We’re back, Texans fans! After what seemed like a journey through the sports wilderness since the Super Bowl last February, we’ve finally arrived to week 1! The storylines wrote themselves this week, as the Texans came into SoFi Stadium to face the Rams and make an early statement to being their new campaign.
C.J. Stroud made his first start in his home state, facing off against veteran gun-slinger Matthew Stafford. The story of this game would be, how will the Texans respond with a number of key
players out for their week 1 matchup? On the Rams side, Stafford has been nursing a back issue that had limited his football activities leading up to today.
Regardless, we had some ball to play today, Houston. It’s good to be back!
First Quarter:
Texans score first on 4th & 7 from the Rams 33 yard line. (3-0)
With 1:20 left in the 1st, Ka’imi Fairbairn drilled a 51 yarder after 13 plays to give the Texans their first score of the season. Texans lead 3-0.
Second Quarter
Texans score again and increase their lead. (6-0)
Another double digit drive aided the Texans in getting within field goal range again. After starting at the 46 of the Rams, they went 10 plays and 19 yards to set up Ka’imi for the three point score. This made it 6-0.
Rams responded with an 11 play scoring drive of their own. (7-6)
Starting at their 35, they went 65 yards and found the endzone on RB Kyren Williams’ run over left tackle. Josh Karty’s extra point made it 7-6 Rams. This left about 57 seconds on the clock for Stroud and the offense to work with to close the half.
Texans retake the lead on Fairbairn’s leg. (9-7)
After an eight play drive that started on their own 23, Fairbairn kicked another field goal to retake the lead 9-7.
Third Quarter
Rams begin the 3rd Quarter with a touchdown drive. (14-9)
Going eight plays and 63 yards, the Rams scored on a 13-yard Matthew Stafford touchdown pass to TE Davis Allen. The key play on the drive was a 36 yard deep ball to WR Xavier Smith.
Stroud throws his first INT of the season
On a deep pass intended for WR Jayden Higgins, Rams CB Cobie Durant took it out of his hands for a suspect interception. It was suspect because, upon replay it definitely appeared as though the ball hit the turf as Durant crashed to the ground. But, the referees thought otherwise.
Fourth Quarter
Clutch fumble gives Texans one last chance for the comeback (1st & 10 at Texans 12)
With about 4:17 left in the quarter, Matthew Stafford threw what was initially called an incomplete pass to WR Colby Parkinson after a brutal hit by LB Azeez A-Shaair popped the ball loose. Upon review, it was determined that Parkinson had possession, thus the Texans got the ball with four minutes left.
Rams cause a fumble to retake possession and close out the game
To the heartbreak of everyone outside of SoFi Stadium, RB Dare Ogunbowale fumbled at the Rams 25 yard line. This happened when Rams LB Nate Landman punched the ball out of the back’s hands after a seven yard catch and run. This left roughly 1:50 on the clock for the Texans to possibly get the ball back after keeping all three timeouts.
Unfortunately, Jalen Pitre got beat on 3rd down via a game sealing out breaking route by WR Puka Nakua. The completion from Stafford went for 24 yards and the first down, which is all the Rams needed to ice the game.
Final: Texans lose 14-9 to the Rams
Final Assessment:
The Texans played a hard fought game against a Rams team who many view as a dark horse superbowl contender. They came into this game with a number of key injuries to the offensive side of the ball, including OL Ed Ingram, WR Christian Kirk, and WR Braxton Barrios.
Even still, there are a number of items that Nick Caley and that offense should want cleaned up before their week 2 home opener against Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
C.J. Stroud went 19/27 for 188 yards and 0 touchdowns in the game. The offensive line was responsible for a number of key penalties, including OT Cam Robinson’s holding penalty on the 1st offensive play of the game. And the rushing attack didn’t do much, with the game high coming from Nick Chubb on 13 carries for 60 yards.(4.6 yards/carry)
The only scoring that happened was by Ka’imi with everything by way of the field goal. He probably helped win fantasy for a few players after today.
