Houston took the 26-7 victory from the Lions at Ford Field as backup QB Kyle Allen dropped back and delivered a beautiful 33-yard strike down the sideline to rookie wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa, who hauled it in for Detroit’s only touchdown of the afternoon. By the end of the first quarter, Detroit led momentarily, only to watch as Houston’s depth and composure began to dominate the narrative.
From that point forward, the Texans seized control with a blend of steady drives and opportunistic execution, as Graham Mertz and Kedon Slovis each looked sharp running the offense. Mertz carved through the Detroit secondary, hitting Quintez Cephus for a touchdown and moving the chains with precision, while Slovis later connected with Daniel Jackson for another scoring strike. Detroit’s defense offered brief resistance — a sack here, an interception there — but could not halt the Texans’ methodical march downfield. By the final whistle, Houston’s 26-7 advantage reflected a clear imbalance in execution and depth.
For Detroit, the outing offered bittersweet clarity: Allen’s flawless 5-for-5 performance and TeSlaa’s third consecutive preseason TD forged their case toward making the roster. Yet the rest of the roster struggles were laid bare — penalties, breakdowns in coverage, and special-teams miscues underscored the Lions’ lack of depth and exposed cracks as roster cutdowns loomed. Meanwhile, Houston’s young contributors shone: Cephus earned player-of-the-game honors, running backs like Jawhar Jordan put up solid yardage, and standout performances from bubble players gave the Texans reason to believe in their under-the-radar potential. The game, though not consequential in standings, served as a decisive audition for careers, futures, and final 53-man roster dreams.
The stage was set for a dramatic roster finale: Detroit hopefuls clinging to momentum, Texans hopefuls savoring affirmation on the cusp of the regular season. And though the preseason curtain fell with a resounding 26-7 Texans victory, the true drama lay ahead — when hope, preparation, and opportunity converge in the unforgiving crucible of September football.
