HOUSTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 02: Quarterbacks Bo Nix #10 and Jarrett Stidham #8 of the Denver Broncos take the field against the Houston Texans in the game at NRG Stadium on November 02, 2025 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)Photo: Tim Warner / Getty Images Sport / Getty Images
Broncos won the toss and deferred to the 2nd half.
CJ Stroud and the Texans offense started with the ball at their own 36 yard line. Facing a 3rd and 8, CJ Stroud hit Nico Collins for a 9 yard gain over the middle to move the sticks. After a couple of runs by the rookie RB Woody Marks, Houston was facing another 3rd and long, Stroud was hit as he threw the ball and completed it to Christian Kirk for 12 yards to get into Denver territory. Facing ANOTHER 3rd down, a pass to Schultz was short of the sticks but they went for it on 4th down and Stroud completed it to Kirk to the Broncos 28 yard line. The defense FINALLY got a stop on the next 3rd down with a sack on CJ Stroud by Zach Allen. Ka'imi Fairbairn's 51 yard field goal attempt missed wide right so the Broncos took over at their own 41 yard line.
The Broncos methodically moved the ball into Texans territory with some great running by JK Dobbins but on 3rd and long, the pass to Badie fell incomplete and Denver was forced to attempt a 51 yard field goal that was blocked by Denico Autry (probably used leverage, but not called) and the Texans took over at their over 41 yard line.
CJ Stroud hit Dalton Schultz over the middle for a huge gain of 47 yards and the Texans were quickly in the Red Zone. Houston worked all the way down to the 1 yard line and were denied THREE straight times before a false start on 4th down backed them out of another opportunity. Settling for a 23 yard field goal, Texans took an early lead 3-0.
Broncos offense couldn't get much going on their next drive and quickly went 3 and out.
On the Texans next drive, CJ Stroud scrambled on 3rd down and took a wicked shot from Kris Abraims Draine that sent him to the locker room and forced a punt.
Broncos offense continued their struggles as Bo Nix targeted Courtland Sutton deep and was picked off by Calen Bullock and the Texans got the ball right back at midfield.
Davis Mills now in at QB hit Nico Collins down the right side for 26 yards and the Texans were now back into the Denver Red Zone. Houston worked it all the way down to the 2 yard line but were denied AGAIN. A false start stalled the drive and they would eventually, after Jonathon Cooper sack on 3rd down, would settle for a 41 yard field goal and would extend their lead 6-0.
Broncos offense FINALLY got going with a 21 yard completion to Adam Trautman that got them to midfield and then Michael Bandy took an option route for 16. Facing a 3rd and 10 from the Houston 30 Bo Nix hit Courtland Sutton for an absolute DIME touchdown down the left sideline for the go ahead touchdown. Broncos lead 7-6 with 4:52 remaining in the 1st half.
Mills completed it to Collins for 15 yards and he drew a personal foul penalty by Brandon Jones to move the ball into Denver territory. Houston was facing a 3rd and 9 from the Denver 28 coming out of the 2 minute warning, Mills hit Collins for 8 yards. Fairbairn converts a 38 yard field goal and the Texans bounce back in front 9-7.
Broncos got the ball back and would start their next drive at their 20 after a bizarre call that the ball hit in the landing zone. After an initial 1st down checkdown to Tyler Badie, the drive went backwards on a screen that went for -6 and eventually an incomplete pass to Franklin. Texans got the ball back at their 34 yard line with about a minute remaining in the 1st half.
The Texans didn't gain a yard, in fact lost a yard on 3rd down, and punted it right back to Denver but Michael Bandy muffed it and the Texans took over at the Broncos 30 yard line.
Houston gained a 1st down at the 17 yard but a Dondrea Tillman sack would stall the drive and Houston settled for a 40 yard field goal as the half ticked to zero, extending the lead 12-7.
Broncos offense started with the ball out of halftime at their own 24 yard line. JK Dobbins with a 9 yard gain on 1st down kicked off the drive and they got an initial 1st down with Adam Prentice but the drive didn't much more than that. Broncos punted it to Houston and after a 45 yard punt return by Jaylin Noel would be set up in Denver territory at the 47.
Houston gained an initial first down but the drive stalled and Houston, once again, converted another field goal extending the lead 15-7.
Broncos offense went backwards again and quickly 3 and out. A personal foul penalty by Mitchell Fraboni gave the Texans great field position at their own 44 yard line with 6:53 remaining in the 3rd quarter.
Texans offense worked into Denver territory with a couple of hand offs to Woody Marks but on 3rd down, Riley Moss came up with a clutch PBU covering Collins and Houston was forced to punt. Broncos would start at their own 12 yard line.
JK Dobbins took the handoff on 1st down and gained 8 but would be unable to pick up 2 yards on the next two carries and the offense went 3 and out again.
Crawshaw had a beautiful 67 yard punt to pin Houston's offense at their own 12 yard line and they would eventually punt after going 3 and out.
Nix hit Franklin for 14 yards to get Denver into Houston territory as we wound down the 3rd quarter. Pat Bryant came up a MONSTER 7 yard reception on 3rd and 7. A couple plays later, Bo Nix found a wide open RJ Harvey down the right sideline for a 27 yard touchdown. Troy Franklin hauled in the 2 point conversion and the Broncos tie it up at 15!
The Broncos defense came up big on the next drive as Houston gained an initial first down but would punt it shortly after. Unfortunately, the Broncos offense couldn't do much with the opportunity and punted it right back to Houston after a 3 and out. Texans start their next drive at their 36 yard line with 9:46 remaining in the game.
The defense did their job again and forced a 3 and out! Broncos offense starting from their own 20, got an initial first down on a screen pass to RJ Harvey and then on 3rd and 11, Nix hit Pat Bryant for a 13 yard gain over the middle to get to mid field as we hit the 2 minute warning. Unfortunately, the offense couldn't advance much from there and Denver punted it back to Houston who started their drive from the 13 yard line with 1:20 remaining in the game. The Broncos defense ONCE AGAIN forced a 3 and out and the Broncos would get the ball back at their own 36 yard line with 50 seconds remaining in the game.
On 2nd and 7, Bo Nix took off and ran it for 26 yards! JK Dobbins added a couple of key runs and eventually the Broncos lined up for a 34 yard game winning field goal! Wil Lutz converted and the Broncos improbably won 18-15!!
The next broadcast is on Thursday, November 6th as the Broncos host the Las Vegas Raiders. Coverage starts at noon, kickoff at 6:15pm MTN
Below is the postgame interviews with Bo Nix, Zach Allen, RJ Harvey and Talanoa Hufanga