NFL

Chicago Bears at Houston Texans

· National Football League
1-1, 0-1 Away
Final
13 - 19
2-0, 1-0 Home

Stroud throws a TD pass and Fairbairn kicks 4 field goals to help the Texans top the Bears 19-13

Khalil Herbert punches it in for a Bears TD

Houston picked off rookie Caleb Williams twice after halftime and the Texans held on for a 19-13 victory.

“It’s just about winning one week at a time," coach DeMeco Ryans said. “They’re not always going to be pretty, but you just have to find a way to win. That’s what I’m most proud about with our guys. No matter what happened there at the end, we found a way to win.”

Stroud threw for 260 yards and a touchdown and Ka′imi Fairbairn kicked four field goals to help the Houston to the win.

Fairbairn connected from 56, 47, 59 and 53 yards, and Houston's defense put heavy pressure on Williams for much of the game.

“It's always fun getting after any quarterback,” said Houston defensive end Will Anderson Jr., who had 1 1/2 sacks. “This week we just wanted to keep putting pressure on him.”

Stroud’s 28-yard scoring pass to Nico Collins put Houston up 10-3 early in the second quarter, and the Texans led 16-10 at halftime.

Houston (2-0) managed only a field goal after halftime, but the defense made it hold up.

Williams, the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft, was 23 of 37 for 174 yards. He was sacked seven times.

“He was able to evade the rush and get on the perimeter a few times, but then he has to be careful with the football when he gets out there,” Chicago coach Matt Eberflus said. “So, there were some great learning moments for him.”

Houston’s Cam Akers fumbled on the Chicago 4 with about 6 1/2 minutes left, and the Bears (1-1) recovered. Cairo Santos made a 54-yard field goal to make it 19-13 with 2:51 left.

The Texans couldn’t get anything going on their next drive and punted with about 90 seconds left. But Williams was sacked by Danielle Hunter on second down and his fourth-down pass fell incomplete to allow Houston to run out the clock.

“We didn’t execute the way we needed to,” Williams said. “We’re going to keep getting better. I’m a young guy and it’s a long season.”

Collins had 135 yards receiving for a second straight 100-yard game to power the offense in a game where Joe Mixon left briefly with an ankle injury. He managed just 25 yards rushing after he led the NFL with 159 yards rushing last weekend in his Houston debut.

Neither team scored in the second half until Houston extended the lead to 19-10 with a 53-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter. That score was set up when Williams was hit as he threw and was intercepted by Derek Stingley.

On Chicago’s second play of the next drive Williams escaped a sack only to throw another interception. This time he was picked off by rookie Kamari Lassiter, a second-round pick from Georgia.

The Texans went in front for good on Collins' TD reception on the first play of the second quarter. That play came after he was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct on the previous play for pushing his hand into Tyrique Stevenson’s face after the cornerback back put his hands in Collins’ face.

The Texans made it 13-3 with a 47-yard field goal on their next possession. Stroud had a stellar throw on the drive, finding Collins for an 18-yard gain on the run despite taking a hit as he threw.

“That's special,” Collins said. “Not many people can do that, extend the play like that. He's special. You can't coach that.”

A 2-yard scoring run by Khalil Herbert just before halftime cut Houston's lead to 13-10. It was the first touchdown on offense for the Bears this season after they failed to score any last week. The score was set up by a pass interference call on rookie Calen Bullock that gave the Bears a first down at the 6.

A 59-yard field goal by Fairbairn made it 16-10 at halftime.

Injuries Bears: DL Zacch Pickens left in the second half with a groin injury. … WR Keenan Allen was inactive with a heel injury.

Kicking It Fairbairn, who had three field goals 50 yards or longer last week, became the first player in NFL history with five or more field goals of at least 50 yards in a two-game span.

“Nobody talks about (him) enough,” Ryans said. “(Fairbairn) is the reason why we won these two games. That’s been the player of the game.”

Up next Bears: Visit Indianapolis next Sunday.

Texans: Visit Vikings next Sunday.

How can I watch Bears vs. Texans?

  • TV Channel: Bears at Texans 2021-22 NFL, week 2 is broadcasted nationally on NBC and Peacock.
  • Online streaming: Sign up for Fubo.
    In Canada, viewers can watch Bears vs. Texans on DAZN.

Matchup Prediction

Texans: 65.5%
Bears: 34.2%
*According to ESPN's Football Power Index

Scoring Summary

HOU FG 1st Period 10:20 Ka'imi Fairbairn 56 Yd Field Goal
CHI FG 1st Period 3:51 Cairo Santos 53 Yd Field Goal
HOU TD 2nd Period 14:55 Nico Collins 28 Yd pass from C.J. Stroud (Ka'imi Fairbairn Kick)
HOU FG 2nd Period 9:55 Ka'imi Fairbairn 47 Yd Field Goal
CHI TD 2nd Period 0:32 Khalil Herbert 2 Yd Run (Cairo Santos Kick)
HOU FG 2nd Period 0:01 Ka'imi Fairbairn 59 Yd Field Goal
HOU FG 4th Period 13:39 Ka'imi Fairbairn 53 Yd Field Goal
CHI FG 4th Period 2:51 Cairo Santos 54 Yd Field Goal

Statistics

https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nfl/500/chi.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originCHI https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nfl/500/hou.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originHOU
15 1st Downs 15
7 Passing 1st downs 11
3 Rushing 1st downs 4
5 1st downs from penalties 0
6-17 3rd down efficiency 4-14
1-2 4th down efficiency 1-1
66 Total Plays 61
205 Total Yards 310
3.1 Yards per Play 5.1
13 Total Drives 13
134 Passing 235
23/37 Comp/Att 23/36
3.0 Yards per pass 6.0
2 Interceptions thrown 0
7-40 Sacks-Yards Lost 3-25
71 Rushing 75
22 Rushing Attempts 22
3.2 Yards per rush 3.4
1-1 Red Zone (Made-Att) 1-2
9-60 Penalties 12-115
2 Turnovers 1
0 Fumbles lost 1
2 Interceptions thrown 0
0 Defensive / Special Teams TDs 0
31:13 Possession 28:47

Game Information

NRG Stadium

Location: Houston, TX
Attendance: 71,412 · Capacity:

2024 NFC North Standings

TEAM W L PCT T PF PA
Detroit 9 1 .900 0 336 177
Minnesota 8 2 .800 0 244 170
Green Bay 7 3 .700 0 250 213
Chicago 4 6 .400 0 194 187

2024 AFC South Standings

TEAM W L PCT T PF PA
Houston 7 4 .636 0 258 236
Indianapolis 5 6 .455 0 236 250
Tennessee 2 8 .200 0 170 263
Jacksonville 2 9 .182 0 208 316
Full Standings

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