Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud completed 23 of 36 passes and passed for 260 yards, with one TD, no turnovers and had a passer rating of 94.7. Nico Collins led Houston with eight catches for 135 yards and his team's only TD on a 28-yard reception.
The Texans took a 3–0 lead on Fairbairn's 56-yard field goal on the game's opening possession. The drive was sustained by Stroud's 8-yard pass to running back Joe Mixon on third and 6.
The Bears responded, tying the score at 3–3 on Santos' 53-yard field goal. Williams completed 5 of 5 passes for 55 yards, including a 14-yard laser beam to receiver DeAndre Carter down the right sideline on third-and-12.
The Texans took a 10-3 lead on Stroud's TD pass to Collins on second-and-24 on the first play of the second quarter, a snap after Collins had received a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for hitting the ball off cornerback Tyrique Stevenson's facemask.
Stroud went for 70 yards by hitting 4 of 4 shots on the drive, including an 18-yard completion to tight end Cade Stover on a play-action pass on fourth-and-1 from 50 yards.
After the Bears went three-and-out, the Texans increased their lead to 13–3 on Fairbairn's 47-yard field goal. The drive was sustained by Stroud's 21-yard pass to receiver Stefon Diggs on third-and-10 from the Houston 23.
The Bears later scored their first offensive touchdown of the season on Herbert's 2-yard run, closing the gap to 13–10 with 32 minutes left in the half. The TD came when receiver Carter committed a pass interference penalty on safety Kalen Bullock at the Texans' 6 on a third-and-14 play from the 30.
Fairbairn's 59-yard field goal increased the margin to 16–10 with :01 minute left in the half. Stroud's 16-yard pass to Collins near the sideline resulted in a kick.
Both teams punted on the first three chances of the second half before Williams committed the first turnover of the game when his long pass intended for DJ Moore was intercepted by cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. at the Houston 34.
The Texans converted Fairbairn's 53-yard field goal on a takeaway, closing the margin to 19–10 with 13:39 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.
Williams was then intercepted on his second consecutive drive when his pass intended for Cole Kmet was intercepted by cornerback Kamari Lassiter.
The Texans reached the Bears' 4. But on first-and-goal, Andrew Billings forced running back Cam Akers to fumble, and Kevin Byard III recovered at the 3.
Converting the takeaway, Santos made it a one-score game at 19-13 with a 54-yard field goal with 2:51 minutes remaining. But the Bears were unable to complete the rally.
“We didn't perform the way we should have,” Williams said. “We're getting better. It's all about reacting. It's Week 2. I'm a young guy, but I understand it's a long season. I understand it's Week 2, understanding we're going to react and get better every day.”