Lock, Broncos pound Texans in Houston

Drew Lock passed for 308 yards and three touchdowns, Kareem Jackson had an interception and a fumble return for a score against his former team, and the visiting Denver Broncos beat the Houston Texans 38-24 on Sunday. Noah Fant had four receptions for 113 yards and a touchdown before leaving with an injury. Phillip Lindsay rushed for 51 yards and a score for the Broncos (5-8).

Deshaun Watson had 292 yards passing with one touchdown and two interceptions and ran for two more scores for the Texans. DeAndre Hopkins had seven catches for 120 yards and a touchdown for Houston (8-5). The Broncos had not scored more than 24 points in any of the previous 22 games -- easily the longest active drought in the NFL -- but topped that in the first half against the Texans.

Lock connected with fellow rookie Fant on a 14-yard touchdown pass to cap a seven-play, 92-yard drive and a 7-0 lead with 7:27 left in the first. Four minutes later, Houston receiver Keke Coutee fumbled at the Denver 29. Linebacker Jeremiah Attaochu recovered, handed it to Jackson, and the former Texan ran 70 yards for the touchdown and a 14-0 lead.

The Broncos made it a three-score game when Lock hit tight end Jeff Heuerman for an 8-yard touchdown early in the second. The teams traded field goals, and then Houston went for it on fourth down in its own territory, but Watson's pass was knocked down, giving Denver the ball at the Texans 34. Six plays later, Lock threw his third touchdown pass, this to Royce Freeman for 3 yards and a 31-3 halftime lead.

Denver got the ball to start the second half and went 57 yards in eight plays, finished with Lindsay's 1-yard touchdown run. Houston finally found the end zone after that, needing just 1 minute, 39 seconds to go 70 yards, capped by Watson's 43-yard touchdown pass to Hopkins.

Lock threw an interception on the Broncos' next possession, and Watson had a 6-yard touchdown run with 13:44 left to get within 38-17. Denver went three-and-out on the ensuing drive, and Houston got the ball back at the 50, but Jackson intercepted Watson. The Broncos used up more than three minutes before punting, and Watson scored his second touchdown with 25 seconds left to wrap up the scoring.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)