Bo Nix scrambled 25 yards for a critical first down and set the table for Will Lutz, whose 34-yard field goal lifted the Denver Broncos to an 18-15 road win over the Houston Texans on Sunday.
The Broncos (7-2) extended their win streak to six games with a stifling defensive performance that bolstered another fourth-quarter comeback. Denver covered 48 yards in five plays before Lutz delivered his walk-off kick. The Broncos totaled just 223 yards before their winning drive.
Nix passed for 173 yards and a pair of touchdowns, including a 27-yarder to RJ Harvey with 12:28 left to play that capped an eight-play, 61-yard drive and pulled Denver to within 15-13. Nix connected with Troy Franklin for the subsequent two-point conversion that knotted the game.
Ka’imi Fairbairn booted five field goals for the Texans (3-5), who scuffled with backup quarterback Davis Mills at the controls. Starter C.J. Stroud departed early in the second quarter after slamming the back of his helmet into the turf while being tackled on a scramble. He entered concussion protocol and did not return.
Houston led 15-7 entering the fourth quarter but punted on its final six possessions and totaled only 72 yards in the second half. The Texans’ longest drive of the fourth covered 14 yards.
The Texans and Broncos exchanged unsuccessful field goal attempts in the first quarter, with Fairbairn pushing his 51-yard kick wide right after the Texans converted two long third downs in addition to a fourth-and-short on their opening march. Lutz had his 51-yard attempt blocked by Denico Autry on the Broncos’ possession, with Autry recording his 14th career blocked kick.
On the ensuing drive, Houston surged to the Denver 1 courtesy of a 47-yard pass play from Stroud to Daulton Schultz, but was stifled on three consecutive snaps before a potential fourth-down attempt was stalled by a penalty. Fairbairn followed with a 23-yard field goal that gave the Texans a 3-0 lead.
Fairbairn added kicks of 41, 38 and 40 yards in the first half. Nix found Courtland Sutton for a 30-yard scoring pass for a 7-6 lead late in the second.
The Texans dominated time of possession in the first half (22:39), but went 0-for-3 in the red zone. The Broncos amassed 105 yards by the break but posted four sacks total to thwart Houston.
