Houston Texans 20 vs 9 New England Patriots summary: stats, scores and highlights | NFL Preseason

The Houston Texans started off the preseason slate with a win in Gillette Stadium on Thursday night after their defense kept the New England Patriots quiet for almost the entire 48 minutes. Case Keenum stretched the lead out in the second half orchestrating two touchdown drives that helped Houston pull away from the Pats in the 20-3 win. 

Stroud starts slow

The big story coming into the night was Texans rookie C.J. Stroud making his debut, but it probably won’t be a night he will want to remember for very long. He played just two possessions, thew an interception in his second throw and went 2/4 for 13 yards while being put under plenty of pressure during both of those drives. 

The Patriots would turn the Texans over for a second time when Dare Ogunbowale fumbled the ball early in the second quarter. Neither team could do much on the offensive end during the first two quarters all though Bailey Zappe did go 12-14 for 79 yards on a night in which Mac Jones dressed but didn’t play a snap. 

There is talk about a potential QB competition heating up in New England and Bill Belichick didn’t do anything to extinguish that chatter, saying all guys have to come in and compete for their jobs.

Dell shines in debut

It took until the final minute of the first half for the game’s first touchdown. Davis Mills, who has been the starter in Houston for the last couple seasons came in after Stroud’s two drives and initially struggled, but found Tank Dell in the end zone for a bobbling, acrobatic TD catch to put the Texans up 7-3. Dell ended the night with five catches and 65 yards. 

On the other side of the halftime break, veteran QB Case Keenum came in and marched the Texans down the field on a drive that was capped off with a Dalton Keene one yard TD run. 

Trace McSorley entered for Zappe but barley made an impact as the Pats offense continued to struggle. In that time Keenum extended the lead to 20-3 with a TD pass to Alex Bachman on 4th and 2 from the Pats 5 yard line. 

Cunningham raises a few eyebrows

The New England offense looked at it’s best when a guy who may be playing on the practice squad this season had control of the offense. Malik Cunningham came on for the final drive, went 3/4 for 19 yards through the air and had 34 yards on 5 rushes including the only touchdown of the Patriots night. 

The Texans won’t get too hung up on the win and the Patriots know this loss doesn’t mean anything. This was the first of 16 games on a busy Week 1 of the NFL preseason. 

Malik Cunningham came on to finish the game for the Patriots and led the Pats to the end zone for the only time late in the fourth quarter with this beautiful run to tighten the score just after the Two Minute Warning.

On 4th and 3 from the 5 the Texans went for it and Keenum threw a strike to Bachman to put the game out of reach. 

Case Keenum came in after the halftime break and looked like the best QB on the field Thursday night. He led a TD drive to open the half and capped the game off with a TD pass in the fouth quarter.

I'm not sure how he reeled this in, but a tremendous bit of concentration from the rookie Dell for the TD.

Tank Dell was the biggest stand out on Thursday night. The rookie caught five passes for 65 yards and a TD in his debut. And look at the catch he made for the only TD of the first half. 

Bailey Zappe got the start as Mac Jones watched the game from the sidelines, but in pads curiously enough. Zappe had this bomb to Thornton as he went 12/14 for 79 yards in the first half. 

The Pats scored a FG after the interception, but the offenses were slow off the block on Thursday. New England turned the Texans over twice in the first half. 

All the talk coming into this game was centered around the No. 2 pick in the Draft C.J. Stroud. The Patriots gave him a warm welcome to the league by picking him off on his second throw of the night.

The Texans are just going to run out the clock and that's going to do it here from Gillette Stadium. 

 We are at the Two Minute Warning from New England!

Taylor up the middle out of the shotgun and he gets a hard earned 4 yards. 

3rd and 6 from the HOU 9. 

A false start backs the Texans up five yards and Cunningham makes up those 5 yards with a designed QB draw.

2nd and 10 from the HOU 13. 

Strong keeps the drive alive with an 8 yard pick up on 4th down after the direct snap. 

1st and 10 from the HOU 13. 

