WEEK 2
HOUSTON TEXANS (0-0-1) @ DENVER BRONCOS (0-1)
DATE: Sunday (9/18/22)
STADIUM: Empower Field at Mile High
TIME: 4:25 PM ET
REFEREE: Carl Cheffers
REGULAR-SEASON SERIES HISTORY
LEADER Broncos lead all-time series, 5-3
STREAKS Broncos have won 3 of last 4
LAST GAME 12/8/19: Broncos 38 at Texans 24
LAST GAME AT SITE 11/4/18: Texans 19, Broncos 17
HOUSTON TEXANS
LAST WEEK T 20-20 vs. Indianapolis (OT)
COACH VS. OPP. Lovie Smith: 1-1
PTS. FOR 20.0
OFFENSE 299.0
PASSING Davis Mills: 23-37-240-2-0-98.9
RUSHING Rex Burkhead: 14-40-2.9-0
RECEIVING Brandin Cooks: 7-82-11.7-0
PTS. AGAINST 20.0
DEFENSE 517.0
SACKS Jerry Hughes: 2
INTs Jerry Hughes: 1
TAKE/GIVE +1 (2/1)
PUNTING (NET) Cameron Johnston: 45.4 (41.0)
KICKING Ka’imi Fairbairn: 8 (2/2 PAT; 2/2 FG)
TEXANS NOTES
• QB DAVIS MILLS completed 23 of 37 atts. (62.2 pct.) for 240 yards & 2 TDs vs. 0 INTs with 98.9 rating last week. Aims for his 3rd in row with 2+ TD passes & 0 INTs.
• RB REX BURKHEAD had 70 scrimmage yards (40 rush, 30 rec.) & 5 catches in Week 1. Aims for his 5th in row with 65+ scrimmage yards. Had TD catch in his last game at Den. (11/12/17 w/ NE). Has 5 TDs in his past 4 vs. AFC West.
• RB DAMEON PIERCE (rookie) rushed for 33 yards last week in NFL debut.
• WR BRANDIN COOKS led team with 7 catches for 82 yards in Week 1. Has 7+ catches in 4 of his past 5. Has 50+ rec. yards in each of 3 career games vs. Den. Aims for his 3rd in row on road with TD catch.
• TE O.J. HOWARD had 2 rec. TDs last week in Hou. debut, his 3rd-career game with 2 TDs & 1st since 2018. Had 49 rec. yards in only career game vs. Den. (9/27/20 w/ TB).
• DE JERRY HUGHES had 2 sacks, INT & FF last week in Hou. debut, his 2nd-career game with both INT & FF. Had FR in his last game vs. Den. (12/19/20 w/ Buf.).
• LB KAMU GRUGIER-HILL led team with 18 tackles & had TFL & PD last week, most tackles by any player in NFL in Week 1. Aims for his 12th in row with 5+ tackles.
• S JONATHAN OWENS had career-high 15 tackles & had PD last week, 2nd-most tackles by any player in NFL in Week 1. Has PD in 2 of his past 3. Grugier-Hill & Owens are 1st pair of teammates each with 15+ tackles in same game since 2015.
• LB CHRISTIAN KIRKSEY had 9 tackles, TFL & 6th-career FR in Week 1. Aims for his 4th in row with 8+ tackles & 3rd in row with TFL. Had 9 tackles in only career game vs. Den. (10/18/15 w/ Cle.). Has PD in 3 of his past 4 on road.
• CB DEREK STINGLEY JR. (rookie) had 7 tackles & PD last week in NFL debut.
DENVER BRONCOS
LAST WEEK L 17-16 at Seattle (Mon.)
COACH VS. OPP. Nathaniel Hackett: 0-0
PTS. FOR 16.0
OFFENSE 433.0
PASSING Russell Wilson: 29-42-340-1-0-101.3
RUSHING Melvin Gordon: 12-58-4.8-0
RECEIVING Jerry Jeudy: 4-102-25.5-1
PTS. AGAINST 17.0
DEFENSE 253.0
SACKS Bradley Chubb: 2
INTs —
TAKE/GIVE -1 (1/2)
PUNTING (NET) Corliss Waitman: 36.0 (36.0)
KICKING Brandon McManus: 10 (1/1 PAT; 3/4 FG)
BRONCOS NOTES
• QB RUSSELL WILSON completed 29 of 42 atts. (69 pct.) for 340 yards & TD vs. 0 INTs with 101.3 rating last week in Den. debut. Has 712 pass yards (356 per game) & 6 TDs vs. INT for 120 rating in his past 2 starts vs. Hou. Had 8 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 136.1 rating in 3 starts vs. AFC South last season with Sea.
• RB JAVONTE WILLIAMS led team with 108 scrimmage yards (65 rec., 43 rush) & career-high 11 catches in Week 1, 2nd-most catches ever in single game by Den. RB.
• RB MELVIN GORDON totaled 72 scrimmage yards (team-high 58 rush, 14 rec.) last week. Aims for his 4th in row with 70+ scrimmage yards. Had 89 scrimmage yards in only career game vs. Hou. (11/27/16 w/ SD). Has TD in 3 of his past 4 vs. AFC South.
• WR JERRY JEUDY led team with 102 rec. yards & had TD catch in Week 1, his 3rdcareer game with 100+ rec. yards.
• WR COURTLAND SUTTON had 4 catches for 72 yards last week. Had 5 catches in last meeting. Has 70+ rec. yards in 3 of his past 4 vs. AFC South.
• TE ALBERT OKWUEGBUNAMhad 5 catches in Week 1, 3rd-career game with 5+ catches.
• LB BRADLEY CHUBB led team with 2 sacks & had FF last week, his 5th-career game with 2+ sacks. Had 3 TFL & sack in last home meeting.
• LB RANDY GREGORY had 9th-career FF last week in Den. debut.
• S JUSTIN SIMMONS tied for team lead with 9 tackles & had 2nd-career FR in Week 1. Had 6 tackles & career-high 3 PD in last meeting.
• S KAREEM JACKSON had 11 tackles, TFL, 3 PD & INT in last meeting. Totaled 88 PD & 16 INTs in 9 seasons with Hou. (2010-18).
• CB RONALD DARBY had 6 tackles, FF & PD last week. Aims for his 5th in row with PD.
