TEXANS TEAM NOTES
THE TEXANS:
- Scored on a 14-play opening drive, marking the second longest opening drive of the 2021 season and the team's third score on an opening possession in the 2021 season
- Forced five turnovers in back-to-back games for the first time in franchise history, joining Baltimore (2017, Wks. 1-2) and the New York Jets (2015, Wks. 1-2) as the only teams to do so in the last 10 NFL seasons
- Posted 10 total turnovers in a two-game span for the first time in franchise history
- Tied a franchise record with four total interceptions, the fifth time reaching the mark in franchise history and first since Oct. 1, 2017 vs. Tennessee
- Recorded a plus-five turnover margin for the second time in franchise history (plus-six, 12/2/12 at TEN). Improved to 8-0 all-time against Tennessee when recording a turnover margin of plus-three or better
- Did not allow a sack on offense, marking the first game with zero allowed sacks since Week 11 of the 2020 season vs. New England
SCORING PLAYS:
- 1st Quarter – K Ka'imi Fairbairn connected on a 43-yard field goal attempt, capping off a 14-play, 62-yard drive (6:58) to give the Texans a 3-0 lead
- 2nd Quarter – K Ka'imi Fairbairn converted a 24-yard field goal attempt, concluding a four-play, zero-yard drive (1:25), extending the Texans advantage to 6-0
- 2nd Quarter – QB Tyrod Taylor scrambled for a 7-yard rushing touchdown, finishing a nine-play, 76-yard drive (4:39), increasing Houston's lead to 12-0
- 3rd Quarter – QB Tyrod Taylor ran for a 5-yard touchdown to cap off a three-play, 5-yard drive (0:36), extending the Texans lead to 19-0 after K Ka'imi Fairbairn connected on the extra point attempt
- 4th Quarter – K Ka'imi Fairbairn hit a 37-yard field goal attempt, wrapping up a four-play, minus-four-yard drive (0:16), increasing Houston's lead to 22-13
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES:
- The following seven Texans players were inactive for the game: TE Jordan Akins, WR Davion Davis, QB Jeff Driskel, DB Cre'von LeBlanc, RB Royce Freeman, DL Jonathan Greenard and QB Deshaun Watson
- The following Texans were captains: P Cameron Johnston, DL Jacob Martin and WR Danny Amendola
- The following Texans did not play in today's game: QB Davis Mills and OL Cole Toner
- Houston called tails and won the toss, electing to defer to the second half. Tennessee chose to receive the opening kickoff.
TEXANS PLAYER NOTES
DL ROSS BLACKLOCK
- Finished with four tackles (two solo), one quarterback hit and two tackles for loss
- Sacked QB Ryan Tannehill for a loss of five yards in the fourth quarter, moving his season total to 2.0 sacks
RB REX BURKHEAD
- Led the team with 40 rushing yards on 18 carries (2.2 avg.)
DL MALIEK COLLINS
- Finished with three tackles (two solo), a quarterback hit and a season-high two tackles for loss
WR CHRIS CONLEY
- Led the team with 37 receiving yards and four receptions (9.3 avg.)
LB ZACH CUNNINGHAM
- Tied for second on the team with 11 tackles (six solo), also logging one tackle for loss, one pass defensed and one forced fumble
- Recorded the his 24th career game with double-digit tackles, tied for seventh-most among active NFL players
K KA'IMI FAIRBAIRN
- Scored a season-high 10 points and connected on 3-of-3 field goal attempts and 1-of-2 extra point attempts
- Made a 43-yard field goal in the first quarter to give the Texans a 3-0 lead
- Converted a 24-yard field goal in the second quarter to extend the Houston lead to 6-0
- Hit a 37-yard field goal in the fourth quarter to extend the Texans lead to 22-13
- Has now made 57 consecutive field goals attempts within 40 yards, the longest active streak in the NFL
LB KAMU GRUGIER-HILL
- Led the team with a career-high 12 tackles (six solo), also tallying a career-high two quarterback hits, one interception and a career-high two passes defensed
- Recorded his second career interception from QB Ryan Tannehill in the first quarter and returned it 82 yards, tied for the sixth-longest interception return in Texans history
P CAMERON JOHNSTON
- Punted seven times for 307 yards (43.9 avg.), including a long of 52 yards
- Tied a career high with five punts inside the 20. Is one of three NFL players (Tommy Townsend, KC; Logan Cooke, JAX) to reach 5-plus punts within the 20 in a single game this season
DB DESMOND KING II
- Finished tied for fourth on the team with eight tackles (seven solo) while posting two pass defensed and two interceptions (tied for a career high)
- Recorded an interception from QB Ryan Tannehill in the fourth quarter, his first interception as a Texan and the fifth of his career
- Intercepted QB Ryan Tannehill for a return of 25 yards in the fourth quarter
DL JACOB MARTIN
- Finished with two tackles (one solo), one quarterback hit, one tackle for loss and one forced fumble
- Strip-sacked QB Ryan Tannehill in the fourth quarter, marking his second consecutive game 1.0 sack and moving his season total to 3.0 sacks
DB TERRANCE MITCHELL
- Finished tied for fourth on the team with eight tackles (five solo) with posting one interception and one pass defensed
- Intercepted QB Ryan Tannehill in the fourth quarter for a return of 22 yards, his first interception as a Texan
DB ERIC MURRAY
- Finished tied for second on the team with 11 tackles (six solo) while also tallying one pass defensed
- Broke up a pass intended for TE Anthony Firkser from QB Ryan Tannehill, forcing a turnover on downs in the fourth quarter
DB TREMON SMITH
- Recovered a muffed punt by PR Chester Rogers at the Tennessee five-yard line in the third quarter
QB TYROD TAYLOR
- Completed 14-of-24 passes (58.3 percent) for 107 yards and a 69.3 passer rating
- Rushed six times for 28 yards (4.7 avg.) and a career-high two rushing touchdowns
- Scrambled for a 7-yard touchdown in the second quarter to extend the Texans lead to 12-0.
- Ran for a 5-yard touchdown in the third quarter to extend Houston's lead to 19-0
