Lions 26-23 Texans (November 10, 2024) Game Recap

HOUSTON – Jake Bates hit a 52-yard field goal as time expired and the Detroit Lions overcame a career-high five interceptions by Jared Goff to secure a 26-23 victory over the Houston Texans on Sunday night.

With their seventh straight win overall and fifth straight on the road, the Lions improved to 8-1 for the first time since 1954.

Detroit trailed 23-7 at halftime after Goff threw three interceptions in the first two quarters and two more picks in the third. Nonetheless, the Lions scored 16 straight points, tying the score on Bates’ 58-yard field goal with about five minutes left.

The Texans (6-4) had a chance to take the lead with just under two minutes left, but Ka’imi Fairbairn’s 58-yard attempt missed the left goal.

The Lions became the first team to win with five or more interceptions since Atlanta beat Arizona 23-19 on Nov. 18, 2012, when Matt Ryan was sacked five times.

David Montgomery ran for a 3-yard touchdown early in the third, but his run on the 2-point conversion attempt was stopped, leaving the Lions trailing 23-13. A 9-yard TD reception by Amon-Ra St. Brown brought Detroit within 23-20 early in the fourth quarter.

Goff threw for 240 yards and two touchdowns and Jahmyr Gibbs ran for 71 yards.

CJ Stroud threw for 232 yards and a touchdown but threw two interceptions in the second half as the Texans were shut out after halftime and lost for the third time in four games.

Goff’s five picks were the most by an NFL player since Jameis Winston threw five for Tampa Bay against Carolina on Oct. 13, 2019.

Goff hadn’t thrown an interception in five games and entered Sunday with just four interceptions all season. His previous career high was four losses against Chicago while playing for the Rams on December 9, 2018.

Rookie Kamari Lassiter led the Texans with two interceptions, setting a franchise pick record.

Jimmie Ward intercepted Goff on Detroit’s first drive on a ball that was tipped by Jalen Pitre to give Houston the ball at the Detroit 33. The Texans made it 7-0 when Joe Mixon ran 8 yards for a touchdown.

A 34-yard field goal by Fairbairn extended the lead to 10-0 with about two minutes left in the first quarter. Detroit cut the lead to 10-7 on a 20-yard touchdown reception by Sam LaPorta.

The Texans had a lead of 6 when Denico Autry hit Goff’s arm on the throw and the ball fell into the hands of Henry To’oTo’o, giving Houston possession at the Detroit 36.

But the Texans couldn’t move the ball after that and settled for Fairbairn’s 29-yard field goal, which made it 16-7 with about four minutes left in the first half.

Houston extended the lead to 23-7 when Stroud found John Metchie III for a 15-yard touchdown with 16 seconds left in the second quarter. It was the first career touchdown for Metchie, who missed his entire rookie season in 2022 due to treatment for leukemia.

Goff threw his third interception when Lassiter fended off his desperation throw on the final play of the first half.

Davis intercepted Stroud on the first play of the second half. But three plays later, Lassiter made his second interception of the game.

After Montgomery’s touchdown, Detroit’s Carlton Davis III jumped in front of Tank Dell in the end zone for his second interception. Goff threw his fifth pick two plays later, but the Texans couldn’t capitalize and had to punt.

Injuries

Texans: DE Will Anderson Jr. missed the game with an ankle injury. … WR Nico Collins did not play after being activated from injured reserve on Saturday. … Lassiter left in the third quarter with a concussion.

Next

Lions: Host Jacksonville next Sunday.

Texans: Visit Dallas on Monday, November 18th.

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