The 2013 NFL preseason got off to a successful start for my favorite football team despite ten starters watching it from the Mall of America Field sidelines either due to coach Gary Kubiak's decision or injury.The Texans escaped with no further injuries and a 27-13 win over the Minnesota Vikings to open their preseason slate.
As befits the first preseason game it was sloppy at times on both sides of the ball with some missed tackles, dropped balls and the like but got better as the game progressed.
Matt Schaub was 5-for-5 for 34 yards on his opening drive in this Super Bowl or bust season in which he has pressure on him to elevate his level of play to help the Texans get to New Jersey this February.
The game was turned over early to the second and third string players fighting to make both teams or solidify roster spots. One player that Houston fans were anxious to see play is first round draft pick DeAndre Hopkins and he didn't disappoint.
On the Texans first touchdown drive of the preseason that ate up 6:02, took 12 plays and went 85 yards Hopkins capped it off with a leaping catch of a TJ Yates pass for a 34 yard TD. Yates finished his time in the game by going 13-of-21 for 151 yards with that TD while Case Keenum was 13-of-18 for 125 yards and a two yard bootleg toss to Lestar Jean that put the Texans up 20-13 early in the fourth quarter
Keenum also led another TD drive capped off by a five yard Ray Graham TD run to put the Texans up 27-13.
The Texans didn't turn the ball over in this game while picking off two passes and recording four sacks of Viking quarterbacks. 3.5 of those sacks were courtesy of starting nose tackle Earl Mitchell and his backup Terrell McClain. It's another position Texans fans are watching since Shaun Cody left for Philadelphia.
Next up for the Texans is their preseason home opener at Reliant Stadium on August 17 against the Miami Dolphins.
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