Even though C.J. Stroud and the starters were off the field, it didn't keep the Texans from putting more points on the board before the half in Pittsburgh.
Houston led the Steelers, 17-0, at the intermission of Friday evening's preseason matchup at Acrisure Stadium.
Running back Dare Ogunbowale took a pitch in for a 4-yard touchdown run at the 3:56 mark of the second quarter, and quarterback Davis Mills guided the Texans down the field in a 2-minute drill, which ended with a Ka'imi Fairbairn 36-yard field goal just three seconds before the half ended.
Mills took over for Stroud the possession after the latter's 34-yard touchdown pass to Tank Dell. In just over a quarter's worth of work, he completed 8-of-13 passes for 89 yards.
The Ogunbowale touchdown drive went 30 yards on six plays, and lasted 2:58. On that possession, Mills found rookie tight end Cade Stover for a 16-yard completion, and then a pair of completions to wide receiver Robert Woods for six and 15 yards, before Ogunbowale's scoring scamper.
Later in the half, MIlls guided Houston's offense on a 10-play, 62-yard field goal drive that took just 1:49.
