Houston Texans vs Baltimore Ravens Box Score on Sep 22, 2013

SportsDirect Inc. staff
Sep 22, 2013

Ravens 30, Texans 9: Daryl Smith returned an interception for a touchdown and Tandon Doss added a punt return for a score less than two minutes later as host Baltimore knocked off Houston.

Bernard Pierce rushed for a touchdown and the defense held the Texans (2-1) to three field goals as the Ravens (2-1) won their second straight game. Houston was crippled by a franchise record-tying 14 penalties (for 113 yards) and lost standout receiver Andre Johnson to a leg injury in the third quarter.

Baltimore accumulated more penalty yards (77) than offensive yards (65) in the first half but held a 17-9 lead. Smith returned an interception 37 yards with 2:39 left in the half to give the Ravens a 10-6 advantage and Doss sailed 82 yards for his first career punt return touchdown with 45 seconds left.

The Ravens’ best offensive drive of the game was the opening excursion of the second half when they drove 80 yards on nine plays with Pierce scoring from a yard out to make it 24-9. Justin Tucker added fourth-quarter field goals of 45 and 43 yards.

Houston’s Randy Bullock booted three first-half field goals, including a 47-yarder on the final play of the half. But the Texans’ offense struggled to 3-for-12 on third downs and was unable to dent a Ravens’ unit that racked up three sacks and didn’t allow a touchdown for the second consecutive game.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Ravens RB Ray Rice (hip flexor) was inactive and NT Terrence Cody (knee) left in the first quarter and didn’t return. … S Ed Reed (hip) started in his first appearance for the Texans. The former Baltimore stalwart missed the first two games after offseason hip surgery. … The teams were flagged for 24 penalties – 15 of them in the first half.