by Pre-season games are exciting! They give fans a chance to see new players, watch rookies prove themselves, and check out fresh game strategies before the real season starts!
On August 23, 2025, the Detroit Lions and Houston Texans met for what felt like more than just a practice game. Both teams brought energy, focus, and determination to the field!
Fans filled the stadium with cheers and chants. Players on both sides wanted to show coaches they deserved spots on the final roster. Rookies tried to make their first big impression. Veterans tested new plays!
The Detroit Lions vs Houston Texans match player stats would tell an interesting story about who stepped up, who struggled, and what both teams learned from this matchup!
This wasn’t just another warm-up game. Both teams played hard, competed on every down, and gave fans plenty to talk about!
Detroit came in hoping to build momentum before its regular season. Houston wanted to prove their depth and show it had weapons everywhere on the field!
Young quarterbacks got chances to throw. Running backs fought for extra yards. Receivers made spectacular catches. Defenders crashed into ball carriers with big hits!
Pre-season games might not count in the standings, but they matter to the players fighting for jobs. Every snap is an audition. Every play could make the difference between making the team or getting cut!
Both coaching staffs watched carefully, taking notes on who performed well under pressure and who still needed work. These games reveal who’s ready for prime time and who needs more development!
The atmosphere was electric even though it was just August. Football was back! Fans were hungry to see their teams play again after a long off-season!
Detroit Lions vs Houston Texans Match Player Stats
Let’s dive into what happened on the field, who made big plays, and what the numbers tell us about both teams!
Game Overview: The Pre-season Energy
When and Where:
The game took place on August 23, 2025. Both teams were deep into their pre-season schedules, preparing for the regular season just weeks away!
The stadium buzzed with excitement! Even though this was pre-season, fans showed up ready to cheer loudly and support their teams!
Why This Game Mattered:
Pre-season games give coaches a chance to see players in real game situations. Practice is important, but nothing replaces actual competition!
Young players without much NFL experience get opportunities to show what they can do. Veteran players test new positions or learn new playbooks!
Both teams treated this seriously. Sure, starters didn’t play full games, but everyone who stepped on the field played hard and competed!
The Competitive Spirit:
Detroit started strong and energetic! They scored early and looked ready to dominate! Houston responded with power and balance!
By the end, both teams had rotated through multiple quarterbacks, running backs, and defensive units. This gave coaches tons of information about their depth!
Fans got to see players they’d never watched before. Some became instant favorites. Others needed more work. That’s what pre-season is all about!
What Made It Special:
Unlike some boring pre-season games where teams just go through the motions, this one had real competition! Players fought for every yard!
The crowd stayed engaged throughout. Cheers erupted after big plays. Groans filled the air after mistakes. It felt like real football was back!
Quarterbacks in Action
Both teams used multiple quarterbacks throughout the game. This is normal for pre-season — coaches want to see all their options!
Houston Texans Quarterbacks:
| Quarterback | Completions/Attempts | Yards | Touchdowns | Interceptions | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Graham Mertz | 14/16 | 145 | 1 | 0 | 125.3 |
| Kedon Slovis | 11/16 | 111 | 1 | 1 | 83.1 |
| Team Total | 25/32 | 249 | 2 | 1 | 107.8 |
What These Numbers Mean:
Graham Mertz played amazing! He completed 14 out of 16 passes — that’s 87.5% accuracy! Super impressive!
His 125.3 passer rating is excellent! (Passer rating measures how well a quarterback plays. Anything over 100 is really good!)
Kedon Slovis also played solid football! He completed 11 of 16 passes and threw a touchdown. He did throw one interception (when the other team catches your pass), but overall performed well!
Together, Houston’s quarterbacks completed 25 of 32 passes for 249 yards and 2 touchdowns! That’s efficient passing!
Detroit Lions Quarterbacks:
| Quarterback | Completions/Attempts | Yards | Touchdowns | Interceptions | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hendon Hooker | 6/11 | 70 | 0 | 1 | 36.2 |
| Kyle Allen | 5/5 | 66 | 1 | 0 | 158.3 |
| Team Total | 11/16 | 114 | 1 | 1 | 89.6 |
What These Numbers Mean:
Kyle Allen was PERFECT! He completed all 5 of his passes for 66 yards and a touchdown! His 158.3 rating is spectacular!
Unfortunately, he only played briefly. Most of the game featured Hendon Hooker, who struggled more.
Hooker completed 6 of 11 passes but threw an interception and got sacked (tackled behind the line) twice. His 36.2 rating shows he had a tough day.
The Big Difference:
Houston’s quarterbacks threw for 249 yards total. Detroit’s quarterbacks only threw for 114 yards. That’s more than twice as many yards for Houston!
Houston looked more comfortable, more accurate, and more confident throwing the football!
