After just two plays, the Houston Texans got a clear idea of how Sunday’s game against the Vikings would unfold.
On the first play, Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud connected with wide receiver Nico Collins for a 17-yard gain, putting the Texans near midfield. However, tight end Cade Stover was called for holding, which canceled out the big gain.
On the next play, Stroud aimed for wideout Tank Dell on a crossing route. But defensive tackle Harrison Phillips tipped the pass, and linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill intercepted it, giving the Vikings the ball at the Texans’ 21-yard line.
Just six plays later, the Vikings scored to take a 7-0 lead and went on to dominate the game 34-7.
The holding penalty on Stover was one of 11 penalties the Texans faced on Sunday, following a week where they had 12 penalties in a win against the Bears.
“You can’t win that way, when you have something positive going, and you negate it by the penalty.
That just saps the energy out of everyone,” Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said. “And turning the ball over — a lot of miscues today. You can’t do that and expect to win in this league.”
Quarterbacks turning the ball over isn’t uncommon — unless you’re Stroud. He had thrown 266 passes without an interception, a streak that went back to November 19, 2023, covering nine games, including two playoff matches.
That streak ended after just 26 throws, when Vikings safety Camryn Bynum intercepted Stroud in the fourth quarter, leading to the Vikings’ final touchdown.
Stroud finished the game 20 for 31 for 215 yards and one touchdown, along with two interceptions. He was also sacked four times. After the game, Stroud acknowledged the Vikings’ performance while recognizing that many of the Texans’ mistakes were self-inflicted.
