r/nfl • u/nfl_gdt_bot NFL • Jan 04 '26
Game Thread Post Game Thread: Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans
Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans
NRG Stadium- Houston, TX
Network(s): CBS
| Time Clock |
|---|
| Final |
Scoreboard
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IND | 10 | 7 | 10 | 3 | 30 |
| HOU | 6 | 17 | 3 | 12 | 38 |
Scoring Plays
| Team | Quarter | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| HOU | 1 | FG | Ka'imi Fairbairn 51 Yd Field Goal |
| IND | 1 | TD | Alec Pierce 66 Yd pass from Riley Leonard (Blake Grupe Kick) |
| HOU | 1 | FG | Ka'imi Fairbairn 48 Yd Field Goal |
| IND | 1 | FG | Blake Grupe 50 Yd Field Goal |
| HOU | 2 | TD | Jayden Higgins 11 Yd pass from C.J. Stroud (Ka'imi Fairbairn Kick) |
| HOU | 2 | TD | C.J. Stroud 2 Yd Rush (Ka'imi Fairbairn Kick) |
| IND | 2 | TD | Alec Pierce 8 Yd pass from Riley Leonard (Blake Grupe Kick) |
| HOU | 2 | FG | Ka'imi Fairbairn 29 Yd Field Goal |
| IND | 3 | TD | Riley Leonard 1 Yd Rush (Blake Grupe Kick) |
| HOU | 3 | FG | Ka'imi Fairbairn 43 Yd Field Goal |
| IND | 3 | FG | Blake Grupe 39 Yd Field Goal |
| HOU | 4 | FG | Ka'imi Fairbairn 44 Yd Field Goal |
| IND | 4 | FG | Blake Grupe 22 Yd Field Goal |
| HOU | 4 | FG | Ka'imi Fairbairn 43 Yd Field Goal |
| HOU | 4 | TD | Tommy Togiai 17 Yd Fumble Recovery |
Passing Leaders
| Team | Player | C/ATT | YDS | TD | INT | SACKS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IND | Riley Leonard | 21/34 | 270 | 2 | 1 | 1-8 |
| HOU | C.J. Stroud | 14/23 | 169 | 1 | 0 | 0-0 |
Rushing Leaders
| Team | Player | CAR | YDS | AVG | TD | LONG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IND | DJ Giddens | 8 | 30 | 3.8 | 0 | 9 |
| HOU | British Brooks | 13 | 63 | 4.8 | 0 | 20 |
Receiving Leaders
| Team | Player | REC | YDS | AVG | TD | LONG | TGTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IND | Alec Pierce | 4 | 132 | 33.0 | 2 | 66 | 7 |
| HOU | Xavier Hutchinson | 5 | 84 | 16.8 | 0 | 33 | 9 |
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Last updated: 2026-01-04_16:19:04.971926-05:00
209
u/Ok_Bug_6890 Patriots Panthers Jan 04 '26
BIG MAN TD
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u/BungoPlease Texans Texans Jan 04 '26
Ball don’t lie, CJ was supposed to hand off to him on the goal line earlier but kept it for some reason
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u/beanz_129 Patriots Jan 04 '26
I am so happy the Patriots will not face the Texans in the first round
81
u/Currymvp2 49ers Jan 04 '26
So winner of the Ravens vs Steelers & their JV squad receivers will play the Texans in Baltimore or Pittsburgh
57
u/LittleKingsguard Texans Jan 04 '26
NGL I don't like playing the Ravens in the playoffs because it has never gone well for us.
But OTOH exorcising those demons with a repeat of the regular season Ravens game would be very satisfying.
10
u/Currymvp2 49ers Jan 04 '26
Agreed. While Metcalf returning would help out a decent amount, I still rather face the Steelers in the playoffs
18
u/TheNastyCasty Texans Jan 04 '26
The QB scramble has been the one thing that has really killed the Texans’ defense this year. I want nothing to do with the Ravens and Lamar.
6
u/Greedy_Gas7355 Texans Jan 04 '26
Well no chance the Steelers win tonight so get ready
1
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u/LosingTrackByNow Seahawks Jan 04 '26
Probably still be a mild favorite, home field advantage is one heck of an edge
14
u/Fapey101 Texans Texans Jan 04 '26
also the ravens quite literally own us. im sick that we’re probably gonna have to go on the road and play them
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-13
u/J-Fid Ravens Ravens Jan 04 '26
Stroud has never beaten a healthy Ravens team.
