HOUSTON (AP) DeAndre Hopkins had 113 yards receiving and a touchdown and Nick Novak kicked four field goals, helping the Houston Texans to a 19-12 win over the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.
Novak connected from 32, 24, 31 and 43 yards for the Texans.
Cairo Santos made three field goals in the fourth quarter to cut the lead to 19-12, but Houston recovered the onside kick with less than a minute left to seal the victory.
The Texans (2-0) showed that they are a much different team than the one that was embarrassed in a 30-0 wild-card playoff loss to the Chiefs (1-1) in January, when quarterback Brian Hoyer had five turnovers.
New quarterback Brock Osweiler did throw two interceptions but the Chiefs had more trouble taking care of the ball, with Houston’s defense setting a franchise record by recovering three fumbles in the first half.
The first came when a high snap sailed over Alex Smith’s head. J.J. Watt shoved him out of the way with one hand and pounced on it, showing he was getting back to his old self after July back surgery.
Osweiler, who finished with 268 yards passing, connected with Hopkins on a 27-yard touchdown pass on the next play to make it 7-0.
Watt continued to shine later in the first quarter when he took Smith down for his first sack this season, forcing the Chiefs to kick a field goal that made it 7-3.
Houston was leading by seven in the second quarter when Spencer Ware fumbled, Kevin Johnson scooped it up for his first career recovery and returned it 52 yards. The Texans couldn’t get their offense going after that and settled for a 24-yard field goal to make it 13-3.
John Simon forced the last fumble of the half on his strip-sack of Smith. It was recovered by Whitney Mercilus. But once again Houston failed to move the ball and Novak’s try for a 57-yard field goal fell short as time expired in the first half.
Marcus Peters intercepted Osweiler at the goal line on Houston’s first possession and picked him off again late in the third quarter.
That led to a 43-yard field goal that cut the lead to 13-6.
A field goal by both teams after that left the Texans up 16-9.
The Chiefs (1-1) return home to Arrowhead Stadium for their Week 3 matchup with the New York Jets (1-1) next Sunday at 3:25 p.m. CT.
