The Sports Xchange

HOUSTON — The Houston Texans went into Sunday’s game aiming for a quick start.

They got it, and, with some help from Tampa Bay’s rookie kicker, the result that had evaded them so far this season — a victory.

Ryan Mallett threw for 228 yards and a touchdown and Alfred Blue rushed for 139 yards and a score as the Texans posted their first victory of the season with a 19-9 win over the Buccaneers.

Mallett finished 24 of 39 for 228 yards, a touchdown and an interception.

“That’s what we talked about, put an emphasis on starting fast, and we did that,” Mallett said. “Now we have to finish and put it all together moving forward.”

Buccaneers kicker Kyle Brindza contributed to Houston’s cause, missing three field-goal attempts in the second half after nailing a 58-yarder in the first half.

Brindza wasn’t the only kicker who struggled on NRG Stadium’s recently installed artificial surface.

Randy Bullock missed a field-goal try in the second quarter for the Texans (1-2). He also failed to convert the extra-point try after Blue’s touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins caught eight passes for 101 yards to tie a career high. Blue’s 20-yard touchdown run with 9:19 left was his longest run of the game and iced the victory.

Houston’s defense held its opponent below 10 points for the first time this season.

Trailing the Texans trailing by two, Quentin Demps intercepted Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston at the Houston 45, and a face-mask penalty on the ensuing play — a 14-yard rush by Blue — set the stage for Bullock’s 39-yard field goal and the 10-9 lead with 12:42 in the third quarter.

It was redemption for Bullock, who missed a 43-yard attempt late in the second quarter, bouncing it off the right upright.

For the Texans, victory might not have been pretty, but they will take it.

“It feels good to win,” Texans defensive end JJ Watt said. “The field goal kicker kind of helped us out a little bit, so I appreciate that.”

What we learned about the Texans

1. Houston can be successful with the running game if it sticks to it. Texans coach Bill O’Brien said the ground attack proved the difference against Tampa Bay. “It’s not always going to look pretty,” O’Brien said. “They are just a bunch of car crashes and you are hoping that if you stick with it that in the fourth quarter it pays off for you.” The Texans outrushed the Bucs by 129 yards (186-57), led by Alfred Blue’s 139 yards.

2. OL Derek Newton is a very versatile player. “He can really play four or five positions, and he really could probably play center if we really had to have that in a pinch,” O’Brien said. Pressed into service at different positions because of injuries to teammates, Newton has not disappointed at right tackle, right guard, left tackle and left guard. “I played right guard before, so it was kind of cool (Sunday),” Newton said. “Plus, I stayed on the right side, so it wasn’t too bad.”

3. QB Ryan Mallett’s low throws are sort of by design. “He’s trying to throw low, and I don’t know if he has to throw it that low every time, but I think he’s trying to throw it away from the defender,” O’Brien said. Mallett completed 24 of 39 passes for 228 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Houston was 8 of 18 on third-down conversions.

Etc.

–S Quintin Demps’ third-quarter interception was his first of the year and 12th of his career. He has nine interceptions since 2013, which is tied for the third most in the NFL by a safety during that span. He also returned two kickoffs for 46 yards.

–RB Alfred Blue had the second-most rushing attempts (31) and yards (139) in a game of his career. It was the second 100-yard rushing game of his career and first since Nov. 16, 2014, at Cleveland. The 20-yard score was the longest rushing touchdown of his career.

–QB Ryan Mallett’s 61.5 completion percentage tied a season high. He had the same percentage in Week 1 against Kansas City. His touchdown pass to DeAndre Hopkins was his third of the season, a career high, and the fifth of his career.