The Houston Texans narrowly defeated the Cincinnati Bengals in a thrilling showdown, securing a 30-27 victory with a last-second field goal. Matt Ammendola, who was elevated from the practice squad to replace the injured Ka’imi Fairbairn, hit a 38-yard field goal as time expired, ensuring the Texans’ triumph.
CJ Stroud had an impressive performance, following up his record-setting rookie debut by throwing for 356 yards on 23-of-39 passing for the Texans. He also contributed a rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter. Running back Devin Singletary was a standout for Houston, running for 150 yards and a touchdown on 30 carries.
Noah Brown played a crucial role for the Texans, recording seven catches for a game-high 172 yards. His 22-yard reception over the middle set up the game-winning field goal. On the opposing side, Joe Burrow threw for 347 yards and two touchdowns for the Bengals, but his fourth-quarter interceptions on back-to-back drives proved costly. Despite engineering a late rally, the Bengals saw their four-game winning streak come to an end.
The game had its share of dramatic moments. After Burrow’s interceptions, Cam Taylor-Britt intercepted Stroud and returned the ball to the Houston 4, giving the Bengals a chance to turn the tide. Joe Mixon capitalized on the opportunity with a 1-yard touchdown run, bringing the score to 27-24 in favor of the Texans with just over three minutes left in the fourth quarter.
The Bengals managed to hold the Texans, forcing a punt. Burrow then led his team downfield, completing a 64-yard pass to Tyler Boyd that placed the Bengals at the Houston 7. However, they settled for a game-tying 31-yard field goal by Evan McPherson with 1:33 remaining.
The Bengals faced challenges with injuries as starting defensive end Sam Hubbard and starting wide receiver Tee Higgins were both sidelined. Nevertheless, they started the game strongly, scoring a touchdown on their opening drive. Despite Higgins’ absence due to a hamstring injury and Ja’Marr Chase recovering from a deep bruise to his back, Burrow orchestrated an impressive drive, culminating in a 32-yard touchdown pass to Trenton Irwin.
The Texans responded with a touchdown of their own in the second quarter, as Stroud connected with Tank Dell for a 6-yard score. Ammendola’s 45-yard field goal with 10 seconds left in the half gave Houston a narrow 10-7 lead.
Both teams found success in the third quarter, with each scoring 10 points. The standout moment came when Burrow made an impressive running throw to Chase, resulting in a 64-yard touchdown.
Overall, the Texans’ victory showcased their resilience in a hard-fought battle against the Bengals. While Cincinnati’s four-game win streak may have come to an end, they demonstrated their potential to bounce back. With injuries impacting key players for both teams, the outcome of the game went down to the wire, adding to the excitement for fans and leaving everyone on the edge of their seats until the very last second.