Cunningham was flushed out of the pocket and made a brilliant throw to Nixon, but the WR couldn't reel in the catch. 

4th and 2 from the HOU 21. 

Strong gets the handoff and he picks up 3 yards to make it third and short. 

3rd and 2 from the HOU 21. 

Cunningham to the left side for Strong out of the backfield and that connection picks up 5 yards. 

2nd and 5 from the HOU 24.

Cunningham on the draw and he had his helmet ripped off after a vicious facemask penalty on Francis.

1st and 10 from the HOU 29 after the penalty. 

Cunningham tucked and ran for the first down, but a holding call with bring the Pats back to the 50 with a 2nd and 13.

Cunningham with the designed run on the left side and he picks up 7 yards. 

2nd and 3 from the HOU 40.

Cunningham finds Washington on the short stop route and that goes for 11 yards and a first down. 

1st and 10 from the HOU 47. 

Cunningham's first pass finds Pitts for a short gain of 3. 

2nd and 7 from the NE 42. 

Strong up the middle and he moves the chains with a 5 yard run. 

1st and 10 from the NE 39. 

Cunningham who is on the field as the NE QB picks up 7 yards on the designed run. 

3rd and 1 coming up from the NE 34. 

With under 10 minutes to play the Pats start their drive from the 25 and Strong runs up the middle for 2 yards. 

2nd and 8 from the NE 27. 

Keenum fired a quick pass to Camp who wasn't ready for the heat and it hit off his helmet and falls incomplete. 

4th and 3 and the Texans are going to go for it!

Keenum throws a strike into Johnson on the stop route for 6 yards. 

3rd and 3 from the NE 5. 

Valladay stumbled after getting the handoff and got back to the line of scrimmage, maybe a yard more. 

2nd and 9 from the NE 11. 

Doaks gets the pitch to the right side and cuts up field for the first down on a 5 yard run. 

1st and 10 from the NE 12. 

Keenum was looking for Keene, but he was pressured out of the bootleg and the pass fell incomplete. 

3rd and 4 from the NE 17. 

Pitch to Doaks on first down and he gets six yards on the left side. 

2nd and 4 from the NE 17. 

Keenum moves the chains and keeps the drive alive with a pass to Camp over the middle for 11 yards. 

1st and 10 from the NE 23. 

Doaks gets the hand off and he picks up two yards on the run to the left side. 

3rd and 4 coming up from the NE 34. 

The Texans start their drive from the NE 40 and Keenum finds Doaks for a gain of 4 out of the backfield. 

2nd and 6 from the NE 36. 

On 3rd and 23 from the 1, McSorley's deep pass to Pitts is complete but he made the catch out of bounds. 

4th down coming up and the Pats punt again. 

Taylor was almost wrapped up in the backfield for a safety and he just spins out of the end zone to avoid giving HOU the two points. 

That brings us to the end of the third quarter!

McSorley drops back and is sacked by Winovich for a loss of 8 yards. 

2nd and 18 from the NE 5. 

Keenum's pass to Bachman is incomplete and now the Texans will punt again. 

Valladay is stopped for no gain on second down. 

3rd and 6 from the HOU 38. 

Valladay gets 4 yards on first down on the run to the right side. 

2nd and 6 from the HOU 38. 

Uffff a neutral zone infraction will give the Texans a first down on 4th and 1 and Fagot is going to be running that penalty in his head when he lays down to sleep tonight. 

1st and 10 from the HOU 34 after the penalty. 

Keenum rolls out of the pocket and finds Bachman who adjusted his route and picked up almost enough for the 1st down. 

HOU showed like they were going for it but then brings the punt crew out. 

Valladay gets the pitch to the left side and he picks up three yards. 

3rd and 7 from the HOU 22. 

Keenum starts the drive from the HOU 19 and his pass to the right side was behind Camp. 

2nd and 10 from the HOU 19. 

McSorley gets out of the pocket and looks to scramble down the sideline, but ran out of bounds a few yards short. 

4th down coming up and the Pat will punt. 

