Houston Texans: THREE Capstones To Their Detroit Lions Win

The Houston Texans beat a red-hot Matthew Stafford and the Detroit Lions in their first NFL meeting since that historic Thanksgiving Day in 2012.

Houston built a 14-3 lead at the break and then rode a fourth-quarter possession dominating offense to hold on for a 17-10 win. It wasn’t pretty but it was a win and that’s all that matters in the standings.

So how did the Houston Texans win on Sunday and keep a perfect 5-0 record at home in 2016?

Detroit entered NRG Stadium, only able to muster up a paltry 3.9 yards per carry but on Sunday Theo Riddick returned and looked more like Barry Sanders dashing left, right and up the middle at least earlier that is as he gained 42 yards on his first four carries.

The second-year back averaged seven plus yards a carry in the opening half. The Detroit run game at one point averaged nearly nine yards per carry but when it counted, the Houston Texans’ rush defense came to play, holding the Lions backfield to 13 yards on seven carries.

This all occurred in the second half — as well as a 4.1 yards per carry game average by the time the final whistle blew.

Reason #1: That’s why the Houston Texans won.

President George H.W. Bush presided over the coin toss in light of “Salute to Service” Sunday and deferred giving Detroit first crack at getting on the board first.

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The drive stalled at the Texans’ 38-yard marker on an incomplete play on fourth and three.

Stafford entered the gridiron battle with what was rounding into an MVP type season but suddenly looked more like Houston Texans’ quarterback Brock Osweiler missing wide-right, wide-left, high and low.

His inconsistency — he was 27-for-41 — resulted in a QBR of 89.3.

Osweiler entered the game with a QBR of 71.9 yet after going 9-of-13 early he had a 112.3 QBR.

He plays as confident as any quarterback on their home field his performance today demonstrated that he’s capable of taking the lead.

Reason #2: Another reason why the Houston Texans won? There you go.

Lastly, the Houston Texans’ tight ends continue to excel.

C.J. Fiedorowicz, Ryan Griffin and Stephen Anderson made all the difference with solid performances.

The trio of sorts was targeted 12 times and made good on 10 of them for 94 yards and including the touchdown catch by Fiedorowicz.

Here’s what he had to say about the effect the tight end play has on the offense as a whole:

"“It’s going to open up the outside,” Fiedorowicz told the Texans’ Drew Dougherty. “It’s going to open up the running game. The receivers complement us, we complement them, and it just keeps the defense on their heels because they don’t know what’s coming.”"

Since their match up with the Tennessee Titans, the Houston tight ends have amassed 39 passes for 429 yards and three touchdowns.

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The Houston Texans’ tight ends have become a pivotal complement to the wide receiving corps which has hauled in 59 receptions for 522 yards and two touchdowns over that same span.

And that’s Reason #3: Hook, Line and Sinker

With the “W” on Sunday, the Houston Texans enter their bye week with a 5-3 record, which is good enough for first place in the AFC South.

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