Houston Texans Final Score/Post-Game Recap: Texans 28, Saints 30

In an absolutely crazy opening Monday Night Football Game, the Texans saw the heroics of Deshaun Watson and DeAndre Hopkins dashed by a last second Will Lutz field goal to snag the win for the Saints.

The Texans started strong with a red zone INT of Drew Brees by LB Whitney Mercilus. Immediately following this, the Texans unleashed Will Fuller with Watson connecting to Fuller on a 54 yard strike. This deep bomb was the start of a seven play, 94 yard drive that was capped by a 21 yard Deshaun Watson scamper into the end zone to put the Texans ahead. The Saints’ response was less than strong, with only a field goal to show in response before the Texans worked another long drive into a TD with Watson throwing a strike to DeAndre Hopkins for six. After a Saints drive that stalled due to an officiating call that drained the clock, the Texans went into halftime with a 14-3 lead.

The Saints came out in the second half and immediately went about putting their slow start behind with a third quarter that included two dominant drives that ended scores, with both Latavius Murray and Taysom Hill getting into the end zone. The Texans weren’t quiet on their own end, with Watson and Hopkins once again connecting to finish a nine play, 75 yard drive to give the Texans the lead again. The Saints’ offense was now hot and a Deshaun Watson pick gifted them the chance to drive down the field, and they did. A four play, 49 yard drive ended with Drew Brees hitting Tre’Quan Smith for a 14 yard score and the lead. The flow of the game swung entirely towards the Saints with their defense swarming around Deshaun Watson, sacking him twice.

After gaining a stop with seven minutes to go, the Texans took the field down by three points. Two big plays by DeAndre Hopkins and Duke Johnson bought the Texans some breathing room. The drive stalled out at midfield on a 3rd and 11; Texans new LT Laremy Tunsil gave up a sack to kill the drive. The Saints promptly took the ball back and drove down the field to allow fWill Lutz to kick a field goal and put the Saints up by six with 50 seconds remaining and the Texans all out of timeouts.

The Texans don’t deserve Deshaun Watson sometimes. They put him through hell by putting him behind a line made up of trashcans, allowing him to get smacked about. Despite all of this, Watson will still have moments where he plays out of his mind and this drive was a otherworldy experience. A two play drive that started with a 38 yard dime from Watson to Hopkins was capped by a 37 yard bullseye to Kenny Stills in the end zone to tie the game. In a somewhat dramatic twist, Texans kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn missed the extra point, but the play was called back due to a roughing the kicker penalty. On the second chance, Fairbairn converted to give the Texans the lead with 30 seconds remaining.

Watson’s heroics were unfortunately short-lived. Behind Drew Brees and two timeouts, the Saints quickly maneuvered the ball the ball to field goal range, where Will Lutz drilled the game winning 58-yard field goal to give the Saints the victory.

That was your game. I’ve got nothing more to say after screaming my heart out during that last Texans drive. This is your thread to process what just happened.