TEXANS DEFEAT GIANTS
Houston Texans flex on defense against Giants!
Aug 17, 2024, 4:04 pm
Texans defeat the Giants, 28-10. Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images.
New York’s Daniel Jones threw two interceptions, one which was returned for a touchdown in his first action since a season-ending knee injury last year and the Houston Texans beat the Giants 28-10 Saturday in preseason action.
Jones tore the ACL in his right knee on Nov. 5 and had recovered for the start of training camp but was held out of New York’s preseason opener last week against Detroit. He played until halftime Saturday and was 11 of 18 for 138 yards.
Houston’s C.J. Stroud threw for 88 yards in one quarter after playing two series in his preseason debut last week. The Texans didn’t score on his first drive and he was lifted for Case Keenum in the middle of the next one at the start of the second quarter.
Jones was under heavy pressure in the end zone on his second drive when he threw a desperation pass which was picked off by Jalen Pitre and returned 5 yards for a touchdown to make it 7-0.
The Giants were driving on the next possession when Jones attempted a deep throw to Jalin Hyatt. But Derek Stingley jumped in front of him near the end zone for another interception.
Jones moved the ball more effectively after that with most of Houston’s starters on the bench. He directed a 63-yard drive capped by a 1-yard TD run by Devin Singletary that tied it early in the second.
John Metchie led the Texans with six receptions for 68 yards. Metchie, who is starting his second season since missing his rookie year undergoing treatment for cancer, grabbed a 3-yard touchdown from Case Keenum to make it 14-7 in the second.
New York’s Malik Nabers, the sixth overall pick in this year’s draft, jumped up to grab a pass for a 21-yard gain just before halftime. Nabers, who sat out last week while dealing with an ankle injury, had four receptions for 54 yards. That drive ended with a field goal that cut the lead to 14-10 at the break.
Houston's British Brooks, an undrafted rookie, had touchdown runs of 6 and 15 yards in the fourth quarter to extend the lead to 28-10.
Be sure to watch the video above as the crew from Texans on Tap react live to the win over the Giants!
Injuries
Giants: Linebacker Micah McFadden was carted off in the first quarter with a hip injury. … OL Ryder Anderson injured his hamstring in the first quarter. … LB Matthew Adams left in the third quarter with a groin injury.
Roof damage
The roof of NRG Stadium has yet to be repaired from damages sustained during Hurricane Beryl last month. Several panels of the retractable roof were damaged in the Category 1 storm. The roof was closed Saturday, but two sections of it near one end zone were missing, allowing sun to stream onto the field.
The team has said that supplies to repair the roof are difficult to get and repairs might not be completed until about a month into the regular season.
Remembering Jacoby Jones
The Texans honored Jacoby Jones, who died of heart disease last month at 40, before the game. Jones was drafted by the team in 2007 and spent his first five seasons in Houston.
His family was on the field during introductions and his son Jacoby Jones Jr. fired the cannon before the team ran out.
Up Next
Giants: End the preseason against the New York Jets next Saturday night.
Texans: Have a joint practice with the Los Angeles Rams Thursday before wrapping up the preseason by hosting them next Saturday.
Most Popular
SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome
Listen Live
Expectations
The Texans are favored to win the AFC South for a third straight season with a team led by young stars quarterback C.J. Stroud and defensive end Will Anderson. Stroud’s strong first two years helped the Texans turn things around and this year they’ll try to reach the playoffs in three straight seasons for the first time in franchise history. Stroud will be directing a new offense led by first-time offensive coordinator Nick Caley, who took over after Bobby Slowik was fired this offseason following Houston’s loss to the Chiefs in the divisional round. General manager Nick Caserio also beefed up the team’s receiving corps, led by Nico Collins, by adding veteran Christian Kirk and drafting Jayden Higgins in the second round and Jaylin Noel in the third. Coach DeMeco Ryans has vowed the offensive line will be better this season after Stroud was sacked 52 times last season, which was second-most in the league. But it’s difficult to see how his protection will be better after they traded left tackle Laremy Tunsil and didn’t make any big moves to replace him. Defensively, Anderson should take another step forward in his second year playing with veteran Danielle Hunter after the third-overall pick in the 2023 draft had 17 sacks combined in his first two seasons. Cornerback Derek Stingley returns to lead a talented young secondary after earning first team AP All-Pro honors last season when he had five interceptions and defended 18 passes.
New faces
OC Nick Caley, WR Jayden Higgins, WR Christian Kirk, WR Jaylin Noel, LT Cam Robinson, RB Nick Chubb, RT Aireontae Ersery, LG Laken Tomlinson, C Jake Andrews.
Key losses
LT Laremy Tunsil, WR John Metchie III, G Kenyon Green, TE Brevin Jordan, CB Eric Murray, WR Robert Woods, CB Kris Boyd.
Strengths
Stroud and Houston’s stacked receiving group should be the stars of the team this season. The 2023 AP Offensive Rookie of the Year has been great in his first two seasons to bring the Texans back into contention after an awful stretch. His interception rate was up last season but he’s looking for improvement this season in Caley’s offense, which he has described as “exciting.” He’ll have plenty of strong targets to throw to, led by Collins, who had a second straight 1,000-yard season last year despite missing five games with injuries. He’ll be joined by Kirk, who should fill in at the slot with Tank Dell likely to miss all season recovering from an injury he suffered in December. Higgins and Noel come to Houston after combining for 2,377 yards receiving and 17 touchdowns last season at Iowa State.
Weaknesses
It’s hard to see how the offensive line will be improved this season with Tunsil gone to Washington. Though he was penalty-prone, he was the team’s most consistent lineman. They completely revamped the line after his trade and return just one starter from last year’s group. They’ll likely rely on rookie Ersery to protect Stroud’s blind side after taking him in the second round of the draft. He started 38 games at left tackle over three seasons at Minnesota. Veteran Tytus Howard returns at right tackle after starting 16 games there last season. The center is Jake Andrews in his first year in Houston and he returns after missing all of last season with an injury before being released by the Patriots. Left guard Laken Tomlinson and right guard Ed Ingram are also new to the team.
Camp development
Houston’s secondary sustained a big blow in camp when safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson suffered a leg injury. The injury isn’t season-ending but he is likely to miss significant time. Gardner-Johnson is in his first year in Houston after he was acquired from the Eagles in March in exchange for left guard Kenyon Green. He was expected to be the team’s starting free safety after the Texans lost Eric Murray in free agency to the Jaguars. The Texans will also be without backup Jimmie Ward indefinitely after he was placed on the commissioner exempt list Tuesday as he faces a felony domestic violence charge after a June arrest.
Fantasy player to watch
Collins should have another big year after finishing with more than 1,000 yards receiving in each of the last two seasons. He’s had 15 touchdowns combined in the last two seasons despite missing seven games with injuries.
BetMGM Sportsbook
Win Super Bowl: 35-1.