McSorley finds Boutte on the short pass to the right for 4 yards. 

3rd and 6 from the NE 39. 

Harris up the middle out of the shot gun and he is stopped for no gain. 

2nd and 10 from the NE 35. 

McSorley dropped in the backfield but a defensive holding in the secondary will give the Pats a first down. 

1st and 10 from the NE 35. 

McSorley in for the Pats at QB and his first pass to Nixon falls incomplete. 

3rd and 6 from the NE 29. 

NE start their drive at the 25 and Harris gets 4 yards on first down to start the drive. 

2nd and 6 from the NE 29. 

Doaks following the pile and he got inside the 1 with a four yard gain. 

3rd and Goal from inside the 1 yard line. 

Lob from Keenum to Hutchinson was long and the WR never had a chance. 

2nd and Goal from the 5. 

Hutchinson was left wide open on the crossing route and he goes for 20 yards! Houston is knocking on the door. 

1st and Goal from the NE 5. 

Keenum looking for Schreck and the out route picks up 7 yards. 

2nd and 3 from the NE 25. 

Keenum fires a strike to Wayne over the middle for a big gain of 19 and a first down!

1st and 10 from the NE 32. 

Doaks up the middle and he picks up three yards. 

3rd and 6 from the HOU 49. 

Case Keenum under center for HOU and he finds Doaks for a one yard gain. 

2nd and 9 from the HOU 46. 

TURNOVER ON DOWNS!

Harris up the middle and he is STUFFED for a loss of one and the Pats turn it over on downs!

1st and 10 from the HOU 45 for the Texans. 

Zappe tucks it and runs looking for the marker, but he took a slide just a yard before the first down. 

4th and 1 and the Pats will go for it from the HOU 44. 

Zappe finds Boutte on a short pass and that will bring up 3rd and medium.

3rd and 7 from the 50 

Harris gets a second straight hand off but this time is stopped for no gain. 

2nd and 10 from the NE 47. 

Harris dashes up the left side and picks up 7 yards to move the chains. 

1st and 10 from the NE 47. 

Zappe hits Nixon on the hitch route and that picks up 9 yards on first down. 

2nd and 1 from the NE 40. 

WE ARE BACK FROM NEW ENGLAND FOR THE SECOND HALF OF ACTION!

NE get the ball to start the half and it's still Zappe in under center. 

What concentration from Dell who lost it, found it and scooped it for the TD! Great first two quarters for the rookie in his debut. 

Tank Dell had a big first half in his NFL debut, catching five passes for 65 yards and the TD.

The Pats didn't move the ball much in the first half, but Zappe went 10-12 for 67 yards, most coming on this pass to Thornton. 

Stroud's second throw of the night was picked off by Mills which lead to an early Folk field goal. 

The Pats run the clock out and we are heading to halftime with the Texans up 7-3 after a late score from Dell. 

Crossing pattern from Dell and he gets to the sideline, picks up 12 and steps out of bounds with 18 on the clock. 

1st and Goal from the NE 6. 

Mills over the middle on another quick slant to Dell and that goes for 8 yards and the Texans take a timeout with 25 on the clock. 

3rd and 2 coming up for HOU from the NE 18. 

Hand off to Ogunbowle and he is stopped at the line for no gain. 

2nd and 10 from the NE 26. 

Mills out of the shotgun and a WR screen to Metchie goes for 5 yards to move the chains. 

1st and 10 from the NE 26. 

Ogunbowle takes a run on the left side for 7 yards and that will take us to the Two Minute Warning!

2nd and 3 from the NE 45 coming up. 

MIlls starts the drive with a quick slant pass to Dell and he finds a hole in the defense for a 24 yard gain!

1st and 10 from the NE 38 after the biggest play of the night for HOU. 

Zappe had the pocket close on him and was dragged down for a 1 yard sack. 

4th and 6 and the Pats will punt. 

Zappe found Sokol on the short stop route and he got stuck by two Texans defenders. 

3rd and 5 from the NE 14. 

NE start their drive inside their own 10 yard line and Taylor gets a yard on the run up the middle. 

