The Houston Texans hoped to come out of their first preseason game with a better understanding of where the competition for their starting quarterback job stood. And while Tom Savage got significantly less playing time than Deshaun Watson's two-plus quarters Wednesday night, Vince Wilfork Jerseysthe Texans saw what they needed to see from both quarterbacks.

Savage started the game and played only three series. He and the offense struggled to move the ball on the first two, Jadeveon Clowney Jerseysand he was a combined 1-of-3 for 2 yards. But Savage looked like a different quarterback when the Texans went with their no-huddle offense on their third drive -- his best series of the night as he completed eight straight passes. Texans coach Bill O'Brien praised Savage's resiliency in being able to come back after the slow start.

"He managed the game well," wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins said. Lamar Miller Jerseys"He did what a quarterback should do. The first two drives didn't go his way, J.J. Watt Jerseysbut he came back out and kept the offense out."

Savage finished 9-of-11 for 69 yards. Watson was 15-of-25 for 179 yards, and he also ran three times for 24 yards and a touchdown.O'Brien said his goal was to let Watson be on the field for a significant portion, to get in his reps in his first NFL game, and was happy with how the rookie handled himself.

"He's a smart player. He's an instinctive player," O'Brien said. DeAndre Hopkins Jerseys"First game out there, I thought he did some good things. That's a big jump from college to the NFL, and I thought he handled it pretty well.