HOUSTON (Interstat) — Wil Lutz kicked a 34-yard field goal as time expired, lifting the Denver Broncos to an 18-15 comeback victory over the Houston Texans on Sunday at NRG Stadium.

In a game defined by defensive stands and offensive struggles, the Broncos mounted a frantic final drive to escape with the win and improve their record to 7-2. The Texans fell to 3-5.

Denver quarterback Bo Nix, who finished 18 of 37 for 173 yards, engineered the game-winning 65-yard drive in the final minute. His 25-yard scramble to the Houston 36 with 44 seconds left was the key play, setting up the decisive kick from Lutz after the Broncos ran the clock down to three seconds.

The game was a stark contrast to the offensive shootout projected by pregame odds, with the teams combining for 33 total points, well under the over/under line of 40.5. The Broncos were also slight underdogs according to the spread.

The Texans controlled the first three quarters, building their lead almost exclusively on the right leg of kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn. He connected on field goals of 23, 41, 38, 40 and 41 yards, single-handedly providing all of Houston’s scoring. His only miss was a 51-yard attempt that sailed wide right in the first quarter.

Denver’s offense was largely stagnant until the fourth quarter. Their first points came on a 30-yard touchdown pass from Nix to Courtland Sutton late in the second quarter. Trailing 15-7 entering the final period, the Broncos finally found the end zone again when Nix hit RJ Harvey on a 27-yard scoring strike. Nix then connected with Troy Franklin on the two-point conversion to tie the game at 15 with 12:28 remaining.

The Texans’ offense, led by quarterbacks Davis Mills and C.J. Stroud, moved the ball between the 20-yard lines but consistently stalled in the red zone. Houston’s first drive of the game was emblematic of their struggles, advancing to the Denver 1-yard line before being pushed back by a penalty and settling for Fairbairn’s first field goal.

Stroud completed 6 of 10 passes for 79 yards, while Mills went 17 of 30 for 137 yards. Tight end Dalton Schultz was a reliable target, catching six passes for 77 yards, and receiver Nico Collins added seven receptions for 75 yards. The ground game, led by Nick Chubb’s 34 yards on 11 carries, never found a consistent rhythm.

Defensively, the game was a showcase for the linebackers. Denver’s Alex Singleton led all players with 10 tackles, while Talanoa Hufanga added nine. For Houston, Azeez Al-Shaair and Kamari Lassiter each recorded nine tackles. The Broncos’ defense also recorded two sacks, one each from Dre Greenlaw and Zach Allen.

The Broncos now look ahead to a short week, hosting the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday. The Texans will prepare to face the Jacksonville Jaguars at home next Sunday.