C.J. Stroud Settles In, Texans Trail Dolphins At Half

The Houston Texans trail the Miami Dolphins at halftime in their first preseason game at NRG Stadium despite quarterback C.J. Stroud showing promising improvement.

The Houston Texans' defensive third-down efficiency was not up to par in the first half, as the Miami Dolphins lead 21-3 at halftime at NRG Stadium.

The pocket was collapsed on Dolphins backup quarterback Skylar Thompson but after a pair of pump fakes, he jumped and threw to running back Salvon Ahmed for a 5-yard gain on third-and-5 to move the chains — a play that summed up the Texans' first-half defense. Two plays later, Thompson reconnected with Ahmed on an 8-yard pitch-and-catch for Miami's second score of the game.

On Miami's second drive of the game, it was backed up to its own 2-yard line following a botched snap. However, the Dolphins converted three third downs, picking up 48 yards on four plays towards the end of the drive and Mostert found the end zone on a 2-yard score to take a 7-0 lead.

A late 65-yard run by Ahmed helped set up an 18-yard touchdown pass on — you guessed it — third down for the final score of the first half.

The Dolphins were 6-for-8 on third down, and picked up a fourth-down completion in the first half.

Miami's offense didn't have the same level of success in the early going.

On the first play of the game, linebacker Denzel Perryman intercepted Tagovailoa, setting up Houston at the 7-yard line. The Texans were knocking on the doorstep, but a third-down delay of game aided a stalled drive.

Dameon Pierce took two carries to the 1-yard line, but after being backed up to the 6 following the penalty, two incomplete passes from quarterback C.J. Stroud turned the ball over on downs without any points.

Stroud shook off the rust in drive 2 and helped march the Texans down the field, showing great touch on throws to wide receivers Noah Brown and Robert Woods for 14 and 11 yards, respectively. His lone incompletion stalled the 11-play drive, as kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn booted through a 35-yarder to trim the deficit to 7-3.

The Texans' No. 2 overall pick finished the first half 7-for-12 with 60 yards.

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