The Houston Texans suffered their first loss of the season on Sunday, falling to the Minnesota Vikings 34-7 in Minneapolis. Quarterback Sam Darnold delivered a standout performance, matching his career best with four touchdown passes, while the Vikings showcased a formidable defensive effort.
The Vikings’ defense was a force throughout the game, sacking Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud four times, with Jonathan Greenard accounting for three of those. Minnesota’s defense intercepted Stroud twice, applying consistent pressure and capitalizing on the Texans’ mistakes, particularly amid the noise of the home crowd.
Darnold’s touchdown passes included connections with Justin Jefferson and Aaron Jones in the first quarter, both on crucial third down plays within the red zone. In the second half, he added a touchdown for Jalen Nailor and connected with tight end Johnny Mundt for another score. Darnold completed 17 of 28 passes for 181 yards without any turnovers and secured a third consecutive win as a starter, a streak he hadn’t achieved in three years.
Despite the loss, Stroud managed to throw for 215 yards, completing 20 of his 31 passes, though he was intercepted for the first time in ten starts. The Texans managed to score late in the third quarter with a pass from Stroud to Cam Akers, marking Akers’ first touchdown since joining the Texans.
Minnesota took an early lead after Darnold found Jefferson in the end zone following a turnover, while further field position setbacks for the Texans amplified their struggles due to pre-snap penalties. Left tackle Laremy Tunsil was notably penalized three times, contributing to Houston’s offensive woes.
Nico Collins, who entered the game as the NFL’s leading receiver, was largely contained by the Vikings’ secondary, managing only a single 34-yard catch, which set up Houston’s only touchdown.
Stefon Diggs led the Texans in receiving, tallying ten catches for 94 yards in his return to Minnesota after four years, where he previously played for the Vikings.
Looking ahead, the Texans will next face the Jacksonville Jaguars at home.