NFL Week 5 Game Recap: Atlanta Falcons 21, Houston Texans 19

The Houston Texans had an impressive touchdown drive late in the game to take a 19-18 lead with 1:49 to go but allowed the Atlanta Falcons to drive 56 yards on 10 plays and kick the game-winning field goal with no time left on the clock.

Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder had a career-high 329 passing yards, his first game of more than 300 yards in his young career, with one touchdown to no interceptions.

Offensive spotlight: Texans tight end Dalton Schultz had the best game of his Houston tenure, hauling in seven receptions for 65 yards, including a touchdown to take the lead with under two minutes to go. Schultz did drop a pass earlier in the game but made a few key grabs to keep drives alive.

Falcons wide receiver Drake London got off to a slow start with zero receptions in the first half but burst onto the scene when it counted with six receptions for 78 yards, two contested catches and a forced missed tackle. London also had a nice pass to tight end Jonnu Smith for 22 yards to get Atlanta into scoring position for their only first-half points.

Defensive spotlight: Texans safety Jalen Pitre made nine solo tackles and a defensive stop, with a pass breakup and fumble recovery, as well. Pitre was all over the field, leading both teams in total tackles. Linebacker Blake Cashman recorded six solo tackles, including a tackle for loss, three defensive stops, a pass breakup and a quarterback pressure.

Falcons slot cornerback Dee Alford forced two incompletions and made two defensive stops. Overall, Atlanta’s defense executed the bend-don’t-break mantra to a tee, allowing 5.4 yards per play but forcing Houston to kick four field goals before they finally scored a touchdown late.

Rookie spotlight: Texans rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud went 20-of-35 for 249 yards and a touchdown, with rookie wideout Tank Dell amassing three receptions for 57 yards before he left the game with a concussion. Stroud’s receivers were also charged with three drops, and he set the NFL record for most passes to start a career without an interception. Stroud took zero sacks on the afternoon. A healthier Texans offensive line kept Atlanta’s pass rushers at bay, but Stroud also made good decisions to either escape the pocket or get rid of the football.

Falcons rookie running back Bijan Robinson was largely bottled up in this game against one of the league’s worst run defenses, logging just 46 rushing yards on 14 attempts, but he forced nine missed tackles on first review, a staggering number given how little room he had to operate for much of the afternoon. Robinson also added two receptions for 12 yards, including a touchdown catch where he made a defender miss over the middle of the field.

Box Score

Passing

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Receiving