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Key to the Game: The Upright: Weather was not a factor inside Lucas Oil Stadium. Yet, kicks still hit the upright. In particular, the upright played a major role in two XP attempts, which altered the strategic direction of the game. First, in the 2nd quarter, Colts PK Michael Badgley doinked the XP off the left upright after a Jones-to-Pierce TD pass, giving the Colts a 6-3 lead vs.7-3. In the 4th quarter, the Texans, after a Nico Collins rushing TD, lined up for their XP attempt. Fairbairn hit it high and left. It went so high that it went over the upright, creating a rather interesting ref decision. The TV angle made it seem that Fairbairn hooked it past the upright, making it a miss and giving Houston only a 19-13 lead. However, the refs decided that the ball was just inside the line of the upright, awarding Houston a critical point, 20-13. Given that the Colts settled for a FG on the subsequent drive (20-16), the upright played a major role in the game. The Colts make their XP, it is 20-17, and they did get well inside Badgley’s FG range on that last drive. Houston doesn’t make the XP, it is 19-16. Looking at the scenarios, the doink (the most impressive one I’ve ever heard) and the judgement call put the Colts in a situation where they needed a final TD. It need not have come to that.
CJ Stroud’s up-and-down return: After missing three games, Stroud seemed quite eager to get back to leading the Texans’ offense. The first half saw a Stroud still trying to find his rhythm, with some questionable results (a throw well-beyond the line of scrimmage, a bad overthrow for an INT that lead to a Colts TD, scrambling out of a clean pocket near the Colts’ goal-line). Stroud ended the 1st half 13-of-22 for 153 yards, 1 INT, 1 sack. However, Stroud settled down in the 2nd half (9-of-13 for 123 yards, no INTs, 1 sack). Stroud looked far more poised, standing in the pocket, even with pass rushers right on top of him. If Stroud can play like that 2nd half version, then things might be looking up for Houston at the right time.
Bad Caley showed up: Over the past few games, the offense shows improvement. However, “Bad Caley” can still show up. In the 1st quarter, Houston’s opening drive got them down to the IND Red Zone. The result: Six plays from the IND 11 and only 3 points. Some Stroud issues, but a “Wild Toro” with Chubb? Houston did score two Red Zone TDs, and scored on 4 of 5 Red Zone trips. Then there is that last Red Zone trip. Midway through the 4th quarter, Houston, up 20-16, had a 2nd and 1 inside the IND 17. Three running plays (one Marks run up the middle and two Stover tush pushes) yielded nothing. At that point in the game, understand the want to run the ball (the Stover tush push worked in two previous attempts), but no play-action/Stroud roll-out? No attempt for an outside run? Even a short FG gives you a 23-16 lead, and with that defense, a full TD lead might be less stressful than a mere 4-point lead.
3rd and 10 or greater, a fatal flaw for the Texans’ defense: The Texans’ defense is good (Duh!). However, over the past three games, the Texans’ defense has an Achilles Heel: stopping teams from converting on 3rd/4th and 10+ yards. Houston’s formidable defense can’t seem to get off the field in those situations. Against the Titans and Bills, the Houston defense forced seven 3rd/4th and 10+ yards to go situations. The Houston defense allowed FIVE conversions in those situations (Titans converted a 3rd and 10 and 3rd and 16; the Bills converted a 3rd and 12, 3rd and 13 and that 4th and 27). Against the Colts, Houston allowed the Colts to convert two such situations in the second half (3rd and 11, 3rd and 19). They did stop the Colts on a 3rd and 10 in the first half, but for a defense with such capability, it seems odd that they struggle in the ideal defensive scenario.
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The Play That Decided the Game:
3rd and 15 at the IND 25, 14:51 4th; CJ Stroud incomplete pass to Xavier Hutchinson, DPI called on Colts, 8-yard penalty.
Likely our sister site feels the same way (for different reasons). Even as a Houston fan, the Colts might have a point. For the play, Houston lines up in shotgun formation. A False Start penalty and two Stroud incompletions blunt a strong drive. The crowd was getting into it and Houston seemed to have trouble getting in position. Stroud hadn’t received the snap as the play clock read 00. Sometimes the refs give a bit of a grace period between the end of the play clock and when the ball gets snapped. Likely should have been a delay of game, setting up a Texans’ 3rd and 20. Then, Hutchinson, as he was breaking in towards the middle, had a bit of contact with the Colts’ DB. Out comes the flag. Suddenly, 3rd and long becomes 3rd and 10 at the IND 17. Four running plays later, Houston scores the go-ahead TD. No DPI and/or the Delay of Game call is made, Houston likely settles for the FG and we have a much different ball game. No, it was not the sole reason that the Colts lost (a immobilized Daniel Jones and the Texans’ defense the primary culprits), but it didn’t help the home team.
FUN WITH NUMBERS:
4: Houston winning streak at Lucas Oil Field. Remember when Houston couldn’t buy a win in Indy? 0-13 to start the franchise’s history. Since the Jordan Akins “octopus” in 2022, Houston hasn’t lost at Indy. Ryans is the first Texans’ coach to win three games there. The margin of victory is small (2.7 points/game over the 4 games), but they are wins.
1: Plays Colts targeted Derek Stingley, Jr. You won’t find Stingley in the box score. No tackles, no passes defended, no nothing. Yet, he was targeted only once, and that was at the end of the game, resulting in an incompletion for the Colts. Normally, a defender with no stats indicates a bad game. Yet, the Colts also deliberately did not test Stingley. Easy to understand, given what Stingley can do if a wounded Jones made a mistake.
GAME BALLS
WR Nico Collins: 5 receptions for 98 yards and 1 rush for 7 yards and a TD. Collins does like the Indy hospitality.
DC Matt Burke: No turnovers forced, only one sack and no stats from Stingley. Yet, they held Indy to 129 yards and 13 points below their season averages…at Indy. Well-executed defensive game plan by The Most Interesting Defensive Coordinator in the World.
SHOULD GET BASHED OVER THE HEAD WITH THE LATE JIM ISRAY’S OLD GUITARS BY HIS DAUGHTER WHILE LISTENING TO HIS OLD BAND’S OUT OF TUNE OUTTAKES:
The Refs: They made this game about them. Never a good thing.
HC DeMeco Ryans: Yes, Ryans won his 3rd straight game here. However, this was not a particularly smart performance by Houston. The multiple illegal formation penalties in the 1st quarter reflect a team not ready to play. Another big road game with a lot of penalties is another feature of the Ryans’ regime. I have no idea why the Texans played the end of the 1st half like they did, when they lacked key urgency and put themselves in a bad Hail Mary situation when they could have at least attempted a better-odds FG. Then, allowing Caley to try the same play again. when either a different 4th down call or a FG attempt might have better served the Texans. Houston won, but far from an A effort from the Head Coach.
Houston moved to one game back of the AFC South lead. Yet, it does not get any easier. Next stop: a trip to Kansas City to face a desperate Chiefs’ team in a Sunday Night tilt. Kickoff is slated for 7:20 CST on NBC/Peacock.
