In the span of three plays, the Texans took the ball away from the Patriots...and then put it in the end zone.
On the second play from scrimmage after the halftime break, defensive end Danielle Hunter crushed quarterback Drake Maye for a strip sack, and the fumble was recovered by Mario Edwards, Jr. at the Patriots' 10-yard line. Two plays later, quarterback C.J. Stroud tossed his third touchdown pass of the day, finding Stefon Diggs for a 10-yard scoring strike. Ka'imi Fairbairn followed it up with a successful extra point try, and Houston was up, 21-7, with 13:28 left in the third quarter.
It was the third sack of the day for Houston, as Will Anderson, Jr. dropped Maye twice in the first half.
It was also the second takeaway of the day for the Texans defense. Safety Calen Bullock picked Maye off in the first half.
Diggs' scoring grab was his third touchdown reception of 2024.
