The Rams lost the lead on the final play of the first half. They regained it on the fifth snap of the second half.
Matthew Stafford threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to tight end Davis Allen to give Los Angeles a 14-9 lead. He went 4-for-4 for 61 yards on the 68-yard drive.
Xavier Smith caught a 36-yard pass, and Davante Adams a 15-yarder to get help set up Allen’s catch.
Stafford now is 12-of-18 for 134 yards and a touchdown.
Puka Nacua has six catches for 63 yards to lead the Rams.
The Texans and Rams have a defensive battle going in Los Angeles as the teams combined for 244 yards and 16 points in the first half.
The Texans lead 9-7 on three field goals from Ka’imi Fairbairn, who was good from 51, 45 and 53. His final kick of the half came on the final play after C.J. Stroud led Houston 42 yards in five plays. Stroud had a 14-yard scramble out of bounds to stop the clock with 3 seconds left in the half after three plays earlier throwing a 23-yard pass to Xavier Hutchinson.
Stroud is 8-of-13 for 86 yards and has run for 27 yards on four carries. He has completed a pass to six different receivers. Nick Chubb has seven carries for 31 yards.
The Rams, who had 32 yards on their first three drives, marched 65 yards in nine plays to take their first lead with 53 seconds left in the half. Kyren Williams scored on a 1-yard run on fourth down as the Texans nearly stopped the Rams on four tries inside the 10.
Williams has nine carries for 31 yards, and Matthew Stafford is 8-of-14 for 73 yards.
Puka Nacua, who briefly went into the training room after an illegal hit from Henry To’oTo’o, has five catches for 66 yards. He is playing with a cut over his right eye.
The Rams have an injury concern with one of their best players.
Receiver Puka Nacua had to exit Sunday’s season opener toward the end of the first quarter and is being evaluated for a concussion.
Nacua caught a pass over the middle for a 9-yard gain. But linebacker Henry To’oTo’o used his helmet to initiate contact, giving Nacua a helmet-to-helmet blow. Nacua was shown on the CBS broadcast with a bleeding laceration on the side of his face and was taken to the locker room for further evaluation.
To’oTo’o was penalized for the hit.
Nacua has three receptions for 23 yards so far on Sunday.
UPDATE 5:30 p.m. ET: Nacua has cleared his concussion check and returned to the game.
The Texans ruled out wide receivers Christian Kirk and Braxton Berrios for Sunday’s season opener against the Rams. Both players are recovering from hamstring injuries and missed practice all week.
Rookie Jaylin Noel is expected to be a bigger part of the passing game in the absence of Kirk, who the Texans acquired this offseason to be their No. 2 wide receiver.
Rookie Jayden Higgins and Xavier Hutchinson also should see more action.
Offensive guard Ed Ingram (abdomen) was limited Friday and is questionable to play.
Backup left tackle Cam Robinson (illness) and backup right tackle Blake Fisher (ankle) have no injury designation.
Houston wide receiver Christian Kirk is not ready to make his debut for the Texans.
Kirk is dealing with a hamstring injury and will not play on Sunday against the Rams, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.
It’s possible that Kirk could miss more time with what is currently being described as a two-week injury. Early-season hamstring injuries can often linger if players don’t get enough time to heal, so the Texans probably won’t be in a rush to get back on the field.
Kirk arrived in Houston from Jacksonville in a trade in March. He’s expected to be a starter this year, but he will start the year sidelined.
