Texans 23, Bears 14: Post-Game Recap

A late second half surge by the Houston Texans on both sides of the ball allowed them to coast past the Chicago Bears in the Texans’ season opener

The game started on a concerning note after the Texans’ opening drive was halted by a Brock Osweiler interception, which the Bears promptly turned into a touchdown after the Texans defense gave up a 29 yard pass to Alshon Jeffrey and then a 20 yard passing interference call. The Texans began early on by working the ball into Lamar Miller’s hand often, and it was Miller’s work, which was the driving force behind the Texans’ first scoring drive, which ended with a Nick Novak field goal. The Texans’ defense continued to struggle with Alshon Jeffrey and the Bears’ passing game, but was able to hold the Bears off the scoreboard. The Texans finally got on the right foot after Brock Osweiler connected with DeAndre Hopkins for a 23 yard scoring strike. While this briefly gave the Texans the lead, it was short lived, as the Bears ended the first half by driving down the field and scoring with a Eddie Royal TD, giving the Bears the lead again heading into the locker room.

This, however, would be the last points that the Bears would score for the remainder of the day. In the second half, the Texans’ defense took charge. The Bears’ first drive was cut short after Andre Hal intercepted a Jay Cutler pass. This led to the Texans adding on more points and cutting the lead to one on a Nick Novak field goal. The Texans’ offense then kicked it up a gear by capping a long drive with a WR screen to Will Fuller, who took the ball in from 19 yards out. With the momentum firmly in Houston’s favor, the defense turned up the heat, with Whitney Mercilus strip-sacking Jay Cutler and forcing a turnover. Will Fuller then had a huge 35 yard completion on the following drive, which set the Texans up for another field goal, putting the game comfortably out of reach.

So there you have it. The Texans’ opening game of the season ends with a victory. Brock Osweiler overcame some early nerves to have a solid game. Will Fuller showed a lot to be excited about, and Whitney Mercilus was outstanding rushing the passer. All in all, a solid start to the season. What say you, Texans fans? What stood out the most from the Texans’ opener? What has you excited or worried for the coming season after this week? Let us know in the comments below.