Quarterback C.J. Stroud (#7) of the Houston Texans celebrates with his teammates in the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana, January 6, 2024. /AP
The Houston Texans beat the Indianapolis Colts 23-19 in their 2023 National Football League (NFL) regular season finale at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana, on Saturday, defeating their American Football Conference (AFC) South opponents in the race for playoff qualification.
Both teams had been 9-7 – so were the Jacksonville Jaguars of the same division – before Saturday night, which meant neither could afford to lose. Perhaps because there was too much at stake, the two sides played with extreme conservativeness after scoring their first drives. Matt Gay made a 38-yard field goal for the Colts in their first drive. Then quarterback (QB) C.J. Stroud connected with wide receiver Nico Collins for a 75-yard touchdown for the Texans.
Since then, the two sides made seven punts. Both were obsessed with rushing, even on third downs. It may have made sense for the Colts because they have a top running back in Jonathan Taylor, but repeating the same trick time and time again only made their offense too predictable to work. As for the Texans, though Stroud is a better runner than his Colts counterpart Gardner Minshew, his best weapon is still passing, not to mention that Collins is their biggest advantage.
Running back Jonathan Taylor (#28) of the Indianapolis Colts runs with the ball in the game against the Houston Texans at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana, January 6, 2024. /AP
After over 15 minutes of boring, inefficient work, the Texans tried to break the deadlock first. Stroud completed three passes, including a 29-yard connection with Collins, in a drive that led to the Texans' second touchdown, extending their lead from four (7-3) to 11 points (14-3).
Such a change in playing style motivated the Colts as well. They responded with a quick field goal by Gay from 52 yards before the end of the first half. Then from the third quarter, the team suddenly enhanced their pass-rushing, limiting the opponents to 18 and two yards in their first two drives of the second half. Meanwhile, Minshew added more throwing to his offense to untie Taylor. In their first drive of the period, Taylor scored the Colts’ first touchdown by rushing for 49 yards.
After the two teams exchanged one field goal each, Stroud ran a 12-play, 73-yard drive before running back Devin Singletary dashed into the end zone to score a touchdown for the Texans to lead again (23-17). However, as Ka'imi Fairbairn missed the extra-point kick, they left the Colts the chance to reverse the situation with one drive when there were 6:20 left in the fourth quarter.
Wide receiver Nico Collins (#12) of the Houston Texans runs with the ball in the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana, January 6, 2024. /AP
The Colts took their time in the next drive, spending over five minutes completing 12 plays to 60 yards forward. However, running back Tyler Goodson failed to catch a simple pass from Minshew on a 4th & 1, running the team's final chance. Though they managed to score a two-point safety in the next drive, there wasn't time for the Colts to go for a miracle.
In the other game on Saturday, the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Baltimore Ravens 17-10 at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland, to get their 10th win of the regular season. Nonetheless, the Steelers will have to wait for the results of the two games on Sunday, specifically between the Buffalo Bills and the Miami Dolphins, the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Tennessee Titans, to know if they can clinch a playoff slot.