Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud completed 23 of 36 passes for 260 yards with one TD, no turnovers and a 94.7 passer rating. Nico Collins led Houston in receiving with eight catches for 135 yards and his team’s only TD on a 28-yard reception.
The Texans took a 3-0 lead on the game’s opening possession on Fairbairn’s 56-yard field goal. The drive was sustained by Stroud’s 8-yard pass to running back Joe Mixon on third-and-6.
The Bears answered, tying the score 3-3 on Santos’ 53-yard field goal. Williams completed 5 of 5 passes for 55 yards on the possession, including a 14-yard laser beam to receiver DeAndre Carter on the right sideline on third-and-12.
The Texans retook a 10-3 lead on Stroud’s TD pass to Collins on second-and-24 on the first play of the second quarter. It came one snap after Collins had drawn a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for hitting cornerback Tyrique Stevenson in the facemask.
Stroud was 4 of 4 for 70 yards on the drive, including an 18-yard completion to tight end Cade Stover on a play-action pass on fourth-and-1 from the 50.
After the Bears went three-and-out, the Texans increased their lead to 13-3 on Fairbairn’s 47-yard field goal. The drive was sustained by Stroud’s 21-yard pass to receiver Stefon Diggs on third-and-10 from the Houston 23.
The Bears later scored their first offensive touchdown of the season on Herbert’s 2-yard run, cutting the deficit to 13-10 with :32 left in the half. The TD came after receiver Carter drew a pass interference penalty on safety Calen Bullock at the Texans’ 6 on a third-and-14 play from the 30.
Fairbairn’s 59-yard field goal widened the margin to 16-10 with :01 left in the half. The kick was set up by Stroud’s 16-yard pass to Collins along the sideline.
Both teams punted on their first three possessions of the second half before Williams committed the first turnover of the game when his long pass intended for DJ Moore was intercepted by cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. at the Houston 34.
The Texans converted the takeaway into Fairbairn’s 53-yard field goal, widening the margin to 19-10 with 13:39 left in the fourth quarter.
Williams was then intercepted on a second straight drive when his pass intended for Cole Kmet was picked off by cornerback Kamari Lassiter.
The Texans reached the Bears’ 4. But on first-and-goal, Andrew Billings forced running back Cam Akers to fumble, and Kevin Byard III recovered at the 3.
Converting the takeaway, Santos made it a one-score game at 19-13 with a 54-yard field goal with 2:51 remaining. But the Bears were unable to complete the rally.
“We didn’t execute the way we needed to,” Williams said. “We’re going to keep getting better. Everything is about the response. It’s Week 2. I’m a young guy, but I understand it’s a long season. I understand that it’s Week 2, understanding that we’re going to respond and get better every day.”
First appeared on www.chicagobears.com