2nd and 9 from the NE 10 

Mills with the play action on third down and he had Beck on the left side but he just dropped it. 

4th and 1 from the HOU 44 and the Texans will punt 

MIlls finds Boone out of the backfield and he picks up 7 of the 8 needed. 

3rd and 1 from the HOU 44 coming up. 

Boone is back in the backfield and he gets two yards on first down. 

2nd and 8 from the HOU 37. 

Mills going to the air on first down and he finds Dell on a post up the middle for 15 yards. 

1st and 10 from the HOU 35 

Zappe was rushed out of the pocket and just threw it away of third down. 

That will bring up 4th down and the Pats will punt again. 

Harris got wrapped up in the backfield after a great push off the line for Houston. 

3rd and 8 from the HOU 47. 

Zappe with a quick pass to the right side on the out route from Thorton. 

2nd and 6 from the HOU 45. 

FUMBLE!!!

Ogunbowale dropped the pitch from Mills and the Patriots jump on the ball! Munson comes out of the pack with possession and NE will get the ball after the second Texans turnover of the half. 

1st and 10 from the HOU 49 coming up with 8:29 to go in the half. 

Ogunbowale up the middle and he gets a yard maybe. 

2nd and 9 from the NE 46. 

Mills on the boot leg and he finds Sims for 12 yards on the right side and that will move the chains. 

1st and 10 from the NE 47. 

Boone gets it back on first down with a pitch to the right side and he gets just three yards. 

2nd and 7 from the NE 47. 

Boone gets 12 yards up the middle and what a couple of runs for Boone to start his night. 

1st and 10 from the HOU 38. 

Boone with a great pick up on first down as he sneaks behind blockers for 8 yards. 

2nd and 2 from the HOU 26. 

Short pass out of the backfield to Strong and he had to scoop that off the grass but gained just a yard after having to adjust. 

4th and 1 coming up and another punt to come here in Foxborough. 

Zappe connects with Nixon for a 5 yard pick up and the Pats will have 3rd and 2 coming up. 

The Pats start their drive at their 17 yard line and Strong gets the handoff on first down run for three yards. 

2nd and 7 from the NE 20. 

Ogunbowale gets the handoff as Houston plays it safe and he picks up 10 yards but comes up short of the marker. 

4th and 10 and the Texans will punt. 

Mills misses on the pass to Dell and that's going to bring up third and very long. 

3rd and 20 from the HOU 15. 

Mills looks right to Dell in the flat and he picks up 10 yards but a holding flag on Deiter will cancel the play and back the Pats up 10 yards. 

2nd and 20 from the HOU 15. 

Odunbowale is stopped for no gain on the first down run and that will bring us to the end of the first quarter from New England with the Patriots leading 3-0. 

MIlls working out of the shotgun and he finds Schreck for a 10 yard hook up to move the chains for the first time for the Texans. 

1st and 10 from the HOU 25. 

Mills' short pass to Dell falls incomplete and just like that it's third down again for the Texans. 

3rd and 5 from the HOU 15. 

MIlls takes over at QB after just two series from Stroud and he hands the ball off to Singletary for a five yard gain on first down. 

2nd and 5 from the HOU 15. 

Houston will get the ball back from their 10 yard line after the punt and Stroud may get one or two more possessions. 

Timeout from New England with 1:52 to go in the first quarter. 

After a false start backed the Pats up to 3rd and 15 Zappy found Taylor but he is cut down well before the marker. 

4th and 7 coming up. 

Zappe's pass to Nixon in the flat is sniffed out and he is stopped for no gain. 

3rd and 10 from the HOU 48. 

Zappe's pass to Sokol falls incomplete on another first down pass. 

2nd and 10 from the HOU 48. 

Harris moves the chains with a two yard gain on the run to the left. 

1st and 10 from the HOU 48. 

Zappe finds Nixon on the first down pass and he's starting to find a groove. 

2nd and 1 after the 9 yard gain to midfield. 

Zappe goes deep for Thorton on the left sideline and he drags the catch in for a gain of 27 yards!

