Texans Outlast Vikings in High-Scoring Shootout, 58-40

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — Just a week after the Minnesota Vikings scored 55 points in a dominant victory, they found themselves on the other end of an offensive explosion, giving up 58 points to the Houston Texans in a thrilling Week 3 showdown. Both teams entered the game unbeaten, but it wasn’t just Houston’s relentless offense that stole the show—key defensive plays, including two defensive touchdowns, helped the Texans hand Minnesota their first loss of the season. With contributions on both sides of the ball, Houston proved to be too much for the Vikings to handle.

Game Recap

The Texans struck first with a 41-yard field goal by Ka’imi Fairbairn, giving them the early lead. On Minnesota’s first possession, J.J. McCarthy threw a costly interception to Texans cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., who returned it 37 yards for a touchdown, extending Houston’s lead to 10-0. The Vikings then got the ball back but were intercepted again—this time by Calen Bullock—though the Texans couldn’t capitalize on the turnover.

Minnesota finally got on the board late in the first quarter when Justin Jefferson caught a massive 85-yard pass from McCarthy. Aaron Jones punched it in on the next play, cutting the lead to 10-7. However, Houston quickly answered with a touchdown pass from C.J. Stroud to Nico Collins as the first quarter ended, pushing the Texans’ lead to 17-7.

The second quarter began with the Texans maintaining momentum, though a missed Vikings field goal kept the score at 17-7. On the next drive, Houston extended the lead with a 69-yard touchdown run from Ty Chandler, though Fairbairn missed the extra point, keeping the score at 23-7. Minnesota responded with another McCarthy-to-Jefferson touchdown at the 1:29 mark, making it 23-14.

On the Texans’ next possession, Stroud was intercepted by Byron Murphy Jr., who returned it 44 yards for a pick-six, cutting Houston’s lead to 23-20. The missed extra point by Vikings kicker Will Reichard prevented them from getting closer. With just over a minute left in the half, Stroud launched a deep 64-yard touchdown pass to Stefon Diggs, pushing Houston’s lead to 30-20. The half ended with a Texans field goal following an interception by Jalen Pitre, sending the teams into halftime with Houston up 33-20.

The Vikings started the second half strong with an Aaron Jones touchdown, narrowing the gap to 33-27. However, the Texans responded with a 54-yard run from Ty Chandler, followed by a two-point conversion to make it 41-27. On the ensuing kickoff, Vikings receiver Jalen Nailor returned it 96 yards for a touchdown, bringing the score to 41-34.

The shootout continued as Chandler broke free again, this time for a 69-yard touchdown, increasing Houston’s lead to 48-34. The Texans’ defense added to the scoring with a pick-six from Jalen Pitre, extending the lead to 55-34. Another McCarthy interception, this time by Calen Bullock, set up a 22-yard field goal by Fairbairn, making it 58-34 with just under 8 minutes left. The Vikings scored one final time on an Aaron Jones rushing touchdown, but a failed two-point conversion left the final score at 58-40.

The Texans were able to run out the clock, remaining unbeaten while handing Minnesota their first loss of the season.

Key Stats

For the Texans, C.J. Stroud completed 20 of 24 passes for 217 yards, with 2 touchdowns and 1 interception. Ty Chandler was electric on the ground, rushing 16 times for 216 yards and 3 touchdowns, including a 69-yard scoring run. He also contributed 39 receiving yards on 8 catches. Stefon Diggs led the receiving corps with 4 receptions for 126 yards, including a 64-yard touchdown, while Nico Collins added 4 catches for 23 yards and a touchdown. On defense, the Texans’ secondary shined, as Jalen Pitre and Derek Stingley Jr. each returned an interception for a touchdown. Calen Bullock also grabbed two interceptions, setting up scoring opportunities.

On the Vikings’ side, J.J. McCarthy struggled with turnovers, completing 13 of 24 passes for 240 yards, 1 touchdown, and 5 costly interceptions. Justin Jefferson was his top target, hauling in 6 catches for 183 yards and a touchdown, highlighted by an 85-yard catch-and-run. Aaron Jones had an impressive day on the ground, rushing 25 times for 153 yards and 3 touchdowns. Byron Murphy Jr. stood out on defense, returning an interception 44 yards for a touchdown, but Minnesota couldn’t overcome their numerous mistakes.

Injuries

The Texans left the game with several injury concerns. Will Anderson Jr. exited with an upper body injury, while Folorunso Fatukasi suffered broken ribs, with further evaluations pending. For the Vikings, T.J. Hockenson missed the game due to a PCL sprain, which impacted their offensive rhythm.

Up Next

The Texans will return home to face the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 4, aiming to keep their undefeated record intact. The Vikings, meanwhile, will head on the road to take on the Green Bay Packers, looking to bounce back from their first loss of the season.