Two talented young quarterbacks picked around the opposing defenses in a tight first half at NRG Stadium. The teams went into the locker room with the Texans holding a 16-10 lead over the visitors.
C.J. Stroud went 8-10 in the half including a fizzed touchdown pass over the middle to Nico Collins. Caleb Williams scrambled away from pressure to go 12-15 for 91 yards, with DeAndre Carter and DJ Moore hauling in three receptions each.
Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr. split a sack in the first half, pulling down Williams for a ten yard loss. Derek Barnett also got his hands on Williams for a sack that pushed the Bears back eight yards.
Once again, Texans K Ka'imi Fairbairn was a standout, connecting on all three attempts including a 59-yarder.
The second half was a defensive battle. Houston's defense was stout at the line of scrimmage and the third quarter ended with Williams the leading rusher for Chicago with only 19 yards.
But the Bears defense was locked in as well and sacked Stroud twice. Running back Joe Mixon was questionable after going down under a pair of tacklers but re-entered the game in the fourth quarter as Houston sought to grind out yards against an aggressive opponent.
Late in the third quarter, Williams challenged CB Derek Stingley Jr. with a lofted pass to D.J. Moore. The cornerback read it perfectly and yanked the ball out of the air in front of the receiver for a pick.
View the best photos from the Week 2 matchup between the Houston Texans and Chicago Bears.
In the fourth quarter, Texans rookie CB Kamari Lassiter got the first interception of his NFL career. After Danielle Hunter nearly sacked Williams, the quarterback spun away and looked to TE Cole Kmet. But the Texans were ready.
Lassiter flew in front of the tight end and ripped the ball out of the air, returning it nine yards before being pushed out of bounds.
The defenses continued to roll as the clock wound down, and it was offseason signing Danielle Hunter who finally put the game to bed for Houston. The defensive end charged through and wrapped up Williams as the Texans held on for a second straight win to open the 2024 season.
The Houston Texans are back in action next weekend when they travel to Minnesota, then they return to NRG Stadium on September 29 to battle the Jacksonville Jaguars.