1st and 10 from the NE 41. 

Strong gets stuffed in the backfield for a loss of one. 

3rd and 8 from the NE 14. 

Zappe looking for Taylor over the middle on a short pass that goes for three yards. 

2nd and 7 from the NE 15. 

HOU come up empty on their second straight possession and NE will take over from their 12 yard line. 

Stroud tucks and runs looking for the marker, but he comes up a couple yards short. 

4th and 2 from the HOU 46. 

Stroud looks left to Sims on a short four yard toss but that will calm the youngsters nerves after an early INT. 

3rd and 4 from the HOU 44. 

Singletary gets just a yard after the first down run. 

2nd and 9 from the HOU 39. 

Stroud couldn't find Ogunbowale with the third down pass but got rocked after the pass was gone and Ekuale is flagged for roughing the passer. 

1st and 10 from the HOU 38 after the penalty. 

Stroud looking for Singletary out of the backfield but that pass falls incomplete. 

3rd and 5 from the HOU 23. 

Singletary with the rush up the right side for a gain of 5 on a nice first down chunk. 

2nd and 5 from the HOU 23

Sims returns the kick off out of the endzone but doesn't even get back to the 20. 

1st and 10 from the HOU 18 and Stroud will start with a long field on his second possession. 

The Mills pick leads to a quick field goal for the Patriots who take the early lead. 

FIELD GOAL PATRIOTS!!!

Folk on to the field after three quick plays from the Patriots and he drills the 44 yard field goal to put the first points on the board. 

NE leads 3-0 after five minutes from Foxborough.

Perryman breaks through the line and drops Zappe for a loss of 7 on third down!

4th and 11 from the HOU 25. 

Zappe finds Strong out of the backfield and that short connection picks up 6 yards. 

3rd and 4 from the HOU 18.

Strong gets the first down hand off and gets back to the line of scrimmage on the run up the middle. 

2nd and 10 from the HOU 24. 

Stroud is picked off on his second pass of the night! He was looking for Dell but Mills jumped the route and picked off the pass on 3rd and long. Young QB decision going for a big chunk on 3rd and long and Mills returned it 13 yards. 

1st and 10 NE from the HOU 24!

This time Stroud is pushed out of the pocket and he picks up 4 yards before running out of bounds. 

3rd and 21 from the HOU 25. 

Stroud gets swarmed in the backfield  and Ekuale brings him down for a huge loss of 15!

2nd and 15 from the HOU 21 coming up. 

Singletary got pressured in the backfield on the handoff, but bounced around the defenders and fell for the yard he needed. 

1st and 10 from the HOU 36. 

Singletary up the middle but he is stuffed at the line and gains maybe a yard. 

3rd and 1 from the HOU 34. 

Stroud goes to the air on the first play and finds Collins on a short out route on the right sideline for a gain of 8. 

2nd and 2 from the HOU 33

WE ARE UNDERWAY FROM GILLETTE!!!! 

The Texas get the ball to start the night and we will get our first look at CJ Stroud right now!

Belichick on the hot seat?

It seems almost preposterous to think that Bill Belichick, who is considered about as close to holy as a secular being can get in Boston, could be coming into this season on the hot seat. But there has been chatter that the eight time Super Bowl winning coach (six times as a head coach) could be pushed out of the house that he helped create if the Pats season doesn’t turn out as expected. There is an aura of excellence that surrounds Gillette Stadium, largely in part to the wonder years of Belichick and the Patriots, but now that same aura could cast a dark shadow over the future of what many people believe is the greatest coach in NFL history.

DeMeco’s debut

The excitement around the Texans future doesn’t just center around their quarterback. In fact there might be more buzz floating around Houston for debut of DeMeco Ryans as head coach in Space City. After six years in San Francisco, the last two as the defensive coordinator, the former linebacker is returning to the place he used to call home in his playing days. Texans fans know him well, and now NFL fans around the world know the name DeMeco Ryans after coaching one of the top defensive units in the league over the past two years with the Niners. 

