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Drew Lock garnered a win in his first career start last week. If he leads the Denver Broncos to a victory over the Texans in Houston, he would join some rarefied air. 

Only two other Broncos rookies in team history have won their first two starts, and one of them was none other than John Elway. This team's playoff hopes are nil but Lock's presence has given this team meaning heading down the stretch and reignited interest and passion (hope) in fans. 

Join us as we live-blog and discuss DENvsHOU here in our weekly Open Thread. Dive into the conversation — it's easy — by simply going to the top of the site and in the bottom righthand corner of the Mile High Huddle logo, click the follow button.

You can log in with Facebook or Google and either way, it's free. From there, sound off in the comment section and share your reactions and observations with our staff, subscribers and fellow members of the MHH community as we react to the game in real-time. 

What to Watch For

• Chris Harris, Jr. needs one interception to join Mike Harden as the only Broncos with multiple interceptions in eight consecutive seasons.

• Von Miller needs one sack to pass Kevin Carter and Neil Smith into sole possession of 27th place on the NFL's all-time sack list and two sacks to pass Elvis Dumervil for 26th place on the NFL's all-time list.

• Justin Simmons needs two interceptions to tie Steve Atwater (12) for the third-most interceptions among Broncos safeties through their first four professional seasons. 

• Courtland Sutton needs four catches to become the fourth Bronco to reach 100 catches for his career through his first 29 games (Eddie Royal, Brandon Marshall & Glyn Milburn) and 94 receiving yards to become the third Bronco to reach 1,000 receiving yards in a single season by his second year (Brandon Marshall, 2007; Lionel Taylor, 1960). 

 Inactives

Analysis: Von Miller is active after missing last week's game, after going 95-straight without missing a start. He's back in the lineup, which bodes well especially considering fellow starter Malik Reed is inactive. In Ronald Leary's place, Austin Schlottmann will start for Denver. And ding, ding, ding, Ja'Wuan James is active for the first time since Week 8. 

Analysis: Will Fuller V is out today, which is great news for an embattled Broncos' cornerback depth chart. The Texans are still teeming with aerial weapons but Denver won't have to worry about that vertical speed taking the top off. 

First Quarter

Kareem Jackson, Diontae Spencer and Elijah Wilkinson are the Broncos gameday captains. 

Broncos win the toss. Defer. Texans will receive the ball to open. 

13:38: On 3rd-&-2, Deshaun Watson hits Darren Fells for a two-yard gain to move the chains. 

11:03: Falst start on Laremy Tunsil on 3rd-&-5. Brings up 3rd-&-10 for Texans.

10:39: Broncos get pressure with Miller, forces Watson out of the pocket where he throws it away on third down. 

Broncos DE Dre'Mont Jones is down. 

10:26: On first down, Lock hits Noah Fant, who turns and runs 48 yards and into Texans territory. 

9:08: Lock hits Andrew Beck on a crosser for 29 yards. 

8:29: Lock hits Phillip Lindsay on the bubble screen, which goes to the house. Touchdown nullified by a Garett Bolles block in the back. 

7:35: Broncos have to call timeout as Lock is slow to get the play off. 

7:31: Lock hits Fant on a 14-yard touchdown strike. Drive goes 92 yards in seven plays. Wow. 

Broncos 7, Texans 0

6:37: Dre'Mont Jones was carted off with an ankle. Questionable to return. 

3:52: Alexander Johnson forces the Keke Coutee fumble, and Jeremiah Attaochu scoops it up, tosses it to Kareem Jackson, who takes it 67 yards to the house. Touchdown!

Play stands after review. 

Broncos 14, Texans 0

2:34: On 3rd-&-4, Watson hits DeAndre Hopkins to move the chains. 

1:37: Attaochu sacks Watson for a nine-yard loss. 

:50: Watson throws deep to Watson and Kareem Jackson absolutely trucks him. Incomplete. Punt. 

:23: Royce Freeman picks up one yard on 2nd-&-10. 

End of quarter

Second Quarter

15:00: 3rd-&-9, Lock hits Tim Patrick for a 42-yard gain down the left sideline. 

11:30: Lock hits TE Jeff Heuerman for an 8-yard touchdown. Broncos are rolling. 

Broncos 21, Texans 0

9:00: On 3rd-&-long, Watson throws deep and out of bounds. Fairbairn will attempt from 54 yards. It's good. 

Broncos 21, Texans 3

3:07: Lock's nine-play, 57-yard drive stalls on third down. Brandon McManus pounds through the 36-yard field goal.

Broncos 24, Texans 3

2:00: 4th-&-1, Bill O'Brien opts to go for it at his own 30-yard line. Shelby Harris bats the ball at the line. Incomplete. 

:41: Lock hits Freeman for a three-yard touchdown. The Broncos have finally eclipsed 30 points in a game. 

Broncos 31, Texans 3

Drew Lock is 16-of-19 for 235 yards and three touchdowns. QB rating of 157.8.

End of half

Third Quarter

9:18: Broncos go 57 yards on eight plays to open the third quarter. Culminates with a Phillip Lindsay one-yard touchdown run. 

Broncos 38, Texans 3

7:36: Watson hits a wide-open Hopkins for a 43-yard touchdown. 

Broncos 38, Texans 10

2:47: Lock picked off by Tashaun Gipson, ending the rookie's near-perfect game. Gipson returns it 26 yards to the Texans' 29-yard line. 

Fourth Quarter

13:34: Texans go 71 yards on 12 plays, culminating with a Watson six-yard touchdown scramble. 

Broncos 38, Texans 17

13:10: DaeSean Hamilton flagged for holding. 

Noah Fant is down with an apparent lower-leg injury. 

11:18: Lock sacked on 3rd-&-16. First sack of his NFL career. Elijah Wilkinson beaten. 

10:34: The still slumping Cody Wadman punts just 39 yards in the clutch. Texans will start at midfield. 

7:15: 4th-&-3, Watson throw is tipped and picked off by Kareem Jackson. What a game by the former Houston defensive back. 

4:52: Broncos give up, play it safe on 3rd-&-6, hand-off up the gut to Freeman. Stopped after a yard. Wadman's ensuing punt goes 47 yards. 

:32: Watson scrambles for a three-yard garbage-time touchdown. Extra point is good. 

Broncos 38, Texans 24

:23: Texans onsides kick is bobbled by LB Joseph Jones and recovered by Houston. 

:23: Will Parks picks off Watson, sealing the victory. 

Broncos 38, Texans 24