Detroit Lions Can’t Overcome Errors In Loss To Texans

Oct 30, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans running back Alfred Blue (28) rushes during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Lions at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 30, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans running back Alfred Blue (28) rushes during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Lions at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Detroit Lions dropped back to .500 on Sunday as their three-game winning streak came to an end on the road against the Houston Texans.

Oct 30, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans running back Alfred Blue (28) rushes during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Lions at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 30, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans running back Alfred Blue (28) rushes during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Lions at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /

The Detroit Lions (4-4) could not overcome a slough of dropped passes and penalties as they lost their first game in four weeks to the Houston Texans (5-3) on the road.

On their first possession, the Lions drove to the Texans’ 38-yard line but failed to convert on fourth down. After Houston went three and out, the Lions threatened again, but Matt Prater’s 49-yard field goal attempt bounced no good off the post.

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Houston opened the scoring on their next drive, finishing a 12-play, 61-yard drive with a six-yard pass from Brock Osweiler to tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz to take a 7-0 lead early in the second quarter. Six minutes later the Texans doubled the lead, capping off a 10-play, 53-yard drive with a one-yard run by Lamar Miller.

After the Lions failed to score on their fifth consecutive drive, the Texans drove into Detroit territory until Johnson Bademosi, starting for the injured Darius Slay, picked off Osweiler with 39 seconds left in the half. The Lions turned the takeaway into their first points of the game, Prater kicking a 47-yard field goal just before halftime to put the Lions on the board.

As the Texans were driving in the third quarter, Osweiler threw to wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, who dropped the ball which was then picked up by the Lions. The pass was ruled incomplete on the field, but the Lions opted not to challenge the call. Later in the drive, Nick Novak added a 33-yard field goal to increase Houston’s lead to 17-3 in the third.

The Lions’ offense finally responded on their next drive, going 75 yards in 13 plays, Theo Riddick scoring on a one-yard reception from Matthew Stafford to cut the lead to 17-10 on the second play of the fourth quarter.

The two teams traded punts in the fourth and Novak added another field goal for the Texans to give Houston a 20-10 lead with 4:09 left in the fourth. Stafford led the Lions down the field quickly and Prater kicked a 34-yard field goal to bring the Lions within one possession, but the ensuing onside kick failed and the Texans ran out the clock on a 20-13 win.