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Texans vs. Bears 2024: Stroud, Texans look to improve 2-0 record on regular season in first primetime game of the season
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Texans vs. Bears 2024: Stroud, Texans look to improve 2-0 record on regular season in first primetime game of the season

HOUSTON, Texas — The Houston Texans had the most yards rushing in the NFL with 213 in a Week 1 win over Indianapolis and their 417 total yards ranked second.

Not bad, the Texans say, but they’re confident they can do a lot more in preparation for this week’s “Sunday Night Football” game against the Chicago Bears.

“I feel like we have a lot of room to grow as an offense,” running back Joe Mixon said. “What we did on Sunday was just the beginning.”

Quarterback CJ Stroud added: “I definitely think we didn’t show much of what we’re capable of.”

What they have this year is a strong offense, led by former Bengals star Mixon, who has bolstered Stroud’s offense and added star receiver Stefon Diggs this offseason.

Mixon had a career-high 30 carries for 159 yards and a touchdown in his Houston debut to earn AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors. Early indications are that he will give the Texans a steady presence at running back after years of struggles at the position.

Coach DeMeco Ryans credited Mixon and the ground game with carrying the team on their shoulders on Sunday.

“The biggest factor in our success on Sunday was obviously running the ball,” Ryans said. “Being in control of the game, that was the biggest thing for us. We haven’t had that in a while. So, when we can do that, you see how the game flows a lot better when we can line up and run the ball.”

For the Bears, the best way to describe their offensive performance in the opener against Tennessee is to forget. No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams completed just 14 of 29 passes for 93 yards, and Chicago didn’t score a touchdown on offense. But the Bears rallied from a 17-point deficit to win thanks to a touchdown on defense and a special teams score.

There are many things Williams would like to do better, but he is encouraged that the team managed to win despite its struggles. He is the first No. 1 pick to win his first start since David Carr led Houston to a win over Dallas in the first game of franchise history in 2002.

“You wake up and realize you won your first game in the NFL, regardless of how you felt about your performance,” Williams said. “We won our first game and we were super excited. We were super excited about not necessarily how I actually performed, but like I said, that I was able to come out with that win and lead these guys to that win. Feels good, real excited. It builds confidence when you can do that.”

Catching

Williams could be without two key wide receivers. Rookie Rome Odunze (knee) and six-time Pro Bowler Keenan Allen (heel) are game-time decisions.

Odunze trained limitedly on Friday after being absent the previous two days, while Allen did not train this week.

The Bears could at least breathe a sigh of relief this week after an MRI of Odunze’s knee revealed no major structural damage. He was drafted ninth overall but sprained an MCL lock late in the Tennessee game and jumped off the field on the next play.

Allen, who was acquired via a trade from the Los Angeles Chargers, has been struggling with a heel problem for several weeks.

Allen and Odunze were two of the biggest additions behind Williams in an offseason overhaul of the offense. With DJ Moore in his second season in Chicago, the Bears have arguably one of the deepest wide receiver groups.

The injuries could mean Tyler Scott, who was healthy and inactive last week, could start.

“You’re looking for an opportunity, a crack in the door,” coach Matt Eberflus said. “Because we feel like we have a strong receiving group this year, and again, we’ve got to prove it. But I would say that opportunity, when that door opens … you take your chance and run with it.”

Stroud and Diggs

Stroud wasted no time getting things going with Diggs in their first game together last week following his blockbuster trade from Buffalo. Stroud threw two touchdown passes against the Colts, both of which went to Diggs.

The quarterback believes the time they spent together during the offseason helped them get used to each other quickly.

“Just a lot of work out of the spotlight,” Stroud said. “He comes to L.A., I go to Paris to see him and throw him there. Just really all those times that no one sees it. So, you see that work, you see it pay off.”

Diggs, along with Tampa Bay’s Mike Evans and the New York Jets’ Allen Lazard, were the only players to score two touchdowns last week.

Stevenson’s start

Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson is off to a good start to the season after finishing last season strong.

The second-year pro was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week for the second time in three games since last season, returning an interception 43 yards for the game-winning touchdown against Tennessee for his first career score.

Stevenson also earned that honor for his performance in Week 17 last year, when he had two interceptions in a win over Atlanta. And with Pro Bowler Jaylon Johnson at the other cornerback position, quarterbacks are going to have a hard time finding openings.

“This defense just looks at me as the guy I am in practice,” Stevenson said. “Make the plays that come to me, catch the balls that come to me and make sure I can direct everything back to this defense because I’m not a weak link just because there’s an All-Pro corner.”

Copyright © 2024 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved.