MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- As a heavy rain descended upon Sun Life Stadium, the Houston Texans took the field for their fourth offensive drive of the day.
It couldn't wash away the Texans' ugly start.
Houston gained zero yards in the first quarter against the Miami Dolphins. They began the game with five consecutive three-and-outs on offense. Their sixth drive resulted in a pick six when a Brian Hoyer pass ricocheted off tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz and into Dolphins safety Reshad Jones' arms. Jones ran it back 23 yards and flipped into the end zone to put the Texans down 35-0. On the next drive, Houston went three and out again.
The Texans' first first-down of the game came with just under eight minutes until halftime and the Texans drove the ball into the red zone. They failed to convert a fourth-down pass attempt and on the next drive gave up an 85-yard rushing touchdown.
Houston's defensive breakdowns were just as damaging as their offensive inefficiency. They gave up four touchdowns of 50 yards or longer. Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill became the first quarterback in 15 years to throw three touchdowns of 50-plus yards in a game, according to ESPN Stats & Info.
The Texans went into halftime down 41-0.
