Dalton Schultz caught a touchdown pass and set the Houston Texans’ single-season record for catches by a tight end as they stopped the visiting Las Vegas Raiders 23-21 on Sunday to stay in contention for the AFC South title.
Schultz’s 1-yard catch from CJ Stroud with 7:41 left in the game gave Houston (10-5) a 23-14 advantage. It was the only offensive touchdown of the day for the Texans, who were limited to 270 total yards and 16 first downs.
Las Vegas (2-13) pulled within two points when Ashton Jeanty ripped off his second long score of the day, a 51-yard run at the 5:24 mark. But Houston was able to run out the clock, converting a third-and-8 immediately after the two-minute warning when Stroud found Nico Collins for a 24-yard gain.
Geno Smith completed 16 of 23 passes for 201 yards with two touchdowns and an interception for the Raiders, who dropped their ninth straight game. Jeanty was splendid in defeat, accounting for 188 yards from scrimmage, including 128 on 24 rushes.
Stroud hit 23 of 35 throws for 187 yards as the Texans stayed within a game of Jacksonville for first place in the division.
Houston initiated scoring with 10:43 left in the first quarter when Derek Stingley Jr. picked off Smith’s errant throw for Jeanty and scrambled 31 yards for a touchdown. But Smith, who sat out Las Vegas’ 31-0 loss last week at Philadelphia with an injury, bounced back at the 12:25 mark of the second quarter by hitting Brock Bowers for a 7-yard scoring strike.
Ka’imi Fairbairn kicked the Texans into a 13-7 halftime lead with 55- and 50-yard field goals in the second quarter. However, the Raiders grabbed a 14-13 edge with 9:44 left in the third quarter as Smith and Jeanty hooked up for a 60-yard touchdown pass.
Fairbairn’s 49-yard field goal at the 3:08 mark restored a 16-14 advantage for Houston.
Schultz’s five receptions gave him 75 on the year, five more than Owen Daniels had in 2008.