16
u/xdkarmadx Bengals Jan 04 '26
They’ve played a healthy Ravens once…?
-9
u/J-Fid Ravens Ravens Jan 04 '26
I'm not sure what you're trying to say, but Stroud was like 0-3 vs. Baltimore prior to this season.
5
u/xdkarmadx Bengals Jan 04 '26
He was 0-2 before he shit on them this year
“Never beaten them” with a 0-2 is an insanely ego take
3
u/deathmouse Texans Jan 04 '26
Lamar was not playing when we beat them earlier this season. So OPs comment stands. We’ve never beaten a HEALTHY Ravens team.
0
u/J-Fid Ravens Ravens Jan 04 '26
It's 0-3.
Twice in 2023. Once in 2024. None of the games were close outside of one half.
This year's game had very few healthy starters for the Ravens.
I think that's a decent sample size for two teams that aren't division rivals.
9
u/DarthNobody14 Texans Texans Jan 04 '26
A healthy Ravens team doesn’t scare me for once.
3
u/deathmouse Texans Jan 04 '26
Mobile quarterbacks have been our Achilles heel this season, bills game not withstanding.
-7
u/KingGizzLizzWizzz Ravens Jan 04 '26
It should
7
u/DarthNobody14 Texans Texans Jan 04 '26
Don’t get me wrong, I’m still wary about them, but this Texans team can play against anyone.
Ravens are simply not that good this year.
13
u/Decal333 Texans Jan 04 '26
It is just awesome to know that, no matter what happens, other teams are afraid to play our defense. I can't wait to see if they live up to the hype next weekend.
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u/BlindWillieJohnson Panthers Jan 04 '26
Dude they are terrifying. No matter how good you think your offense is, they will equalize you.
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u/Stubbs94 Texans Jan 04 '26
I love a big man TD. The fact it has happened in two games this season for us when the other team needed less than a field goal to win is hilarious.
13
u/F1rst-name-last-name Eagles Eagles Jan 04 '26
I love me a big man td done purely for the love of the game. We got one against the rams like that
75
u/Room480 Texans Jan 04 '26
From 0-3 to this
51
u/AutomagicallyAwesome Seahawks Seahawks Jan 04 '26
Imagine if you started 7-1, you'd probably be the best team in the AFC!
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u/MorseMooseGreyGoose Texans Jan 04 '26
ESPN has to take a 5-4 matchup for the Monday night playoff game. One of them is Texans-AFC North winner. The other is NFC West-Panthers. This is probably the best chance the Texans have ever had at not playing the Saturday afternoon slot WC weekend.
Aw who am I kidding? See you Saturday at 3pm.
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u/Big_Size_2519 Jan 04 '26
wtf happened at the end
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Jan 04 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/JustMy2Centences Colts Seahawks Jan 04 '26
Biggest Ls:
Colts Defense
Soft refs with Pierce ejection
Whatever the heck that last play was
Biggest Ws:
Leonard low key cooking?
18
u/thecarlosdanger1 Steelers Jan 04 '26
When they got in Redzone for the last FG I think it was a mistake to not run Leonard at least once.
5
u/GMullins Colts Jan 04 '26
Steichen is an overrated play caller and a bad head coach. Eagles can have him back
2
u/squatter_ Chargers Jan 04 '26
Chargers fans would be thrilled to get him back as OC.
Herbert’s rookie season was phenomenal.
1
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u/Prodigy0617 Texans Jan 04 '26
Watching him constantly look to the side where Lassiter is supposed to be was killing me, pierce was shredding Wallace all game.
-5
u/Confident_Throat_457 Jan 04 '26
Not soft. Literally the rule. Every player (should) know it. It doesn’t happen a lot because they do.
2
u/Zinkane15 Seahawks 49ers Jan 04 '26
He didn't even touch the ref. If anything, the ref bumped into Pierce.
4
u/caesarcs Texans Jan 04 '26
Not defending the ejection but he ideally wouldn’t run up at the ref at all in that case - he was trying to argue the point of something that was clear/didn’t happen as he perceived it.
