The Houston Texans take on the New York Giants Sunday at 12:00 p.m. Central Time at MetLife Stadium.
For the Texans, the showdown with their second NFC East opponent represents an opportunity to improve upon their 1-6-1 record. It may be a little easier as running back Dameon Pierce appears ready to go and receiver Brandin Cooks and receiver Nico Collins are back in the lineup.
The Giants have said all week they aren’t taking the Texans lightly, despite the fact they are possibly the worst team in the NFL. The results on the gridiron will reveal whether New York stuck to that assessment or took the cheese.
Follow along for live updates from MetLife Stadium.
First quarter
Overcast Temp: 49° F, Humidity: 66%, Wind: N 10 mph
15:00 — Giants will kick it away. Texans to receive.
14:04 — On a third-and-11 from the Houston 37, QB Davis Mills gets sacked for a 12-yard loss.
7:57 — QB Daniel Jones hits WR Lawrence Cager for a 9-yard touchdown. Extra point is good. Giants, 7-0
6:26 — On a third-and-4 from the Houston 31, Mills throws incomplete looking for WR Nico Collins.
5:46 — On a third-and-9 from the New York 25, Jones scrambles for five yards.
4:06 — Mills throws a 4-yard pass to WR Phillip Dorsett on a third-and-10 from the Houston 24.
Second quarter
15:00 — The Giants were set to go for it, but a false start on a fourth-and-1 from the Houston 36 forced New York to punt.
13:39 — RB Dameon Pierce rushes 44 yards down to the New York 19-yard line on a second-and-5 from the 37-yard line.
11:36 — Mills throws incomplete on a third-and-10 from the Giants’ 19-yard line looking for WR Chris Moore.
11:31 — K Ka’imi Fairbairn hits a 38-yard field goal. Giants, 7-3
7:01 — On a third-and-15 from the Houston 32-yard line, LB Christian Kirksey and DT Maliek Collins sack Jones for an 8-yard loss to knock New York out of field goal range.
2:54 — On a third-and-4 from the Texans’ 45-yard line, RB Rex Burkhead rushes for two yards.
1:50 — The Giants get off the mat as CB Desmond King commits defensive holding on a third-and-2 from the New York 11-yard line. The pass from Jones originally fell incomplete.
1:37 — Jones hits TE Tanner Hudson for a 4-yard gain on third-and-5 from the New York 21-yard line. New York has to punt.
0:40 — A botched exchange between C Scott Quessenberry and Mills results in a lost opportunity for Houston at their on 47-yard line on third-and-9.
0:08 — DE Jerry Hughes sacks Jones for a 5-yard loss at the Giants’ 32-yard line to end the half.
Halftime
Stats
TEXANS
Mills: 6/13, 35 yards, 53.0 passer rating
Pierce: 10 carries, 66 yards; 1 target
Burkhead: 1 catch, 13 yards
GIANTS
Jones: 9/12, 106 yards, TD; 2 carries, 11 yards
Saquon Barkley: 17 carries, 75 yards; 1 catch, 8 yards
Darius Slayton: 2 catches, 41 yards
Third quarter
12:45 — Jones throws a 54-yard touchdown pass to Slayton. Extra point is good. Giants, 14-3
8:12 — Mills throws a 12-yard touchdown pass to WR Nico Collins on second-and-goal. Extra point is good. Giants, 14-10
2:24 — The Giants offense is activated as they march 74 yards in 12 plays with Barkley rushing for a 2-yard touchdown. Extra point is good. Giants, 21-10
0:03 — On the last play of the third quarter, Mills finds TE Jordan Akins for 46 yards down to the New York 9-yard line.
Fourth quarter
14:17 — Pierce fumbles at the Giants’ 8-yard line, and he isn’t so lucky as LB Jaylon Smith recovers. Rookie G Kenyon Green also held on the play, but New York wisely declined.
12:57 — The Texans defense didn’t buckle. On a third-and-2 from the Giants’ 19-yard line, Barkley was stuffed for a 1-yard gain.
10:01 — Circle this one. Mills hits WR Brandin Cooks for a 19-yard touchdown. However, Green held again, and this time the Giants did accept the penalty, taking points off the board on a second-and-15 from the Giants’ 19-yard line.
9:55 — Mills throws an interception intended for WR Phillip Dorsett. DB Dane Belton picked off Mills, resulting in a touchback.
4:58 — The Giants have a drive that does its job of milking clock as it goes for seven plays, 20 yards, and takes 5:09 off the game clock.
3:13 — Houston caught a break as the initially ruling on the field was Mills was strip-sacked and the Giants recovered. However, Replay showed Mills was not down and his intended pass was ruled incomplete.
2:30 — On a third-and-8 from the Giants’ 16-yard line, Mills can’t connect with Collins. It wouldn’t have mattered much as there was a holding call on G Justin McCray.
2:26 — Houston sends Fairbairn out for a 34-yard field goal. Giants, 21-13
2:09 — On a third-and-3 from the Houston 32-yard line, Barkley rushes for a 1-yard gain, which brings on the two-minute warning and a possible Gano field goal attempt. Giants, 24-13
0:11 — Fairbairn hits a 46-yard field goal. Giants, 24-16
0:06 — Jones takes a knee after the Texans fail to recover the onside kick. Houston moves to 1-7-1 and the Giants are 7-2 in a highly competitive NFC East. Coverage all night at Texans Wire.