Detroit Lions vs. Houston Texans live score updates, highlights, news

No matter what happens on Sunday night, the Detroit Lions will atop the NFC for another week. Even a loss to the Houston Texans would drop them to 7-2, where they hold the tiebreaker with the 7-2 Vikings (due to head-to-head victory) and the Eagles (conference record).

That being said, the Lions don’t want to have first place by tiebreaker or technicality. They want to outright earn it, and they’d do so if they can take down the Texans on “Sunday Night Football” in Houston.

Detroit comes in as 3.5-point road favorites, but it won’t be a cakewalk against the 6-3 Texans. C.J. Stroud is one of the most electric quarterbacks in football, and Houston’s defense is among the best in the NFL.

The Lions have gone up against some of the best defenses in football lately and vanquished them all. However, they have a pretty significant hurdle to overcome this week: left tackle Taylor Decker is out with a shoulder injury. With the Texans owning one of the best pass rushes—although they’ll be missing Will Anderson Jr.—Detroit’s front five will have their hands full.

Of course, let’s not forget that the Lions offense is also getting Jameson Williams back this week, adding yet another dimension to Detroit’s high-octane attack. Will that be enough to move them to 8-1 on the season?

Follow along live here as we provide live score updates, drive-by-drive analysis, highlights, and any injury news that may drop during the game. Refresh the page after the game kicks off at 8:20 p.m. ET to get all the latest information.

First quarter

The Lions won the toss and wanted the ball first. The Lions started with Dan Skipper at left tackle, filling in for the injured Taylor Decker. They got an early third down conversion with a nifty shovel pass to Amon-Ra St. Brown. But they quickly turned it over after a Jared Goff pass was deflected up in the air and picked off by Texans’ Jimmie Ward.

PITRE WITH THE TIP, JIMMIE WITH THE INT

: @SNFonNBC pic.twitter.com/jNwRtHsuUo — Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) November 11, 2024

The Lions quickly got the Texans into a third-and-10 thanks to strong run defense, but then C.J. Stroud hit Tank Dell for 13 yards to convert and move into the red zone. Again, the Lions run defense showed up to force a third-and-16—but, again, the Lions pass defense was too soft, and Stroud found John Metchie III for the conversion. Two plays later, Joe Mixon took a sweep for an 8-yard touchdown. 7-0 Lions.

The Lions offense couldn’t get anything going on their second drive. After a deep shot attempt to Jameson Williams and a delay of game penalty, the Lions faced a third-and-15 and Goff found Sam LaPorta well short of the sticks.

A short punt set the Texans up at their own 44-yard line, and Houston would take advantage. Back-to-back completions to Dell picked up a quick first down for Houston. Then a well-timed screen against a Lions blitz got Mixon all the way down to the 3-yard line for a 36 yard gain.

A holding penalty pushed the Texans back 10 yards, and Detroit would hold from there, forcing a 39-yard field goal after a James Houston sack on third down. 10-0 Texans.

The offense very nearly went three-and-out, but Jameson Williams bobbled a catch for 23 yards, converting a third-and-16.

Second quarter

On the second play of the second quarter, the Lions faced a third-and-6 and Goff found Williams again for 13 yards into Texans territory. A few plays later, the Lions ran a nice-looking play-action fake, and Goff found Sam LaPorta for 20-yard touchdown. 10-7 Texans.

One for the LaPorta Supportas #DETvsHOU NBC pic.twitter.com/6SDl7gK9Fd — Detroit Lions (@Lions) November 11, 2024

The Texans quickly got into scoring position thanks to a 41-yard pass interference penalty on Terrion Arnold. But Detroit’s defense stiffened up from there with Brian Branch pass breakup and a tackle for loss by Alim McNeill. That forced the Texans to try a 56-yard field goal and Ka’imi Fairbairn made it. 13-7 Texans.

Detroit’s offense turned the ball over a second time on the next drive. Denico Autry beat Penei Sewell around the right edge and hit Goff as he threw, resulting in a second interception.

DEFENSE GOING CRAZY TO'OTO'O WITH THE TAKEAWAY

: @SNFonNBC pic.twitter.com/ZL6nRv6jEq — Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) November 11, 2024

Again, the Texans cashed in on the takeaway, but Detroit was able to hold them to three. 16-7 Texans.

Detroit’s offense continued it’s long evening with a quick three-and-out. Goff had to turf back-to-back throws because of pressure, and the Texans took over again with over three minutes remaining in the half.

The Lions defense got the ball back to the offense quickly, though. Pat O’Connor picked up a sack on first down, and Detroit blew up a screen on third-and-21.

The Lions got the ball back with 1:51 left and three timeouts at their own 19-yard line. But they got a little conservative with a pair of runs to start the drive, which successfully ate about a minute of clock time but only gained a couple of yards. Goff, under pressure, couldn’t find LaPorta on third down, and Detroit gave the Texans one more opportunity to add to their lead.

Houston had 54 seconds left, starting at their own 34-yard line. Stroud hit Metchie to get into field goal position.

Then he hit Dalton Schultz for 17 yards and down to the 15-yard line. Then he hit Metchie again on third down for a touchdown and a 23-7 Texans lead.

Detroit attempted a hail mary at the end of the half, and Goff was intercepted for the third time in the half.

Third quarter

Detroit needed a good start to the half to get back in the game, and boy, did they get one. Carlton Davis jumped a Tank Dell route for an interception on the very first play of the half.

But Detroit gave it right back to the Texans. Goff misfired to LaPorta and Kamari Lassiter picked it off.

The positive spin for the Lions is that the Texans were pinned at their own 1-yard line for the ensuing drive. Detroit’s defense got a three-and-out, offering the Lions good field position—the Texans’ 44-yard line. Goff hit Laporta for a gain of 37, setting Detroit up inside the 5-yard line.

On the very next play, David Montgomery hammered it in from 3. Detroit opted to go for two, but Montgomery was stuffed. 23-13 Texans.

Note: LaPorta was injured on the play and was listed as questionable to return with a shoulder injury.

Detroit’s defense had a chance to get a three-and-out, but a blitz on third down didn’t get home and tight end Dalton Schultz beat Alex Anzalone for a huge 32-yard gain. But then Stroud made a big mistake, underthrowing a deep shot that was intercepted by Carlton Davis for his second pick of the quarter.

But Goff gave the ball right back to the Texans with his FIFTH interception of the game on an ill-advised deep pass to Williams.

The Lions defense, again, held their end of the bargain. Alim McNeill picked up a sack, forcing an eventual third-and-26, which the Texans just ran a draw play on.

A neat little swing pass to Jahmyr Gibbs picked up 33 yards and moved Detroit near midfield.

But that’s all the Lions would get on the drive, as a third-and-7 draw play gained next to nothing and the Lions punted it away.

Houston would face a third-and-9 going into the fourth quarter.

Fourth quarter

Branch continued his solid game with a pass breakup to kick off the final quarter and help give Detroit the ball back.

Williams caught a big 17-yard catch in which took a big hit, but held on. Then Montgomery took a screen pass for 24 yards down to the Texans’ 9-yard line.

Goff to Montgomery on the screen and the @Lions are in business.

: #DETvsHOU on NBC/Peacock

: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/zDP1N4RzHJ — NFL (@NFL) November 11, 2024

On the next play, Goff hit St. Brown for a 9-yard touchdown. 23-20 Texans.

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