The last time the Houston Texans won three games in a row, the world looked differently.
In 2018, the Texans started 0-3 under Bill O’Brien. There were great expectations as the club was entering its second season with their highly touted first-round quarterback from a season ago. How could all of this talent struggle out of the gate?
Buy Texans TicketsHouston rattled off nine straight wins to correct their record. With a more respectable 9-3 mark, the Texans finished 11-5 and collected another AFC South title.
The sugarplums of the playoffs may not yet be in the minds of Houston sports fans, but a win over the Atlanta Falcons would get the talks going of how accelerated the timeline is on this rebuild.
How to watch
Houston Texans at Atlanta Falcons — Sunday, Oct. 8, 12:00 p.m. CT
TV channel: KRIV-TV (Fox 26)
Live stream: FuboTV
Radio: Sports Radio 610 (KILT-AM), Mega 101 (KLOL-FM) (Marc Vandermeer & Andre Ware)
Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Ga.
Forecast: Sunny, 64 degrees, 10 mph wind (indoors)
Follow the @TheTexansWire and the crew (@therealmarklane, @BigSargeSportz, @chrisnallsnfl @JohnHCrumpler)
Pregame
The Texans declared their inactives, and CB Shaquill Griffin makes the list.
First quarter
15:00 — Atlanta gets the ball first. A holding call pushes the Falcons back to first-and-10 from their own 11-yard line.
13:48 — Houston turns Atlanta three-and-out as QB Desmond Ridder throws an incomplete pass on third-and-6 from the 15-yard line.
13:43 — The Texans absolutely have a chance to make an opening statement. P Bradley Pinion punts 41 yards to the Texans’ 44, and then WR Tank Dell returns it nine yards to the Falcons’ 47.
11:23 — The Falcons stuff RB Dameon Pierce on third-and-1 from the Atlanta 19. Initially it seemed Houston would go for it, but Houston opted for a field goal.
10:41 — K Ka’imi Fairbairn hits a 38-yard field goal. 3-0, Texans
6:53 — Ridder rushes for seven yards to get into the end zone. There was some discussion as to whether Ridder was losing possession as he crossed the pylon, but referee Shawn Hochuli did not review the play. Atlanta goes 75 yards in seven plays. K Youghoe Koo extra point is good. 7-3, Falcons
4:47 — On a third-and-10 from the Texans’ 40-yard line, QB C.J. Stroud throws an incomplete pass for RB Devin Singletary.
2:25 — The defense recaptures some of its positive energy from the first drive as Ridder throws an incomplete pass for TE Jonnu Smith on third-and-5 from the Atlanta 46.
Second quarter
14:56 — Stroud hits WR Robert Woods for five yards on third-and-15 from the Atlanta 25.
14:14 — Fairbairn hits a 43-yard field goal. 7-6, Falcons
13:09 — Ridder can’t file TE Kyle Pitts on third-and-3 from the Atlanta 32.
12:58 — Stroud gets thing going with a 22-yard pass to TE Teagan Quitoriano on a bootleg. Houston faces first-and-10 from the Atlanta 48.
11:25 — After a 1-yard run from Dell, an incomplete pass for Dell, Stroud misses Woods on a third-and-9 from the Falcons’ 47.
10:35 — LB Henry To’oTo’o was injured tackling RB Tyler Allgeier for no gain on a first-and-10 from the Falcons’ 39. To’oTo’o limps off. Consider the rookie linebacker is wearing the green-dot helmet.
8:09 — Pitts commits a false start to backup Atlanta third-and-16 from the Houston 45. Ridder throws an incomplete pass looking for WR Drake London. To’oTo’o returned to the game.
7:19 — Stroud throws to TE Dalton Schultz for four yards on third-and-9 from the Houston 21. The Texans are now 0-5 on third downs for the afternoon.
2:00 — Ridder completes a 5-yard pass to Pitts on third-and-7 from the Houston 34. C Drew Dalman hit To’oTo’o late, incurring an unnecessary roughness penalty that takes the Falcons out of field goal range.
0:41 — Stroud hits Dell for 29 yards on third-and-10 from the Houston 42. Dell was injured on the play.
0:09 — Stroud fails to connect with Woods on first-and-5 from the 10-yard line.
0:06 — Fairbairn hits a 28-yard field goal. 9-7, Texans
Halftime
Stats
TEXANS
Stroud: 14/22, 173 yards
Pierce: 7 carries, 20 yards
Dell: 3 catches, 57 yards; 2 carries, -4 yards
FALCONS
Ridder: 10/16, 121 yards; 1 carry, 7 yards, TD
Robinson: 8 carries, 20 yards
Pitts: 3 carries, 39 yards
Third quarter
15:00 — Dell is questionable to return with a concussion.
11:55 — The Texans had a good drive going, but it stalled out as Stroud couldn’t connect with WR Nico Collins on third-and-8 from the Atlanta 44.
11:01 — DT Khalil Davis forces a Robinson fumble. DE Dylan Horton recovers at the Atlanta 30-yard line.
9:42 — The Texans go with two straight runs to Pierce for gains of four and two. On third-and-4 from the Falcons’ 24, Stroud misses Schultz.
9:38 — Fairbairn hits a 42-yard field goal. 12-7, Texans
4:50 — On a second-and-10 from the Houston 23, S Grayland Arnold forces TE Jonnu Smith to fumble, and S Jalen Pitre recovers. Houston gets their second takeaway and first-and-10 at their own 30-yard line.
4:06 — Stroud throws an incomplete pass looking for Woods on a third-and-6 from the 34-yard line. The Texans have three points off two takeaways.
Fourth quarter
12:15 — Ridder hits Robinson for a 6-yard touchdown. Ridder also hits Allgeier for a two-point conversion. 15-12, Falcons
11:25 — Stroud throws incomplete on third-and-2, going three-and-out.
7:04 — Ridder throws incomplete for London on third-and-11 from the Texans’ 14. The Texans caught a break given how the Falcons were dealing to this point on their drive.
7:00 — Koo kicks a 33-yard field goal. 18-12 Falcons
1:54 — Stroud connects with Schultz for an 18-yard touchdown. Extra point is good. 19-18, Texans
0:47 — Houston calls timeout as Atlanta advances to the Texans’ 26-yard line, and then the Texans incur a 12-men in the huddle penalty.
0:02 — Koo hits a 37-yard field goal. 21-19, Falcons
0:00 — Houston moves to 2-3, snapping their two-game winning streak. Coverage all night at Texans Wire.
