Baltimore, Maryland:
Wow, it finally happened in Houston. The Houston Texans get a win in Baltimore against the Ravens in a most dramatic fashion, beating them decisively 44-10.
I wrote about the importance last week of momentum. Their victory against the Titans carried over to the Ravens’ game. Reality shouts that they were missing the top rushing quarterback of all time Lamar Jackson, but the team shut down one of the best running backs in the game Derrick Henry to only thirty-three (33) yards rushing and scored five (5) touchdowns against one of the best NFL defenses in this decade.
The first series of downs for the Texans were almost picture perfect with C.J. Stroud who led his team down the field in a hostile environment and threw four (4) completions on five (5) attempts covering a sixty-seven (67) yard drive for a score, and the team never looked back. Stroud finished the day with twenty-three (23) completions on twenty-seven (27) attempts for two hundred and forty-four (244) with a record of four (4) touchdowns. The receiving squad was on for the game with wide receivers Christian Kirk and Nico Collins combining for one hundred and sixteen (116) yards. Tight end Dalton Schultz had five (5) receptions for sixty (60) yards, but it was wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson with two (2) touchdown receptions.
Newly acquired Texans running back Nick Chubb looked fantastic with an explosive twenty-seven (27) yard run in the third quarter to further the lead to 31-3. He finished the day with eleven (11) carries for sixty-one (61) yards. It was the first time this season that the Texans scored a touchdown in the third quarter this season. The play calling was excellent; in fact, at the close of the first half, the Texans had ninety-nine (99) rushing and ninety-nine (99) passing.
The Houston Texans’ defense came to play with three (3) interceptions; defensive back Jalen Pitre had two (2) picks along with Kamari Lassiter with one (1), and Mario Edwards, Jr. got a sack. Texans’ defensive back E.J. Speed led the team with five (5) solo tackles with one (1) assist. On special teams, place kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn went three (3) for three (3) that included a beautiful fifty-seven (57) yard field goal. It is a momentous day for football when your punter, Tommy Townsend, had only one (1) punt for fifty-nine (59) yards.
Positive Momentum is building for the team, so it is unfortunate that the team has a bye this coming week. The Texans, despite their shaky start, are poised to get back to their winning ways.
In other AFC South divisional action, the Indianapolis Colts ravished the Raiders 40-6, the Tennessee Titans squeaked past the Arizona Cardinals 22-21, and the Jacksonville Jaguars play the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday Night Football.
The Houston Texans get a well-earned bye week. The team will travel to Seattle to take on the Seahawks, so read about your hometown team in your hometown paper.