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DJ Bien-Aime, ESPN
HOUSTON — The Houston Texans quarterback-wide receiver duo of C.J. Stroud and Nico Collins stayed hot Sunday night against the Chicago Bears, scoring the game’s first touchdown.
The game was tied at 3 when the Texans marched to the Bears’ 14-yard line before getting slightly derailed. Collins was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct after striking Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson in the face mask.
The Texans faced a second-and-23, but Collins found redemption on the next play. Stroud found him over the middle for a 28-yard touchdown to put the Texans up 10-3. Houston led 16-10 at the half.
Nico Collins caught the pass and was not going to be denied six points
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— NFL (@NFL) September 16, 2024
Stroud completed four of his first five passes for 85 yards and a touchdown on throws traveling more than 10 yards downfield, his first such TD this season. In his career, Stroud now has 11 touchdowns and one interception on deep passes.
The TD pass came against zone coverage. It was Stroud’s 14th TD pass against zone coverage since the start of last season, when he entered the league, tying Trevor Lawrence for the most in the NFL over that span.
Last week against the Indianapolis Colts, Collins had 117 receiving yards.
