The Houston Texans take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a consequential November meeting. For the Bucs, a win keeps them in the thick of things as the reigning NFC South champions look to defend their title. Houston reaching 4-4 can touch another milestone on completing the rebuild as they will have matched their most wins in each of the past three seasons.
Houston will be challenged as starting running back Dameon Pierce will miss the game with an ankle injury. Offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik is confident in Devin Singletary.
If you can’t catch the game any other conventional way, follow along here.
How to watch
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Houston Texans — Sunday, Nov. 5, 12:00 p.m. CT
TV channel: KHOU-TV
Live stream: FuboTV
Radio: Sports Radio 610 (KILT-AM), Mega 101 (KLOL-FM) (Marc Vandermeer & Andre Ware)
Location: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, N.C.
Forecast: Mostly cloudy, 74 degrees, 5 mph wind (indoors)
Follow the @TheTexansWire and the crew (@therealmarklane, @BigSargeSportz, @chrisnallsnfl @JohnHCrumpler)
Texans offensive player spotlight
Tight end Dalton Schultz should figure to see targets as the Texans face a heavy blitzing Bucs defense. Schultz has 23 catches for 220 yards and three touchdowns on the season, and his best game was Week 5 when he had seven catches for 65 yards and a touchdown. Providing a relief for C.J. Stroud against the blitz would go a long way. — Mark Lane
Texans defensive player spotlight
Jalen Pitre has yet to have a statement game this season but the signs are there. Tampa Bay and QB Baker Mayfield represent an aggressive passing attack that may just allow Pitre to thrive. It will be no surprise if Pitre gets home for a sack when blitzed and when he makes a play downfield on an attempt to Mike Evans. Look for a big game from Houston’s sophomore safety. — John Crumpler
Inactives
Inactives for #TBvsHOU ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/PaJH5pzGH6
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) November 5, 2023
#Bucs Inactives:
G Matt Feiler
DL Logan Hall
RB Sean Tucker
OLB Markees Watts
TE David Wells
QB John Wolford— Brianna Dix (@briannadixNFL) November 5, 2023
First quarter — TB 10, HXT 7
15:00 — The Buccaneers win the coin toss with tails, and choose to defer. The Texans get the ball first.
14:48 — The Bucs’ strategy getting the ball first was to steal a possession early, and they achieve the objective. QB C.J. Stroud completes a 9-yard pass to TE Dalton Schultz on third-and-10 from the Texans’ 25-yard line. LB Lavonte David punched the ball out, and CB Antoine Winfield recovered at the Texans’ 42.
13:36 — Houston’s defense shows up with a stop on third-and-10 from the 18. QB Baker Mayfield completes a 1-yard pass to RB Rachaad White. The Bucs are forced to kick a field goal.
12:59 — K Chase McLaughlin nails a 35-yard field goal. Bucs, 3-0
9:14 — Stroud caps off a seven-play, 75-yard drive with a 14-yard slant to WR Nico Collins. Extra point from K Ka’imi Fairbairn is good. Texans, 7-3
5:27 — S Jimmie Ward hits Mayfield an incurs unnecessary roughness on a third-and-7 from the Texans’ 21. The Bucs get first-and-10 at the 13-yard line.
3:18 — White gains three yards on a fourth-and-1 from the Texans’ 4-yard line.
2:54 — Mayfield loses two yards on first-and-goal.
2:18 — Mayfield completes a 3-yard pass to TE Cade Otton. Extra point is good. 10-7, Bucs
1:27 — Houston goes three-and-out as Stroud can’t connect with WR Tank Dell on a third-and-9 from the Houston 10.
Second quarter — TB 17, HTX 10
15:00 — On third-and-17 from the Tampa Bay 29, Mayfield completes to Otton for nine yards.
12:15 — The Texans get backed up at their own 10 and go three-and-out. CB D’Angelo Ross incurs a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct for not returning inbounds quickly enough on punt coverage. Tampa Bay starts first-and-10 at the Houston 40.
12:03 — Ward was injured on a 16-yard catch from WR Mike Evans. Ward walked off on his own power.
11:30 — White rushed for 11 yards to the Houston 13. S M.J. Stewart, who checked in for Ward, is injured. Stewart walked off on his own power.
9:07 — White rushes for a 1-yard touchdown. Extra point is good. Bucs, 17-7
9:05 — DE Will Anderson is in the blue medical tent.
5:22 — Fairbairn hits a 50-yard field goal. Bucs, 17-10
5:17 — Injury update:
#Texans Injury Updates:
#1 S Jimmie Ward is questionable with a hamstring injury.
#29 S M.J. Stewart is questionable with a shoulder injury.
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) November 5, 2023
0:07 — Stroud completes a 12-yard pass to Collins up to the Bucs’ 43, but it would not have mattered as LT Laremy Tunsil was ticketed for holding. End of the half.
Halftime
Stats
TEXANS
Stroud: 15/23, 157 yards, TD
Singletary: 5 carries, 2 yards; 2 catches, 0 yards
Schultz: 4 catches, 51 yards
BUCCANEERS
Mayfield: 10/12, 119 yards, TD; 1 carry, -2 yards
White: 9 carries, 30 yards, TD; 3 catches, 43 yards
Third quarter — TB 23, HXT 22
15:00 — Fairbairn is out with a quad injury.
12:42 — McLaughlin hits a 49-yard field goal. Bucs, 20-10
12:32 — Stroud hits WR Noah Brown for a 75-yard touchdown pass. Two-pointer is no good. Bucs, 20-16
9:28 — McLaughlin hits a 55-yard field goal. Bucs, 23-16
6:05 — Stroud hits Dell for a 29-yard touchdown. Two-point attempt fails. Bucs, 23-22
Fourth quarter — TB 37, HTX 39
14:11 — Stroud throws a 9-yard touchdown pass to Schultz. Two-pointer is good as Stroud rushes up the middle. 30-23, Texans
11:46 — White rushes for a 1-yard touchdown. Extra point is good. 30-30
8:48 — Ogunbowale kicks a 29-yard field goal. 33-30, Texans
0:49 — Mayfield completes a 14-yard touchdown to Otton. Extra point is good. 37-33, Bucs
0:10 — Stroud hits Dell for a 15-yard touchdown. Two-pointer fails. 39-37, Texans
0:00 — The Texans improve to 4-4, but have turned the page on the rebuild. Stroud carried the team to victory unquestionably. Coverage all night at Texans Wire.
