The Houston Texans rookie tight end Cade Stover recorded his first touchdown in the NFL on Houston’s first offensive play on Sunday
From Columbus to Houston. It only took 12 weeks to happen.
The Texans secured a 7-0 lead against the Tennessee Titans following Dameon Pierce’s 80-yard return on the opening kickoff. Second-year quarterback C.J. Stroud found a wide-open Cade Stover in the end zone for his first professional touchdown.
Houston has been the first team to score in nine of its 12 games. The touchdown pass was Stroud’s first since the second quarter during the Week 10 loss to the Detroit Lions.
Stover, Stroud’s go-to. target during Stroud’s senior season at Ohio State, was expected to be a difference-maker in Houston’s 12-personnel offensive look when drafted in April. Stroud mentioned where they became close en route to a College Football Playoff berth in 2022.
In Columbus, Stover caught 36 passes for 406 yards and five touchdowns. Stroud advocated for Houston to pick Stover on Day 3 of the draft, leading to Houston trading up to the No. 123 pick with the Cleveland Browns.
Stover entered the season as the No. 3 tight end on the depth chart, but saw an increase in playing time after Brevin Jordan’s season-ending injury.
Entering Sunday, Stover had 10 receptions for 102 yards.
Here’s what you need to know heading into Sunday’s matchup between the Houston Texans and Tennessee Titans.
The Houston Texans (6-4) will face the Tennessee Titans (2-8) on Sunday in Week 12 at NRG Stadium for a chance to gain ground in the AFC South.
Houston is coming off a dominant 34-10 win over the Dallas Cowboys on “Monday Night Football” behind a three-touchdown outing from running back Joe Mixon. The Texans should also have defensive end Will Anderson Jr. and defensive back Kamari Lassiter back in the starting lineup.
With a victory, the Texans would improve to 4-0 in the AFC South, thus creating a potential playoff-clinching scenario in Week 13’s showdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Tennessee’s offense has picked up the pace as late, but there are questions surrounding the long-term status of second-year passer Will Levis.
The Titans (2-8) struggled in an overtime win over the New England Patriots and neatly fell short of securing a win against a Tua Tagovailoa-less Miami Dolphins team. Tennessee’s offensive line remains problematic, allowing 33 sacks in 10 games.
The Texans vs. Titans will be broadcast on CBS in Week 12 of the 2024 NFL season. Tom McCarthy, Ross Tucker and Jay Feely will work the broadcast booth, while Amanda Balionis will conduct interviews on the sidelines,
Streaming options for the game include FUBO, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.
Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon scored his second touchdown of the opening quarter against the Dallas Cowboys.
In less than 15 minutes, Joe Mixon has found the end zone twice.
Mixon nearly scored on the play before but bounced outside after the inside handoff for the 1-yard touchdown run. The best player has both of the Houston Texans’ touchdowns to start the game.
In eight games, Mixon has scored multiple touchdowns in three of them. Mixon now has nine rushing touchdowns this season, matching his total from a year ago with Cincinnati.
Mixon’s career-high for rushing touchdowns is 13, set in 2021. Houston’s running back is seeking to become the first Texan to rush for over 1,000 yards since Carlos Hyde in 2019, also the last season Houston played on Monday night.
Houston held a double-digit lead a week ago against the Lions, before losing on a last-second field goal.
Mixon has 62 yards on seven carries. Tank Dell got involved with a 26-yard reception.
Houston scored on its opening play, looking to get Nico Collins involved early. Collins returned from a five-game hiatus due to a hamstring injury. He took a screen pass to the end zone, but Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil was downfield, so the play was brought back.
The 45-yard touchdown run is Mixon’s longest score of the season and the second-longest run of the year. The former Pro Bowler had a 50-plus-yard run against the New England Patriots in his first game back from an ankle injury.
After the penalty brought back the touchdown, C.J. Stroud completed passes to Dalton Schultz, Robert Woods and John Metchie III.
The Texans are losing to end a two-game losing streak on primetime.
Houston has had Goff’s number on the primetime stage. The Lions signal-caller has matched his season total in interceptions in less than three quarters on Sunday.
Lassiter has his first two-interception game of the season at the professional level. The Texans’ defense has matched its season-high in takeaways with four. In the previous four-takeaway game, Houston beat New England by 20.
In the past five games, Houston has 14 takeaways after recording just three in the first five contents. With a win, the Texans jump right back into the conversation for the AFC No. 2 seed.
The Houston Texans defense continues to slow the Detroit Lions offense and linebacker Henry To’oTo’o recorded his first interception
In a game won by defense, the Houston Texans continue to shine.