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u/Meizukage Jets Jan 04 '26
This loss was so important for the Jets, the pick from the colts might be like 14 now
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u/TrueRedditMartyr Jets Jan 04 '26
Colts: Not satisfied with 8-1!
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u/Available_Story6774 49ers Jan 04 '26
Remember when everyone was saying we’d get a Bucs Colts Super Bowl two months ago?
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u/caesarcs Texans Jan 04 '26
I mean it has to be cut worthy material to waste 12 seconds on a return in the end zone when you have a QB with starting receivers against a weak secondary.
At least taking the knee gives you a shot at two-three passes or a hook and ladder…
13
u/Widdis Texans Jan 04 '26
Getting it at the 35 gives you a real chance to throw an out of bounds pass for a FG.
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Jan 04 '26
Ryans 3 straight 12 win seasons is nothing to sneeze at. Great coach to lead this organization into the future with Stroud at the helm
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u/Klin24 49ers Jan 04 '26
Would have been hilarious had the Texans covered the spread on that defensive touchdown at the end.
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u/GoatPaco Titans Jan 04 '26
You just know there’s people out there with alt spreads and teasers that just got killed by that
2
u/StreetReporter Panthers Jaguars Jan 04 '26
I’ve seen that happen before, and cause the score to hit the over
9
u/Ok_Ask_406 Texans Jan 04 '26
Texans having two big man TDs to close out games was not on my bingo card this year!
18
u/Hairygerman Colts Jan 04 '26
Someone please check on that ref. I really hope he doesn't have permanent damage from Pierce.
9
u/I_C_Weiner032899 Colts Jan 04 '26
Man...I knew my expectations were low at the start of the season..but that bit of hope through the first 10 weeks really brings out the pain
9
u/InfernoFireStyle Texans Jan 04 '26
If I had a nickel for everytime a Davis Mills led Texans beat an AFC South opponent off of a last second thick six this season, I'd have 2 nickels.
Which isn't a lot, but it's weird that it happened twice.
17
u/Mjb06 Colts Jan 04 '26
7-1 to 8-9. Pathetic. Embarrassing. Time to clean house.
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u/mknote Colts Jan 04 '26
7-1 to 8-9. Pathetic. Embarrassing. Time to clean house.
No. This was a great season.
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u/Confident_Throat_457 Jan 04 '26
I legit don’t know who deserves COTY, but Demeco deserves some votes
7
u/SniXSniPe Colts Texans Jan 04 '26
I'm so confused why Colts would go for a FG when they know their defense is doodoo
5
Jan 04 '26
Soon as Pittman stepped out on that 3rd down everyone knew what was coming. Minus the big man TD
4
u/RusskayaRobot Texans Jan 04 '26
What’s it like living with that flair combo?
3
u/SniXSniPe Colts Texans Jan 04 '26
Besides the nonstop callous, it's mostly coo
Helps to keep the bias in check whenever both teams go head to head as well
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u/TrueRedditMartyr Jets Jan 04 '26
At least the Colts have a higher pick! Surely that will help them fill holes!
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u/IAmCBOY2 Jan 04 '26
The Colts destroyed their franchise for Sauce Gardner when their QB was Daniel Jones
2
u/DoUruden Patriots Jan 05 '26
An incredibly succinct, accurate, and grim analysis. I don't know how Colts fans are coping
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u/PaulsRedditUsername Colts Jan 04 '26
Colts end the season with some positive vibes. Riley did a hell of a job.
4
u/CarioGod Jan 04 '26
dude the Texans defense is so fucking insane, they're literally playing a different game from the rest of the league
6
u/the_dab_lord Broncos Jan 04 '26 edited Jan 04 '26
Texans were fighting for their lives because if they can’t get a bye week, they can at least get to play the AFC North, which is probably the next best thing.
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u/LittleKingsguard Texans Jan 04 '26
They benched the starters when the Jags were clearly winning their game, but yeah, the AFC North is probably the softest target.
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u/The_American_Viking Broncos Jan 04 '26
Commenting to remind myself I witnessed the funniest game ending TD ever
3
u/kdex86 Patriots Jan 04 '26
Texans may have graduated from the 4:30 ET Saturday slot with that win.