Rushing Game Breakdown
Running the ball is super important in football! It controls the clock, wears down defenses, and opens up passing opportunities!
Houston Texans Rushing Leaders:
- Jawhar Jordan: 13 carries, 55 yards (4.2 average per carry)
- British Brooks: 7 carries, 23 yards (3.3 average)
- Woody Marks: 6 carries, 19 yards, 1 touchdown
- Dameon Pierce: 7 carries, 17 yards (2.4 average)
- Dare Ogunbowale: 1 carry, 18 yards (longest run!)
Houston Team Total: 38 carries, 150 yards, 3.9 average per carry
Detroit Lions Rushing Leaders:
- Jacob Saylors: 9 carries, 32 yards (3.6 average)
- Hendon Hooker: 1 carry, 25 yards (best run of the day!)
- Craig Reynolds: 5 carries, 12 yards (2.4 average)
- Deon Jackson: 2 carries, 3 yards
Detroit Team Total: 17 carries, 72 yards, 4.2 average per carry
What This Tells Us:
Houston ran the ball 38 times! Detroit only ran 17 times! That’s more than DOUBLE!
When you run the ball more, it usually means you’re controlling the game. You’re ahead, so you keep running to use up the clock!
Houston’s 150 rushing yards showed they had a balanced attack. They didn’t just throw — they ran effectively too!
Detroit’s best moment was Hooker’s 25-yard scramble. But overall, they couldn’t establish a consistent running game!
Why Running Matters:
When you can run the ball well, defenses have to respect it. They can’t just focus on stopping passes. This makes everything easier for your offense!
Houston spread carries among many players. This keeps everyone fresh and tests multiple running backs to see who deserves more playing time!
Top Receivers and Big Plays
Catching passes and gaining yards is what receivers do! Let’s see who made the biggest impacts!
Houston Texans Top Receivers:
| Receiver | Catches | Yards | Average | Touchdowns | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cornell Powell | 6 | 63 | 10.5 | 0 | 20 |
| Quintez Cephus | 4 | 51 | 12.8 | 1 | 18 |
| Juwann Winfree | 1 | 26 | 26.0 | 0 | 26 |
| Xavier Hutchinson | 1 | 24 | 24.0 | 0 | 24 |
| Woody Marks | 3 | 20 | 6.7 | 0 | 7 |
Detroit Lions Top Receivers:
| Receiver | Catches | Yards | Average | Touchdowns | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Isaac TeSlaa | 2 | 41 | 20.5 | 1 | 33 |
| Jacob Saylors | 3 | 27 | 9.0 | 0 | 14 |
| Ronnie Bell | 2 | 25 | 12.5 | 0 | 18 |
| Craig Reynolds | 2 | 20 | 10.0 | 0 | 12 |
Houston’s Receiving Success:
Cornell Powell caught 6 passes for 63 yards! He was consistently open and made plays all game!
Quintez Cephus caught a touchdown pass! His 4 catches for 51 yards showed he can be a reliable target!
Houston had 12 different receivers catch passes! That’s incredible depth! It means they have lots of weapons!
Detroit’s Bright Spots:
Isaac TeSlaa made the biggest play for Detroit! He caught a 33-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter!
His 2 catches for 41 yards showed he can make big plays when given opportunities!
Jacob Saylors caught 3 passes, showing reliability as a safety valve for the quarterbacks!
The Numbers Comparison:
Houston’s receivers gained 256 total yards. Detroit’s receivers gained 136 yards. Houston almost doubled Detroit’s receiving production!
Defensive Impact
Defense is about stopping the other team from scoring! Let’s see who made the biggest plays!
Houston Texans Defense Highlights:
- Arthur Maulet: 3 tackles, 1 sack, 1 tackle for loss
- Tommy Togiai: 2 tackles, 1 sack, 1 tackle for loss
- Casey Toohill: 1 tackle, 1 sack, 1 tackle for loss
- Team Total: 45 tackles, 3 sacks, 3 tackles for loss
What This Means:
Houston’s defense recorded 3 sacks! That means they tackled the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage 3 times!
Sacks disrupt the offense. They create losses of yards and force the offense into difficult situations!
Three different players recorded sacks, showing Houston has pass-rushing ability from multiple positions!
Detroit Lions Defense Highlights:
- Loren Strickland: 9 tackles, 1 tackle for loss
- Tyson Russell: 4 tackles, 1 pass deflection
- Isaac Ukwu: 1 tackle, 1 sack, 1 tackle for loss
- Team Total: 79 tackles, 1 sack, 5 tackles for loss
What This Means:
Loren Strickland made 9 tackles! He was everywhere on the field, stopping runners and making plays!
Detroit recorded 79 total tackles compared to Houston’s 45. Why? Because Houston’s offense ran more plays, forcing Detroit’s defense to make more stops!
