The Houston Texans defense gave up just three points to the New Orleans Saints in the first half. It was the best hope a visiting team could have playing in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Opening Day, a venue where the home team was 6-2 the previous year.
Then, the Texans defense not only buckled, but broke in the second half, giving up 27 points as the Saints edged Houston for a 30-28 victory. The second half effort no doubt spoiled the first half performance for Houston safety Justin Reid.
“We did a phenomenal job in the first half but not the second,” said Reid, who collected nine combined tackles in the loss. “We gave up three points, but we have to be more consistent with it. They made some halftime adjustments and tried to attack what we were doing to them.”
The defense provided a stop of sorts as they made the Saints settle for a 47-yard field goal to extend their lead to 27-21 over the Texans with 50 seconds left in the game. Houston still had to drive 75 yards for a touchdown, a feat they accomplished in two plays and capped off with quarterback Deshaun Watson hitting receiver Kenny Stills for a 37-yard touchdown.
Now, all the Texans had to do was stop New Orleans, who had one timeout and 37 seconds left in the game.
Quarterback Drew Brees led the Saints on a 35-yard drive that was punctuated with kicker Wil Lutz sailing a 58-yard field goal through the uprights to spoil the Texans’ comeback.
“Emotional roller coaster is an understatement,” Reid said. “With :57 seconds left and our offense scoring in 13 seconds. It’s a phenomenal job by them. It was up and down and that’s the way that the National Football League goes.”
Even though the Texans missed a chance to start 1-0 for the first time since 2016, Reid isn’t getting down on the direction of the team.
“I know that we have a great team here,” Reid said.
The Texans get a chance to even their record with a win as the Jacksonville Jaguars travel to NRG Stadium Sunday. Rookie quarterback Gardner Minshew is expected to start in place of an injured Nick Foles, who broke his collarbone in the team’s 40-28 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
