C.J. Stroud threw for three touchdowns to lift the Houston Texans to a 41-21 win over the New England Patriots on Sunday afternoon in Foxborough, Mass.
Stroud completed 20 of 31 passes for 192 yards and was picked off once as Houston (5-1) spoiled Drake Maye’s first career start. Maye, selected third overall by New England in this year’s draft, finished with 243 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions on 20-of-33 passing.
Joe Mixon returned from a three-game absence to rack up 132 yards from scrimmage (102 rushing, 30 receiving) for the Texans. He rushed for a touchdown and caught another. Stefon Diggs was one of Stroud’s favorite targets, hauling in six catches for 77 yards and a score.
After seeing its first five drives end in four punts and a pick, New England (1-5) came to life just before the break, pulling within 14-7 on Maye’s 40-yard scoring strike to Kayshon Boutte with 11 seconds left in the first half. It was Maye’s first career passing TD.
Momentum wasn’t on the Patriots’ side for long, though, as Maye fumbled on the first drive of the second half to set up Houston at the New England 10. Two plays later, Diggs hauled in a 10-yard touchdown to put the Texans up 21-7.
A 39-yard field goal from Ka’imi Fairbairn extended the visitors’ advantage to 24-7 with 6:56 to go in the third quarter. Fairbairn drilled a 46-yarder just more than 1 1/2 minutes later.
Maye trimmed the Patriots’ deficit to 27-14 with one minute left in the third when he connected with Hunter Henry for a 6-yard TD.
Mixon (20 yards) and Dameon Pierce (54) sandwiched Maye’s 35-yard touchdown pass to DeMario Douglas with fourth-quarter scoring runs to forge the 41-21 final.
Douglas had six receptions for 92 yards and the TD.
Houston cut through the Patriots’ defense with ease on the game’s opening drive, an 11-play, 65-yard march that ended with Stroud’s 2-yard touchdown pass to Tank Dell.
Stroud made it 14-0 when he found Mixon for a 10-yard score with 3:13 left in the first quarter.
–Field Level Media