary snap of the second quarter and upped the margin to 13-3 when Fairbairn capped an eight-play, 48-yard drive with a 47-yard kick.
The Bears took benefit of a brief subject and a go interference penalty on Texans security Calen Bullock that gave Chicago first-and-goal on the Houston 6-yard line. Khalil Herbert adopted with a 2-yard landing run that pulled the Bears inside 13-10 with 32 seconds left within the first half.
That was simply sufficient time for the Texans to cowl 24 yards in 5 performs, and Fairbairn closed the half with a 59-yarder that pushed Houston to a 16-10 halftime lead.
–Discipline Stage Media