Rookie quarterback Drew Lock threw for 309 yards and three touchdowns as the Denver Broncos crushed the Houston Texans 38-24 Sunday afternoon at NRG Stadium.
The second-round pick from Missouri completed 22 passes on 27 attempts with just one interception thrown. Lock’s play led the Broncos on five consecutive scoring drives to start the game.
It didn’t take long for the Texans (8-5) to receive boos at their home, NRG Stadium. By halftime of their bout with the Broncos (5-8), they were down 31-3 a week after beating the New England Patriots and Tom Brady in prime time.
The Texans moved the ball on their first drive with four Carlos Hyde rushes for 20 yards. On third-and-5 on the Denver 36, left tackle Laremy Tunsil warranted a false start, moving them back five yards. Houston did not convert.
Lock hardly resembled a rookie quarterback on his first drive, going 4 of 5 for 96 yards and a touchdown to tight end Noah Fant. The Broncos benefited from two chunk plays by Fant and fellow rookie tight end Andrew Beck to march 92 yards in seven plays.
To respond to the Broncos’ first quarter touchdown, the Texans gave them another. receiver Keke Coutee inexplicably fumbled the ball, for Jeremiah Attaochu to give former Texan Kareem Jackson the pigskin, to which he scored a 70-yard fumble recovery touchdown.
Houston could not respond being down 14-0 after the first 15 minutes of play. After a Deshaun Watson sack, DeAndre Hopkins couldn’t hold onto a first-down reception, in large part due to a jarring Jackson hit.
The Broncos’ big-play offense moved the score up to 21-0 after the failed third-down conversion. The rookie found two big plays, hitting Tim Patrick for 37 yards and Devontae Booker for 25 yards. Lock capped off his second drive with an eight-yard touchdown toss to tight end Jeff Heuerman.
The Texans, finally, got themselves on the scoreboard. Down 21-0, kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn booted in a 54-yard field goal to cut the score 21-3. The Broncos responded with a 36-yard field goal via Brandon McManus, making it 24-3.
Down 21 points, the Texans had the opportunity to cut down the score going into halftime. That did not happen. Houston turned it over on downs, giving the Broncos the ball 14 yards outside of the red zone.
Denver responded with a 3-yard touchdown to Royce Freeman. Twice on the drive, the Texans gave Denver free first-downs, as cornerback Lonnie Johnson was called for defensive holding both times.
By halftime, the Broncos were up 31-3. Lock had a near-perfect passer rating at 157.8. Meanwhile, Watson had a 70.9.
Defensively, the Texans got out to the second half with a good start — a Whitney Mercilus sack — which would turn into a Broncos first-down, as Bradley Roby was called for a defensive holding. From there on, Denver would need eight plays to march 57 yards in 5:45 minutes, scoring on a Phillip Lindsay 1-yard touchdown.
The Texans started the second half, offensively, going up-tempo. It worked. Watson led a 4-play, 70-yard drive spanning 1:39 minutes, scoring on a 43-yard strike to a wide-open DeAndre Hopkins.
In response, the Broncos tried to slow down the Texans’ pace. Their five-minute-long drive was halted near the red zone. Lock threw an interception to Tashaun Gipson, who would take the ball to the 29-yard line, in turn, giving Houston some sort of hope.
H-Town responded to that sense of hope. Watson hurdled and extended for a six-yard touchdown run. The Texans drove down 71 yards on 12 plays, taking away 4:03 minutes of game-time.
Down 21 points, the Texans got the ball back after a Broncos three-and-out, where Denver shot themselves in the foot twice via holding calls. Houston got the ball at 50-yard-line.
The Texans could not take advantage. After converting a miraculous fourth-and-18, Watson threw a tip-drill interception, on fourth-and-3, to Jackson, his second impacted takeaway of the afternoon.
Houston would get the ball back after a Broncos punt, to which they scored a second Watson rushing touchdown. Then, the Texans got an onside kick recovery (A.J. Moore).
But, time was not on their side. Watson threw an interception. Despite their comeback efforts, the Texans were human — unable to score three touchdowns in less than half a quarter of play.
Lock out-dueled Watson in Houston to pick up a 38-17 win. The rookie went 22 of 27 passing for 309 yards, three touchdowns and an interception, good for a 136 passer rating. Watson: 28 of 50 for 292 yards, a touchdown, two rushing touchdowns, two interceptions and a 63.1 passer rating.
Summary
The Broncos stunned the Texans. Seemingly on every drive, they converted big plays against a healthy secondary. Houston would go on to find the end zone, but it was far too late. Denver got out to an insurmountable lead, which would go onto to win the game — despite conservative play-calling — in blowout fashion.
Turning point
The Texans were driving to respond to Denver’s first touchdown of the day. That stopped immediately. On a first down completion, Keke Coutee fumbled the ball (Anthony Johnson), Jeremiah Attaochu picked it up, gave it to Kareem Jackson, who would score a 70-yard touchdown.
Unique stat
Broncos: Kareem Jackson was everywhere in his return to Houston. He had a fumble recovery for a touchdown, an interception, 11 combined tackles, a tackle for loss and three pass deflections.
Texans: Romeo Crennel’s highly-touted abilities against rookie quarterbacks did not work out. Drew Lock made the Texans defensive coordinator 11-2 against rookie quarterbacks since 2014. The Missouri product threw for three touchdowns.
Scoring summary
Denver Broncos — 14, 17, 7, 0 — 38
Houston Texans — 0, 3, 7, 14 — 24
First quarter
DEN — Fant 14 pass from Lock, 7:31
DEN — Jackson 70 yard fumble recovery, 3:52
Second quarter
DEN — Heuerman 8 pass from Lock, 11:30
HOU — Fairbairn 54 kick, 8:53
DEN — McManus 36 kick, 3:07
DEN — Freeman 3 pass from Lock, 0:41
Third quarter
DEN — Lindsay 1 run, 9:18
HOU — Hopkins 43 pass from Watson, 7:46
Fourth quarter
HOU — Watson 6 run, 13:44
HOU — Watson 3 run, 0:32
Injury report
Broncos:
- DL Dre’mont Jones – Ankle
- TE Noah Fant – Foot
Texans:
- None
up next
The Broncos will travel to Kansas City to face the 8-4 Chiefs, who play New England in the late afternoon time slot.
The Texans will travel to Nashville to face the 7-5 Titans, who also play Oakland in the late afternoon time slot.