Houston Texans outlast Detroit Lions 20-13

Photo by Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2016 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2016 TexSport Publications

HOUSTON, TEXAS (October 30, 2016) The Houston Texans started out slow but built momentum as the game went on to take a 20-13 win over the Detroit Lions on Sunday, October 30, 2016 at NRG Stadium in Houston. The win gives Houston a 5-3 record and places them at the top of the AFC South. The Lions drop to 4-4 and sit in third place in the NFC North.

It took the Texans until the second quarter to draw Lion blood and get on the scoreboard.  They marched 61 yards in 12 plays, resulting in a six-yard pass from quarterback BrockOsweiler to tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz for the touchdown. Nick Novak’s extra point kick was good to give Houston a 70-0 lead with 12:36 remaining in the first half. Seven minutes later Houston added seven more points on a one-yard run by running back Lamar Miller and another extra point by Novak. The Lions cut the Texans’ lead to 11 when Matt Prater booted a 47-yard field goal with two seconds left in the first half. Houston extended their lead at the 5:51 mark of the third quarter with a 33-yard field goal by Novak. Novak added a 36 yarder in the fourth quarter to close the Texans’ scoring. Detroit score 10 points in the final period on a one-yard pass play, kicking extra point and a field goal.

Sunday’s game was the fourth matchup between the two squads. They first played on September 19, 2004 at Ford Field in Detroit where the Texans dropped a 28-16 decision. Their second game, on October 19, 2008 saw Houston come out on top 28-21 at NRG (then Reliant) Stadium. The most recent meeting, prior to Sunday’s game, was on November 22, 2012. The Texans downed the Lions 34-31 in overtime in Detroit.

Next up for the Texans is a November 13 meeting against the Jacksonville Jaguars on the road. They follow that game up with a November 21 game against the Oakland Raiders in Mexico City, Mexico. The return to the friendly confines of NRG Stadium on Sunday, November 27 where they will face the San Diego Chargers with a 12 noon CT kickoff.