Texans Start Frank Ross Era Strong, Beat Jaguars 27-13 With Improved Run Defense
HOUSTON (AP) — Whatever message interim head coach Frank Ross delivered in his first week, the Houston Texans heard it loud and clear. In Ross’s debut, the Texans looked sharper, more disciplined, and far more physical in a 27-13 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday at NRG Stadium.
The biggest turnaround came in the trenches. After weeks of being gashed on the ground — including the infamous 509-yard debacle that helped seal David Shaw’s fate — Houston’s defense rose to the challenge, holding the Jaguars to just 78 rushing yards. The tone was set early by Greg Rousseau, who recorded two sacks and consistently collapsed the pocket.
Offensively, the Texans spread the ball around, but the surprise standout was Rachaad White, who made the most of limited touches. White carried the ball only three times, but turned them into 46 yards and two touchdowns, providing key red-zone finishing that Houston has lacked in recent weeks.
After the game, Ross praised the team’s renewed focus. “The effort was there, the discipline was there, and the fight was there,” he said. “This group responded exactly how you want them to after a tough stretch.”
At 6-3, the Texans hope Sunday’s performance marks the beginning of a second-half surge — and the early signs under Ross suggest the course correction may already be underway.
Packers Edge Eagles 24-23 as Defense Delivers Key Stops in Tight Battle
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — In a game that swung back and forth for four quarters, the Green Bay Packers leaned on timely defense to pull out a 24-23 win over the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday at Lambeau Field.
The Packers didn’t dominate statistically, but they dominated situationally. Time and again, the defense bowed up inside the red zone, forcing the Eagles to settle for field goals instead of touchdowns — the difference between winning and losing on a razor-thin margin.
Cornerbacks Cooper DeJean and Trent McDuffie were everywhere, each recording 10 tackles while helping limit Philadelphia’s explosive plays after the catch. Their physicality and discipline kept the Eagles’ receivers in front of them and allowed Green Bay to stay in control late.
Offensively, the Packers did just enough, mixing the run and pass to keep pace in a game that offered no room for mistakes. The final defensive stand sealed it, preserving Green Bay’s narrow one-point lead.
The win moves the Packers to 8-1, maintaining their grip on the NFC’s top seed as the season reaches the stretch run — and once again proving that in Green Bay, complementary football still wins close games.
49ers Erupt in Second Half, Rally Past Rams 38-27 Behind Love’s Five Touchdowns
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Down 17-0 early and trailing 20-10 at halftime, the San Francisco 49ers looked flat, frustrated, and on the verge of a division setback. Then the second half started — and the offense detonated.
San Francisco scored four touchdowns after the break, unleashing a 28-point surge to storm past the Los Angeles Rams 38-27 on Sunday at Levi’s Stadium. The comeback was powered by a massive offensive showing, with the 49ers piling up 508 total yards in one of their most explosive outings of the season.
Quarterback Jordan Love delivered his best performance of the year, throwing for 395 yards, five touchdowns, and one interception. Calm under pressure and deadly accurate downfield, Love carved up the Rams secondary throughout the second half, turning a sluggish start into a fireworks show.
His top targets were unstoppable. Wide Receiver sensation Jalen Coker continued his breakout campaign with 121 yards and a touchdown, while Ladd McConkey added 104 yards and two scores, consistently finding space against blown coverages and mismatches.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan praised the team’s resilience afterward. “We were out of rhythm early, but nobody panicked,” Shanahan said. “Jordan locked in, the receivers made plays, and the offensive line took over. That’s who we can be when we’re firing.”
With the win, the 49ers improve to 6-4, keeping their NFC West ambitions very much alive — especially if this second-half version of the offense shows up again.
Chargers’ Rally Falls Short in 37-31 Loss to Steelers at SoFi
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Chargers nearly pulled off a furious second-half comeback, but an early deficit and key defensive injuries proved too much to overcome in a 37-31 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.
The Chargers trailed big at halftime after a sluggish start on both sides of the ball, but erupted for 24 second-half pointsto climb back into the game. Quarterback Matthew Stafford was nothing short of brilliant, throwing for 376 yards and four touchdowns, repeatedly attacking the Steelers secondary in an effort to erase the early hole.
But with stars Patrick Surtain II and DeForest Buckner sidelined, the Chargers defense simply couldn’t hold up. Pittsburgh moved the ball at will for most of the afternoon, controlling tempo and converting key third downs to keep Stafford off the field.
Head coach Bobby Slowik praised his team’s fight but didn’t mince words about the early issues. “We can’t spot anybody a whole half,” Slowik said. “The guys battled, but we need to start games the way we finish them.”
The Chargers (7-3) still sit firmly in the AFC playoff race, but Sunday’s loss highlighted just how thin the margin becomes when two of the defense’s cornerstone players aren’t available. Stafford’s performance kept them close — but close wasn’t enough.
