Texans vs. Broncos score, takeaways: Houston holds off Denver as Russell Wilson picked off in final seconds

Houston's defense stepped up with three interceptions of Wilson after their offense suffered a major injury

On Sunday afternoon in Houston, in a gritty matchup between two of the surprise teams on the rise in the AFC, the Texans were able to jump ahead of the Broncos in the standings with a 22-17 win and improve to 7-5 while dropping Denver to 6-6. The game came down to the Broncos' final possession, but Houston safety Jimmie Ward hauling in the Texans third interception of Wilson sealed the win.

The victory allows Houston to keep pace with the Indianapolis Colts for the  AFC's seventh and final playoff spot through 13 weeks. The team with the rookie quarterback -- Houston and No. 2 overall draft pick C.J. Stroud -- had a much more efficient and cleaner day. Stroud threw for 274 yards and a touchdown on 16 of 27 passing. Stroud is now up to 3,540 passing yards on the season, making him the first rookie to lead the NFL in passing yards at the end of any week since at least 1950. The last rookie to lead the league in passing yards for an entire season was Davey O'Brien, the fourth overall pick in the 1939 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles. 

Texans second-year cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., the third overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, intercepted Wilson twice for a career high in interceptions. He has four interceptions in the last three games. Wilson finished with 186 passing yards, one touchdown pass and three interceptions, tied for the second-most in a game in his 12-season career. A stunning performance for Wilson given he entered Week 13 as the NFL's leader in touchdown-to-interception ratio (20-4). 

Injuries to both Broncos All-Pro cornerback Pat Surtain II (left knee issue) and Texans rookie receiver Tank Dell (carted off after an ankle injury) impacted the game, but Houston was able to power past the injury woes much better. Stroud completed two passes of over 50 yards (52 and 59) to Nico Collins as well as a 39-yarder, resulting in Collins having career highs in receiving yards (191) and catches (nine). He also hauled in Stroud's only touchdown pass of the day, a 3-yarder to the left corner of the end zone that made the score 22-10 early in the fourth quarter. Collins will figure to play an even more pronounced role in the Texans going forward since Dell is out for the season with a fractured fibula, according to NFL Media. 

Rookie third overall draft pick Will Anderson Jr. also had a breakout performance Sunday, in addition to Collins' and Stingley's big days, with a career-high two sacks. He only had three in his first 11 games this season. The Houston defense prevented the Denver offense from picking up a third-down conversion as the Broncos went 0-for-11 on third downs. Sunday marked the first time the Broncos didn't have a third-down conversion since a game against the Kansas City Chiefs in 1995. The Texans outgained the Broncos 353-282, despite Houston only running four more offensive plays than Denver, 63-59.

Here's a breakdown of what went down in Houston on Sunday.

Why the Texans won

Their defense prevented the Broncos from having any rhythm throughout the day, holding them without a third-down conversion and intercepting Wilson three times. Any time a team wins the turnover battle 3-0 that typically leads to a victory. Collins had a field day against the Broncos secondary once Surtain II left the game, with 191 yards and a touchdown on nine catches. Houston's offense did just enough while its defense ruled the day. 

Why the Broncos lost

Nine of Denver's 13 possessions, 12 excluding the end of the first half, ended in either a punt (six times) or an interception (three times). That simply isn't a winning formula at any level of football, especially the NFL. Wilson had some highlights like his 45-yard touchdown and a 41-yard pass to Jerry Jeudy to set up his 1-yard quarterback sneak on the next play. However, the bright spots were two few and far between. 

Turning Point

Stroud's 3-yard touchdown pass to Collins that put the Texans up 22-10. With the way the Broncos offense was struggling, a 12-point cushion felt like an insurmountable lead. That ended up being the case. 

Play of the game

While Ward's game-sealing, end zone interception of Wilson was clutch, it wasn't the best pure play on Sunday. That distinction goes to the second of Stingley's two interceptions in which he broke out of his zone coverage to leap in front of Sutton to high-point the football for the takeway. 

What's next

The Texans hit the road to face the struggling New York Jets (4-8) in Week 14 while the Broncos will battle the Chargers (5-7) in Los Angeles. 

[Dec 3, 2023 at 4:12 pm ET · Garrett Podell]

Texans safety Jimmie Ward's pick of Russell Wilson in the end zone on third-and-goal with 16 seconds left will seal the victory for the Texans, 22-17. 

[Dec 3, 2023 at 4:04 pm ET · Garrett Podell]

According to NFL Media, Texans stellar rookie wide receiver Tank Dell suffered a fractured fibula that will knock him out for the rest of the 2023 season. 

[Dec 3, 2023 at 3:50 pm ET · Garrett Podell]

Stroud apparently passed the initial part of the NFL's concussion protocol as he misses just one play before checking back in. 

[Dec 3, 2023 at 3:49 pm ET · Garrett Podell]

C.J. Stroud checks out of the game to undergo the league's first step of the concussion protocol process, and backup Davis Mills checks into the game. 

[Dec 3, 2023 at 3:48 pm ET · Garrett Podell]

Texans second-year cornerback Derek Stingley is on fire. He records his second interception of the day, a career-high, which is also his fourth interception in his last three games. Houston takes over at their own 27  up 22-17 with 9:40 left to play. 

[Dec 3, 2023 at 3:37 pm ET · Garrett Podell]

A 41-yard deep ball from Russell Wilson to Jerry Jeudy gets the Broncos down to the one, and Wilson capitalizes on the next play with one-yard quarterback sneak touchdown. 22-17 Texans with 12 minutes left to play. 

