Mallett helps Texans to 1st win, over Tampa Bay
HOUSTON — Ryan Mallett and Alfred Blue helped the Houston Texans to their first win on a day Tampa Bay was hampered by kicking problems.
Mallett threw for 228 yards and a touchdown and Alfred Blue had 139 yards rushing with a score to lead the Texans to the 19-9 victory Sunday.
Mallett gave Houston (1-2) an early lead with a 5-yard pass to DeAndre Hopkins on the opening drive.
The Buccaneers (1-2) went up 9-7 on a touchdown reception by Charles Sims in the second quarter that came after an interception by Mallett, but didn’t score again. Kyle Brindza, who made a 58-yard field goal early in the second quarter, missed an extra point and three field goals in the second half.
Blue had a 20-yard touchdown run after Brindza’s second missed field goal in the fourth quarter, but Randy Bullock missed the extra point to leave Houston up 16-9.
Top overall pick Jameis Winston launched a 33-yard pass to Louis Murphy just before he was leveled by J.J. Watt early in the fourth quarter. He found Murphy again two plays later for a 19-yard gain, but the offense stalled and Tampa Bay was left empty-handed when Brindza missed from 33 yards.
On Houston’s next drive Mallett connected with Hopkins for a 30yard gain and the Texans got another 15 thanks to a facemask penalty. Blue, filling in for injured Arian Foster, capped that drive with his first touchdown this season.