More importantly, they’re showing up against a surging Detroit Lions offense that’s averaged over 30 points per game in their past three outings.
After scoring on its previous drive, Houston recorded its second takeaway against the Lions when defensive end Denico Autry got his hands on quarterback Jared Goff and forced the ball into the air.
The ball tipped up and hung long enough for Henry To’oTo’o to secure his first interception of the season.
The Lions have not had two turnovers in a game since Week 2 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Conicidently, that marked their other lone loss of the season.
Autry, one of several free agency signings, missed the first six games of the season with a PED suspension. In the four games since he’s returned, he’s notched a quarterback hit in each outing, including a two-sack performance a week ago against the New York Jets.
Not only was that To’oTo’o’s first interception of the season, but it marked the first of his NFL career. The former Alabama started six games last year and appeared to be the team’s top backup behind Azeez Al-Shaair and Christian Harris.
With Harris sidelined, has played well in eight games. He might not be so inclined to give it back once he former Crimson Tide teammate is healthy.
The Houston Texans began on defense against the Detroit Lions and stopped the red hot offense with a Jimmie Ward interception
No offense in the NFL has been playing better than the Detroit Lions over the past six weeks.
The Houston Texans didn’t get the memo and got off the field and set up their offense in prime field position.
Nickel defender Jalen Pitre got in the way of Lions quarterback Jared Goff, tipping his pass, which veteran safety Jimmie Ward was able to get his hands under for the opening drive interception.
Goff has thrown just 22 incompletions during Detroit’s six-game winning streak, including one interception. He’s already thrown two incompletions and an interception after one drive.
The turnover is the first caused by Ward this season, who returned to the lineup after a four-game hiatus due to a groin injury.
Houston is 3-1 this season when Ward plays, so it makes sense why the AFC South leaders love when No. 20 is out on the field making plays.
On a well-designed reverse play, Malachi Corley went untouched 19 yards to the end zone, but right before he crossed the goal line, Corley dropped the ball and it rolled out of the end zone.
Due to the ball rolling out of the end zone, it is a touchback, meaning Houston gains possession. It’s been an ugly start for both sides, combining for less than 100 yards in the opening quarter.
New York’s snap at the Texans 19-yard line was the lone snap inside either red zone. Houston’s offense has done little while the Jets struggle.
Stroud has been under pressure most of the night and the passing game has struggled without receivers Stefon Diggs and Nico Collins.
Houston can activate Collins off the IR next week, while Diggs will miss the rest of the season an ACL tear.
Houston Texans defensive back Jalen Pitre recorded his first interception since his rookie season against Colts QB Anthony Richardson
Kamari Lassiter nearly had a pick-six on second down.
Jalen Pitre finished the assignment on the next play.
On 3rd-and-5 with less than a minute remaining in the first half, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson elected to go to the air again for the conversion.
He paid for it as Pitre came down with his first interception of the regular season and his first since Week 17 of the 2022 campaign.
Outside of the 69-yard passing touchdown, Houston has shut down the Colts passing attack. Richardson finished the first half 2-for-15 with 81 yards and a touchdown and an interception.
Richardson’s 13.3% completion percentage is the lowest in a half in Colts history since 1991.
Despite the lack of a passing game, Indianapolis has remained in the game due to continued struggles along the offensive line.
Houston’s defense has eight takeaways in the 10 quarters after recording just three in the first five games.
Pitre’s interception is the first Texans takeaway at NRG Stadium since Week 2.
With a win, the Texans will finish at least .500 in divisional play for the 2024 season.
Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon finds the end zone for a fifth time on the season, tying the game at 10 against the Colts.
Joe Mixon continues to be the gift that keeps giving.
The Houston Texans veteran running back acquired in the offseason scored his fifth rushing touchdown of the season on a 14-yard scamper in which he cut back and fended three different defenders to reach the goal line.
The story of the drive was DeMeco Ryans’ decision to replace left guard Kenyon Green with second-year option Jarrett Patterson.
However, Patterson injured himself on the Mixon touchdown run.
Houston’s touchdown drive spanned 10 plays, 70 yards and five minutes and 46 seconds. The score followed the Colts 69-yard passing touchdown from Anthony Richardson to Josh Downs.
Mixon has been heavily involved during the first half of Sunday’s game. He has nine touches, five carries and four receptions, for 54 yards.
Mixon has topped 100 yards rushing in the past two games. The Sunday score marks the fifth consecutive game Mixon has scored a touchdown.
Patterson entered the blue medical tent. Houston’s plan at left guard if he is unable to go is unknown, but Green is the currently back in the game.
With a win, the Texans will secure a .500 record in divisonal play while improving to 6-2 overall.