Detroit only got 1 sack compared to Houston’s 3. Getting more pressure on quarterbacks helps defenses succeed!
The Big Picture:
Houston’s defense was more disruptive. They got into the backfield more (tackles for loss and sacks)!
Detroit’s defense made lots of tackles but couldn’t create enough negative plays to slow Houston down!
Special Teams Effort
Special teams include kick returns, punts, and field goals. These plays can change games!
Kick Returns:
| Team | Number of Returns | Total Yards | Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston | 2 | 73 | 36.5 |
| Detroit | 5 | 131 | 26.2 |
Houston averaged 36.5 yards per return! That’s excellent field position!
Detroit had more returns (5 versus 2) but averaged only 26.2 yards. Still decent, but Houston was more explosive!
Field Goals and Kicking:
| Kicker | Team | Field Goals Made | Extra Points | Total Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ka’imi Fairbairn | Houston | 2/3 | 2/2 | 8 |
| Jake Bates | Detroit | 0/0 | 1/1 | 1 |
Ka’imi Fairbairn scored 8 points for Houston! He made 2 field goals and 2 extra points!
Field goals are worth 3 points each. Extra points are worth 1 point. Fairbairn’s 8 points helped Houston win!
Punting:
Detroit punted 4 times, averaging 51.5 yards per punt! That’s solid distance, pinning Houston back!
Houston didn’t punt at all! That means their offense kept moving and scoring without getting stopped!
Head-to-Head Record Table
The Lions and Texans don’t play each other often since they’re in different conferences. But when they do meet, it’s usually entertaining!
All-Time Meetings:
| Date | Winner | Score | Game Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 08/23/2025 | Houston | 26-7 | Pre-season |
| 11/10/2024 | Detroit | 26-23 | Regular Season |
| 11/26/2020 | Houston | 41-25 | Regular Season |
| 10/30/2016 | Houston | 20-13 | Regular Season |
| 11/22/2012 | Houston | 34-31 (OT) | Regular Season |
| 10/19/2008 | Houston | 28-21 | Regular Season |
| 09/19/2004 | Detroit | 28-16 | Regular Season |
Current Record: Houston leads 5-2 overall
What This Shows:
Houston has won 5 times. Detroit has won only 2 times in its 7 meetings!
Detroit’s last win came in 2024 (regular season). Before that, they hadn’t beaten Houston since 2004!
The 2012 game went to overtime and was decided 34-31! That must’ve been incredibly exciting!
These teams don’t have a huge rivalry, but they’ve played some competitive games over the years!
Key Takeaways from the Game
What Houston Learned:
- ✅ Their quarterback depth is solid — both Mertz and Slovis played well
- ✅ The running game has multiple capable backs
- ✅ Receivers showed good hands and route-running
- ✅ Defense created pressure and disrupted the opponent
- ✅ Special teams provided good field position
What Detroit Learned:
- ✅ Kyle Allen looked sharp in limited action
- ✅ Hendon Hooker needs more development and protection
- ✅ The rushing attack needs more consistency
- ✅ Defense makes lots of tackles but needs more game-changing plays
- ✅ Isaac TeSlaa can be a weapon if used correctly
For Both Teams:
Pre-season games reveal strengths and weaknesses. Both teams got valuable information about their depth charts!
Coaches now know who’s ready for regular season action and who needs more practice or development time!
Young players got real game experience. Veterans tested new plays. Everyone competed and learned!
These games don’t count in the standings, but they absolutely matter for building rosters and preparing for September!
Conclusion: More Than Just a Pre-season Game
Football is beautiful because every game teaches us something new!
This matchup between Detroit and Houston gave fans exciting plays, showed off new talent, and revealed what both teams need to work on before the real season starts!
Houston proved they have depth at multiple positions. Their quarterbacks played efficiently. Their running backs shared the workload. Their receivers made plays!
Detroit found some bright spots, too! Kyle Allen’s perfect passing performance showed promise. Isaac TeSlaa’s touchdown catch proved he can make big plays. Loren Strickland’s 9 tackles demonstrated defensive intensity!
But Detroit also discovered areas needing improvement. Protection for the quarterback must get better. The running game needs more consistency. The offense can’t go three quarters without scoring!
The Bigger Lesson:
Pre-season games remind us that football is about teamwork, preparation, and constant improvement. Every player who stepped on the field competed hard and tried to prove they belonged!
Rookies got their first taste of NFL speed. Veterans tested new schemes. Coaches evaluated every snap carefully!
Both teams walk away with valuable film to study, adjustments to make, and confidence in some players, while needing more development from others!
That’s what August football is all about — learning, growing, and preparing for the games that count in September and beyond!
The complete Detroit Lions vs Houston Texans Match Player Stats showed us that both franchises have talent, both have work to do, and both will keep fighting to improve before opening day! 🏈
