Stroud throws a TD pass and Fairbairn kicks 4 field goals to help the Texans top the Bears 19-13

 

[September 16, 2024]  By KRISTIE RIEKEN

HOUSTON (AP) — In a second half where C.J. Stroud and the Houston offense struggled to move the ball, the Texans' defense stepped up Sunday night to secure a win over the Chicago Bears.

Houston picked off rookie Caleb Williams twice after halftime and the Texans held on for a 19-13 victory.

“It’s just about winning one week at a time," coach DeMeco Ryans said. “They’re not always going to be pretty, but you just have to find a way to win. That’s what I’m most proud about with our guys. No matter what happened there at the end, we found a way to win.”

Stroud threw for 260 yards and a touchdown and Ka′imi Fairbairn kicked four field goals to help the Houston to the win.

Fairbairn connected from 56, 47, 59 and 53 yards, and Houston's defense put heavy pressure on Williams for much of the game.

“It's always fun getting after any quarterback,” said Houston defensive end Will Anderson Jr., who had 1 1/2 sacks. “This week we just wanted to keep putting pressure on him.”

Stroud’s 28-yard scoring pass to Nico Collins put Houston up 10-3 early in the second quarter, and the Texans led 16-10 at halftime.

Houston (2-0) managed only a field goal after halftime, but the defense made it hold up.

Williams, the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft, was 23 of 37 for 174 yards. He was sacked seven times.

“He was able to evade the rush and get on the perimeter a few times, but then he has to be careful with the football when he gets out there,” Chicago coach Matt Eberflus said. “So, there were some great learning moments for him.”

Houston’s Cam Akers fumbled on the Chicago 4 with about 6 1/2 minutes left, and the Bears (1-1) recovered. Cairo Santos made a 54-yard field goal to make it 19-13 with 2:51 left.

The Texans couldn’t get anything going on their next drive and punted with about 90 seconds left. But Williams was sacked by Danielle Hunter on second down and his fourth-down pass fell incomplete to allow Houston to run out the clock.

“We didn’t execute the way we needed to,” Williams said. “We’re going to keep getting better. I’m a young guy and it’s a long season.”

Collins had 135 yards receiving for a second straight 100-yard game to power the offense in a game where Joe Mixon left briefly with an ankle injury. He managed just 25 yards rushing after he led the NFL with 159 yards rushing last weekend in his Houston debut.

Neither team scored in the second half until Houston extended the lead to 19-10 with a 53-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter. That score was set up when Williams was hit as he threw and was intercepted by Derek Stingley.

On Chicago’s second play of the next drive Williams escaped a sack only to throw another interception. This time he was picked off by rookie Kamari Lassiter, a second-round pick from Georgia.

Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze (15) misses a pass in the end zone as Houston Texans cornerback Kamari Lassiter (4) defends during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

The Texans went in front for good on Collins' TD reception on the first play of the second quarter. That play came after he was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct on the previous play for pushing his hand into Tyrique Stevenson’s face after the cornerback back put his hands in Collins’ face.

The Texans made it 13-3 with a 47-yard field goal on their next possession. Stroud had a stellar throw on the drive, finding Collins for an 18-yard gain on the run despite taking a hit as he threw.

“That's special,” Collins said. “Not many people can do that, extend the play like that. He's special. You can't coach that.”

A 2-yard scoring run by Khalil Herbert just before halftime cut Houston's lead to 13-10. It was the first touchdown on offense for the Bears this season after they failed to score any last week. The score was set up by a pass interference call on rookie Calen Bullock that gave the Bears a first down at the 6.

A 59-yard field goal by Fairbairn made it 16-10 at halftime.

Injuries
Bears: DL Zacch Pickens left in the second half with a groin injury. … WR Keenan Allen was inactive with a heel injury.

Kicking It
Fairbairn, who had three field goals 50 yards or longer last week, became the first player in NFL history with five or more field goals of at least 50 yards in a two-game span.

“Nobody talks about (him) enough,” Ryans said. “(Fairbairn) is the reason why we won these two games. That’s been the player of the game.”

Up next

Bears: Visit Indianapolis next Sunday.

Texans: Visit Vikings next Sunday.

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