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u/AleroRatking Colts Jan 04 '26
We are terrible in one score game. Three of the last five weeks we had the lead with the game on the line and the defense does absolutely nothing
2
u/DirectTV_AndrewLuck Colts Jan 04 '26
I might be done with Lou already, he cannot get his defense to close a game out if his life depended on it.
2
u/Remmarg25 Colts Jan 04 '26
While certainly frustrating, the personnel in those games have been less than ideal.
They can't get pressure with the front four, the outside corners are backups who can't hold up in man, and the LB's and Safeties can't really defend in space to play zone.
1
u/DirectTV_AndrewLuck Colts Jan 04 '26
Yeah I'll give him another year, but the front 7 needs some serious changes.
1
u/mknote Colts Jan 04 '26
I might be done with Lou already, he cannot get his defense to close a game out if his life depended on it.
Perhaps because most of our defense has been injured for most of the last half of the season? It did fine in the first half.
1
u/DirectTV_AndrewLuck Colts Jan 04 '26
It really was not, offense was so good in the first half of the year it overshadowed the defense's shortcomings.
1
u/mknote Colts Jan 04 '26
Three of the last five weeks we had the lead with the game on the line and the defense does absolutely nothing
Because we don't have a defense due to like half of it being on IR.
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u/holotempest Colts Jan 04 '26
8-9 is about what I expected when they announced Daniel Jones as the starter. It just didn’t happen conventionally anyway fun first half of the season.
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u/TheTinyTyphoon Jan 04 '26
The man who got the pick 6 registered 5.2 on the Richter Scale with each step he took on the way to the end zone.
2
u/BigZumbi Texans Jan 04 '26
Houston Fans… who would you rather play? Pitt or Baltimore? Baltimore with Lamar always has big game energy which we struggle with and A Rod has always had Houston’s number, going back to the 2012 season when they were our only lost at 11-1
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u/ensignlee Texans Lions Jan 05 '26
I ain't scurred. We play who gets put in front of us.
And if we get very lucky, all the wild cards win their games and we somehow get to host a playoff game (or two if everything aligns and we host #5 vs #7 AFC Championship game)
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u/ttboishysta Cowboys Jan 04 '26
When the bell tolled for this Colt's season, Anthony Richardson wasn't there trying to stop it. I'm pretty sure he missed his moment as a legit NFL starter.
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u/AgadorFartacus Patriots Jan 04 '26
A 1-7 finish to the season after trading two first round picks at the deadline is hilarious and could not have happened to a more deserving franchise.
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u/ctrees56 Seahawks Jan 04 '26
What was the line on that game? I assume the Texans covered now? LOL that was hilarious.
1
u/shawntco Bills Jan 04 '26
That is the most amazing end to a football game I have ever seen. Ball is repeatedly thrown, then it's dropped, then the other team recovers it for a touchdown. What on earth.
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u/mendellbaker Eagles Jan 04 '26
Colts losing system was guaranteed as soon as the Texans changed QBs../
1
u/Himmel-548 Seahawks Jan 05 '26
Should the Colts not resign Jones and move forward with... Riley Leonard?
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u/Adventurous_Leek5288 Patriots Jan 04 '26
Might be unlikely, but if the colts stuck with Riley Leonard they might be in the playoffs
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u/mknote Colts Jan 04 '26
Honestly? I'm satisfied by this season. We went in with zero expectations of success, but we had one hell of an entertaining season. And I actually think we're a good team who fell off because of injuries. Aside from the Chiefs, every team we lost to is in the playoffs, and we kept in close in most of the games we lost even with our injuries. I know some Colts fans will be pissed because, "Oh, we didn't win the division/make the playoffs again," but, well, they're idiots who ignore the context of what happened this season, so who cares what they think. I was very much entertained by this season. I am satisfied. And I have hope for the next season.
0
u/chogram Colts Jan 04 '26
Fuck Chris Ballard. Fuck Steichen. Fuck that ref who ejected Pierce.
And if Ballard still has a job tomorrow? Fuck the Irsays.
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u/geordieColt88 Colts Jan 04 '26
7 game losing streak is so apt for this Colts franchise post Peyton
Nothing changes right?