QB comp in New England?

We know a few things about Bill Belichick. First, he doesn’t love talking to the media. Second, he likes to have things set in stone like he did with Tom Brady under center for two decades in New England. QB competitions are new for the 8 time Super Bowl champ, and some will tell you there is no QB competition in Foxborough. Some will tell you the job is Mac Jones, no questions asked. But you have to think if Billy Zappe starts zipping the ball around in the preseason, questions will start to be asked, and we know how much Belichick loves that in the press conference rooms. 

First look at C.J. Stroud

With the second pick of the 2023 NFL Draft, the Houston Texans select: C.J. Stroud. After a fantastic two seasons in Columbus as the starter for the Ohio State Buckeyes, Stroud was one of the favorites to be selected top overall in a quarterback heavy draft class especially with the top 5 picks. Bryce Young ended up getting taken first overall by the Panthers, and Stroud was taken by the Texans just minutes later with the second pick. He threw for 3,688 yard 41 TDs and just 6 INTs which were all actually minor decreases to his sensational freshman year. In his sophomore season, he finished third in Heisman voting, while leading the Buckeyes to the CFP Playoffs before losing to the Georgia Bulldogs. 

Houston hits the road

For many years, there wasn’t that much to get excited about in Houston coming into the season. This year is different. Excitement is astronomical in Space City with the arrival of CJ Stroud and DeMeco Ryans. There are hopes around Houston that the era of futility will finally be a thing of the past and the Texans will become a power house in the AFC, but right now those remain as hopes. Day 1 of a new generation in Houston starts tonight.  

Pats back at home

Gone are the days of Brady and Gronk and Lombardi. Today the Pats have different goals, have different expectations, but they still have Bill Belichick as their coach. Belichick has more Super Bowl rings as a coach (8, two with New York becoming head coach in New England) than anyone else in the history of the sport. Tom Brady moved on from Belichick and the Pats, and won a Super Bowl. It’s now Belichick’s turn to do the same without Brady. 

Texans last year 

It was yet another season of disappointment in Houston for the Texans and their fans, as this franchise continues to seek the relevance they have been chasing since joining the NFL two decades ago. The Texans have only made the playoffs six times since 2002, and have never been past the divisional round of the AFC playoffs. Last year they went 3-13-1 for their second 13 loss season in a row, and third straight double-digit loss season. They are looking to replace the void that Deshaun Watson left under center, and they will be hoping that their No. 2 overall draft pick C.J. Stroud will we able to fill those shoes under first year head coach DeMeco Ryans. 

Patriots last season

It was a bumpy season for the Patriots last year. Making the playoffs with their rookie quarterback Mac Jones in the previous season set the bar awfully high for Pats fans who are desperate to get back to the golden age with Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. Belichick is still in Foxborough, but he has seen better days. Last season New England lost three of their first four games, but suddenly their third string QB Billy Zappe lifted the team up and carried them to two straight victories and suddenly there was chatter, and doubt surrounding the QB1 role. Once Mac Jones was healthy he came back and helped the Pats win three straight games, but five losses in their last seven games, including a last second heart breaker against the Raiders on one of the craziest plays we have ever seen, was enough to keep the Patriots out of the postseason. 

We are live from New England

Hello everyone and welcome to Gillette Stadium where the Patriots take their first step in a season in which they are hoping to get back to being a contender in the AFC. If hasn’t happened since Tom Brady shipped south for Tampa Bay, sending New England into a new chapter in their storied history. Speaking of new chapters, the Texans are on the verge of beginning a new era, with a new coach and a rookie quarterback this could be the start of something new in Houston for a Texans team that has desperatley needed a change for the last decade. 

Texans vs. Patriots live

Football has finally arrived. Yea, I know last week I said the same thing right before the Hall of Fame Game, but that was just one game in one week. Tonight we kickoff the jam packed NFL preseason slate as the Houston Texans travel to New England to take on the Patriots and AS English will have you covered with live scores, stats, highlights and analysis of tonight’s first of 16 games over the course of the next four days.