Final Score
Houston Texans 10-3-7-7 — 27
New Orleans Saints 3-0-7-0 — 13
Box Score
The Texans defeated the Saints 27-13 in the third preseason game. There was almost 700 yards of total offense between the Texans and the Saints. The Saints had one hundred more more total yards than the Texans, but also had two turnovers. New Orleans was unable to take full advantage of a number of redzone opportunities.
Despite it being the third preseason game, Saints quarterback played just one offensive series. Brees was 4-of-6 for 40 yards for the night. For the Texans, new starting quarterback Brian Hoyer was 7-of-11 for 82 yards.
Here are the key news, notes and highlights from the Texans and Saints game:
Drew Brees Only Played the First Series
Drew Brees will have a short day. (Getty)
The Fox crew announced early in the broadcast that Drew Brees was only expected to play an offensive series in the game. True to form, Brees exited the game after the game’s first series. Despite the normal NFL custom for the third preseason game, Head Coach Sean Payton appeared to not be playing all of his starters for the entire half.
Brees was 4-of-6 for 40 yards. He connected with second-year receiver Brandin Cooks on two of those four completions. Cooks could end up being the Saints number one receiver.
The Texans Scored the First Touchdown of the Game
In the controversial call above, the pass was ruled incomplete. However, pass interference was called, and it gave the Texans the ball on the one yard line. Running back Alfred Blue proceeded to run the ball into the endzone for the first touchdown of the game.
The Texans Forced a Fumble Late in the Second Quarter
MAKING PLAYS.
Tony Washington gets the sack/forced fumble and Kourtnei Brown recovers.
The Texans forced a fumble on back-up quarterback Luke McCown. The play occurred with about two minutes to play in the second quarter and the Texans recovered the ball at mid-field.
It Was the Texans Ahead 13-6 at Halftime
53-yard FG by #Saints K Zach Hocker is good to end the half.
HALFTIME: #Texans 13, #Saints 6 http://t.co/SjEXi97h18
Despite having 215 yards of total offense, the Saints found themselves down at halftime. Drew Brees played just one series before backup Luke McCown took over at quarterback. Saints receiver Willie Snead lead all receivers with 56 yards in the half. New Texans starting quarterback Brian Hoyer was 7-of-11 for 82 yards.
Neither Jonathan Grimes or Alfred Blue did much to separate themselves as the definitive starting running back for the Texans. Grimes had 3 carries for 14 yards while Blue had 4 carries for 12 yards. Blue did have the lone touchdown of the game, but it was only a 1-yard run.
Jalen Strong Caught a Touchdown Pass for the Texans
When @JaelenStrong scores on 4th & 2… and does the Michael Jackson leg-kick. #HOUvsNO http://t.co/JzQ4saA9fp
On 4th-and-2 the Texans were in the redzone and looking to capitalize in the third quarter. Quarterback Ryan Mallet found rookie wideout Jalen Strong for the touchdown. Strong is a big, physical receiver out of Arizona State that slipped to the Texans in the draft.
Edwin Baker Takes it to the House for the Saints
4 & 1. 45 yards. 6 points.
#WhoDat?
That’s @Saints RB Edwin Baker. #HOUvsNO http://t.co/vYe8hfFMIg
Saints running back Edwin Baker had one of the lone bright spots for the Saints in the second half. Baker rushed for a 45-yard touchdown. As an aside, new Saints running back C.J. Spiller did not play in the game.
The Texans Added Another Touchdown
The Texans ran a play action pass play and third-string quarterback Tom Savage threw a touchdown pass. Chandler Worthy had the 6-yard touchdown reception.
Charles James had a 63 Yard Touchdown Called Back
Charles James has become a star of the HBO Hard Knocks show. He is a cornerback who is now taking snaps at running back. The young man out of Georgia Southern showed his potential on a long touchdown run, but it was called back on a holding call on the Texans.
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