[Dec 3, 2023 at 3:33 pm ET · Garrett Podell]

Four plays after the Wilson interception, Stroud cashes in the turnover into a touchdown for the Texans. He found Collins wide open for the touchdown in the left corner of the end zone. Houston leads 22-10 early in the fourth quarter. Collins has 173 receiving yards and a touchdown on eight catches. The catches and yards are both career-highs as well as one more total yard than the Broncos have currently, 172. 

[Dec 3, 2023 at 3:26 pm ET · Garrett Podell]

After the Broncos get the football back down six, the Texans snatch the momentum right back with an interception of Russell Wilson. Texans on the precipice of going up two scores again

[Dec 3, 2023 at 3:14 pm ET · Garrett Podell]

The Broncos have life. Russell Wilson connects with top target Courtland Sutton for a 45-yard scoring strike, Denver's first touchdown of the day. The Texans now lead by just six points, 16-10, with 4:47 left in the third quarter. 

[Dec 3, 2023 at 3:08 pm ET · Garrett Podell]

This game could easily by 23-3 if the call was a catch and then fumble by the Broncos. Instead an incomplete pass, and the Broncos have the ability to punt the ball away. 

[Dec 3, 2023 at 3:06 pm ET · Garrett Podell]

Broncos get the ball back for their third second-half possession hoping to avoid their third punt of the third quarter. Texans lead 16-3 with 6:07 left in the third quarter. 

[Dec 3, 2023 at 2:57 pm ET · Garrett Podell]

Another big play from Stroud to Collins results in another Texans field goal. The quarterback hit Collins for a 39-yard gain to get Houston down to the Broncos 22. Denver stiffened up in the red zone, but Texans kicker Matt Ammendola drained the 38-yard field goal. 16-3 Texans with 8:31 left in the third quarter. 

[Dec 3, 2023 at 2:47 pm ET · Garrett Podell]

Wilson absorbs two sacks on the drive, and the Broncos are forced to punt for the fifth time today. Texans take over a their own 40 up 10, 13-3, on their first drive of the second half. 

[Dec 3, 2023 at 2:45 pm ET · Garrett Podell]

Third overall draft pick Will Anderson Jr. records a career-high second sack with his takedown of Russell Wilson on the first play from scrimmage in the second half. 

[Dec 3, 2023 at 2:44 pm ET · Garrett Podell]

Texans receiver Tank Dell has been ruled out with his ankle injury. Stroud loses his number one receiver. 

[Dec 3, 2023 at 2:30 pm ET · Garrett Podell]

Texans lead the Broncos 13-3 at the half. Denver gets the ball after halftime. Houston outgained Denver 259-103 in total yardage. 

[Dec 3, 2023 at 2:27 pm ET · Garrett Podell]

Broncos get on the board with a 34-yard field goal after a 13-play drive. Texans pass rush forces a Wilson throwaway on third down. 13-3 Texans as Houston has the ball and one timeout left before the half. 

[Dec 3, 2023 at 2:12 pm ET · Garrett Podell]

The Texans re-punts for a third time after all of the penalties. Now, the Broncos will actually get the ball at their own 28 down 13-0 with 6:33 left in the half. 

[Dec 3, 2023 at 2:06 pm ET · Garrett Podell]

Broncos defense holds and prevents the Texans from scoring on a fourth possession in a row. Denver takes over at their own 25 with seven minutes left in the half down 13-0. 

[Dec 3, 2023 at 2:00 pm ET · Garrett Podell]

The Broncos offense is completely out of sync early. Four drives, four punts. Their longest drive was their most recent one, five plays. Texans 13-0 with just under 10 minutes left in the half. 

[Dec 3, 2023 at 1:55 pm ET · Garrett Podell]

After getting down to the 26, an illegal block above the waist penalty kills the drive. They settle for a 38-yard field goal. 13-0 Texans, early second quarter. 

[Dec 3, 2023 at 1:49 pm ET · Garrett Podell]

Stroud did also enter this week this week with an NFL-best 33 completions of 25 or more yards. This has been Houston's bread and butter all year

[Dec 3, 2023 at 1:46 pm ET · Garrett Podell]

Another bomb of over 50 yards from Stroud to Collins. This time, a 59-yarder to get the Texans to the Broncos 26. The loss of Pat Surtain II is certainly showing. 

[Dec 3, 2023 at 1:35 pm ET · Garrett Podell]

Texans wide receiver Tank Dell is injured on Pierce's touchdown run. A huge blow potentially if it takes him out of this game. 

[Dec 3, 2023 at 1:35 pm ET · Garrett Podell]

Second play after the penalty, Texans running back Dameon Pierce turns the second chance into a three-yard touchdowns. 10-0 Houston with 3:49 to go in the first quarter. 

[Dec 3, 2023 at 1:33 pm ET · Garrett Podell]

The Texans were called for a false start on the play, but Singleton was called for for a personal foul for unnecessary roughness on the shove by Stroud after the whistle. This leads to a first down and half the distance to the goal line for the Texans. A personal foul supersedes a simple false start. 

[Dec 3, 2023 at 1:31 pm ET · Garrett Podell]

Refs blow Texans' fourth-and-two play dead, but Broncos linebacker Alex Singleton bumped and pushed Stroud after the whistle. Fight breaks out because of the issue. 

[Dec 3, 2023 at 1:27 pm ET · Garrett Podell]

Surtain II is questionable to return with a left knee injury

[Dec 3, 2023 at 1:25 pm ET · Garrett Podell]

If Surtain II can not return to the game, that would be a significant detriment to Denver's ability to slow down Stroud and company. 

[Dec 3, 2023 at 1:24 pm ET · Garrett Podell]

Broncos 2022 First-Team All-Pro cornerback Pat Surtain II was injured on the 52-yard pass from Stroud to Collins. Huge injury to monitor