NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) — Andy Dalton threw a touchdown pass on his only possession on his debut with New Orleans, but the Saints lost 17-13 to the Houston Texans on Saturday night after a last-minute touchdown.
Dalton, who joined the Saints after spending last season with the Bears, started without Jameis Winston after injuring his foot in practice Monday.
Dalton was a perfect 5 for 5 for 51 yards. He threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Dwayne Washington to give New Orleans an early lead 7-0.
Houston quarterback Davis Mills was 3 for 3 for 14 yards in two drives where the team failed to catch a first down.
The Texans remain with Mills as a starter this season, despite an underperforming rookie campaign as he played 13 games in the team’s terrible 4-13 season.
Both teams presented the debut of a new head coach, with Dennis Allen taking over for Sean Payton at New Orleans and Lovie Smith replacing David Culley for the Texans. Both Allen and Smith moved into the top job after serving as their team’s defensive coordinator the previous season.
The winning TD connection came courtesy of Jeff Driskell to Jaleel Johnson’s 6-yard score.
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Jeff Driskel threw in a 6-yard touchdown pass to rookie Johnny Johnson III in the last minute to lead Houston to victory.
The Texans cut the lead to 7-3 with a 49-yard field goal from Ka’imi Fairbairn late in the first quarter.
Houston took a 10-7 lead when Driskel found Jalen Camp with a four-yard touchdown pass early in the second game. That result came after Obo Okoronkwo recovered a fumble from quarterback Ian Book.
Camp had a 49-yard reception on Houston’s final drive to help set the score.
The Saints equalized with a 23-yard field goal from Will Lutz about two minutes before halftime.
A 36-yard field goal by John Parker Romo gave New Orleans a 13-10 lead early in the fourth quarter.
Receiver Chris Olave, who finished 11th overall, and 19th pick left tackle Trevor Penning made their debuts for New Orleans Saturday night. Olave had a reception for 4 yards.
A bright spot for the Texans was fourth-round play by rookie Dameon Pierce, who had five carries for 49 yards. Houston is expected to start Marlon Mack, but Pierce is also likely to get carries this season as the team looks to improve a running game that has been among the worst in the NFL for the past two seasons.
Houston’s rookie safety Jalen Pitre, a second-round pick, had a solid debut with four tackles, including one for a loss.
Chase Hansen led the Saints with six tackles, including two for losses, and returned an interception 44 yards for a field goal in the second quarter.
It was one of three interceptions thrown by Driskel.
SIT OUTSIDE
The Texans were without their two first-round draft picks, with cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., third overall, and left guard Kenyon Green, the 15th pick, missing the game injured.
Stingley has been attending training but is slowly being brought in as he continues to recover from surgery in September to repair a torn ligament in his foot. Green recently missed practice time due to a knee injury.
Stingley was a consensus pick for the All-America in 2019 as a freshman but has been hampered by injuries in the last two seasons, including being limited to just three games last year at LSU because of the foot injury. Despite the setbacks, the Texans are confident he’ll be able to step in early and help reverse a second-rate finish that was among the league’s worst last season.
NEXT
Saints: Visit the Green Bay Packers Friday night.
Texans: Visit the Los Angeles Rams on Friday night.
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