Houston Texans (2-0) – Chicago Bears (1-1): 19-13
It's not all about CJ Stroud (23/36, 260 yards, 1 TD) for Houston. The defense is also capable of great things. And it was the one that got the game this Sunday against Chicago.
Will Anderson (4 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 9 QB pressures), Danielle Hunter (2 sacks) and their teammates put Caleb Williams (23/37, 174 yards) to the test. The quarterback was sacked 7 times. In the final quarter, he was intercepted twice. And while the Bears defense did what was necessary to keep the team in the game, the Texans defense always responded.
Williams and his offense got the ball back with 1:37 left, trailing by six points. But a sack by Hunter and a final incomplete pass sealed the game.
CJ Stroud stalls after break
There were only two touchdowns in this game, both scored in the second quarter. Nico Collins (8 rec, 135 yards), the man of the night for the Texans' offense, struck first on a nice slalom in coverage and a reception for the 10-3. Houston even broke away on the foot (13-3). But Khalil Herbert (2 carries, 3 yards, 1 TD) answered on the ground (13-10).
Ka'imi Fairbairn then had to work hard just before the break and then at the start of the last quarter to give the locals some breathing space (19-10).
A rather quiet evening for CJ Stroud, with a great opportunity to kill the game missed by Cam Akers (7 carries, 32 yards), author of a fumble 4 yards from the end zone with a little less than 7 minutes to play. A touchdown that would have certainly killed the game. Instead, a field goal and a defensive stop by the Bears gave Caleb Williams one last chance.
But even with only six points to make up, the task was too difficult. Chicago's line was overwhelmed. The ground game didn't really exist. And Williams ended up getting smothered.
