Houston Texans (3-3) – New Orleans Saints (3-3): 20-13
A story of missed opportunities. In the last 15 minutes of the game, Derek Carr’s partners missed a field goal, missed a 4th attempt within 15 yards and threw an interception on their last series.
Once again, the Saints attack was too sluggish this Sunday. A statistic illustrates this: 0/3 in the opposing red zone.
On the Texans side, it’s a new victory for DeMecco Ryans’ men. Not the brightest (only 3 points in the second half), but that’s also what becoming a good team is: winning ugly matches.
Houston takes the lead
At the start of the season, little seems to be going against rookie CJ Stroud. While the young quarterback throws his first interception on the first series of the game, the opposing defender loses it by returning the interception! The Texans therefore recovered it and even followed up with a touchdown (7-0) on a reception from Dalton Schultz.
New Orleans quickly equalizes on one of the classics of the season for them: Derek Carr finds Rashid Shaheed in depth and it makes a touchdown (7-7). Then it will be more complicated for a Saints attack deprived of the ball and which will just be satisfied with a field goal before halftime.
If the Saints are deprived of the ball, it is because the Texans attack is playing perfectly with the clock. With almost 11 minutes of possession, CJ Stroud and his ground game managed the tempo.
The locals added a field goal and a new touchdown to their series via veteran Robert Woods. Houston returns to the locker room leading 17 to 10.
Derek Carr tries but…
The second half is more complicated for the Texans attack. Apart from a field goal (20-10), the attack continues with punts and cannot find a solution against the good defense of the Saints.
For its part, the local defense held up well. If she lets the Saints add a field goal (20-13), Ryans’ men manage to slow down New Orleans in the truth zone.
With the Saints’ numerous errors, the Texans got by and managed to stay ahead. Without calling into question Houston’s defensive performance, the Saints’ inability to play well in attack is obvious.
