Stroud throws a touchdown pass while Fairbairn adds four field goals, leading the Texans to a 19-13 victory over the Bears.

 HOUSTON — In a challenging second half for C.J. Stroud and the Houston offense, the Texans' defense rose to the occasion, leading to a 19-13 victory over the Chicago Bears on Sunday night.

After halftime, the Texans intercepted rookie quarterback Caleb Williams twice, helping secure their win.

“It’s just about winning one week at a time," said head coach DeMeco Ryans. “They won’t always be pretty, but you have to find a way to win. That’s what I’m most proud of—our guys found a way to get it done.”

Stroud finished the game with 260 yards and a touchdown, while kicker Ka′imi Fairbairn contributed significantly by making four field goals.

Fairbairn successfully connected from distances of 56, 47, 59, and 53 yards, as Houston's defense applied relentless pressure on Williams throughout the game.

“It’s always fun going after any quarterback,” said defensive end Will Anderson Jr., who recorded 1.5 sacks. “This week, we wanted to keep the pressure on him.”

Stroud's 28-yard touchdown pass to Nico Collins put the Texans ahead 10-3 early in the second quarter, and they led 16-10 at halftime.

In the second half, Houston only managed one field goal, but their defense held strong.

Williams, the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft, completed 23 of 37 passes for 174 yards and was sacked seven times.

“He evaded the rush a few times, but he needs to be careful with the football when he’s on the run,” said Chicago coach Matt Eberflus. “There were some great learning moments for him.”

Late in the game, Houston's Cam Akers fumbled at the Chicago 4-yard line, allowing the Bears (1-1) to recover. Cairo Santos then kicked a 54-yard field goal, narrowing the score to 19-13 with 2:51 remaining.

The Texans struggled to gain momentum on their next drive and punted with about 90 seconds left. However, Williams was sacked by Danielle Hunter on second down, and his fourth-down pass fell incomplete, allowing Houston to run out the clock.

“We didn’t execute the way we needed to,” Williams said. “We’ll keep improving. I’m a young guy, and it’s a long season.”

Collins recorded 135 receiving yards, marking his second consecutive 100-yard game, while Joe Mixon left briefly due to an ankle injury, finishing with just 25 rushing yards after leading the NFL with 159 yards in his previous game.

Neither team scored in the second half until Houston extended their lead to 19-10 with a 53-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter, set up by Derek Stingley's interception of a hit-pass by Williams.

On the Bears' second play of their ensuing drive, Williams avoided a sack but threw another interception, this time to rookie Kamari Lassiter, a second-round pick from Georgia.

The Texans took the lead for good with Collins' touchdown reception on the first play of the second quarter, which came after Collins was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct on the previous play for pushing his hand into Tyrique Stevenson’s face.

Houston extended their lead to 13-3 with a 47-yard field goal on their next possession. Stroud made an impressive throw, connecting with Collins for an 18-yard gain while taking a hit.

“That's special,” Collins remarked. “Not many can extend a play like that. He’s special. You can’t coach that.”

A 2-yard touchdown run by Khalil Herbert just before halftime cut Houston's lead to 13-10, marking the Bears' first offensive touchdown of the season after failing to score the previous week. This score was set up by a pass interference penalty on rookie Calen Bullock that gave Chicago a first down at the 6-yard line.

Fairbairn's 59-yard field goal brought the halftime score to 16-10.

Injuries:

• Bears: DL Zacch Pickens left with a groin injury in the second half. WR Keenan Allen was inactive due to a heel injury.

Kicking It: Fairbairn, who made three field goals of 50 yards or longer last week, became the first player in NFL history to achieve five or more field goals of at least 50 yards over a two-game span.

“Nobody talks about him enough,” Ryans said. “Fairbairn is the reason we won these two games. He’s been the player of the game.”

Up Next:

• Bears: Visit Indianapolis next Sunday.
• Texans: Visit Minnesota next Sunday.