Texans Grind Out Hard-Fought Division Win Over Colts, Cement AFC South Lead
- Oct 29, 2024
- 3 min read
The Houston Texans may not have won in the prettiest way, but they gutted out a critical 23-20 victory against the Colts, pushing their record to 6-2 and giving them solid control of the AFC South. Going into the game, Houston’s lead was just one game, but this win not only extends that gap to two games but also gives Houston the tiebreaker over Indianapolis, effectively making it a three-game cushion just eight weeks into the season.
In typical Texans fashion, the game was tight throughout, with Houston looking in control for most of it. Yet, even with plenty of opportunities to seal the game, Houston couldn’t fully pull away, allowing the Colts to keep it close. This game echoed a pattern that has plagued the Texans this season—dominant stretches disrupted by self-inflicted mistakes that keep opponents within striking distance.
Offensive Struggles and Protection Woes
A recurring issue for Houston has been their pass protection, and Week 8 was no different. Against Green Bay, one could chalk up the O-line struggles to an away game environment and a formidable front seven. Unfortunately, those problems persisted against the Colts. C.J. Stroud faced relentless pressure on a career-high 57.5% of his dropbacks, completing 11 of 21 passes under pressure for 148 yards and a touchdown. Stroud’s average time to throw was 3.04 seconds—his second-longest of the season—showing how the lack of protection forced him to extend plays to make something happen.
While Stroud managed 285 passing yards, it didn’t come without a cost, especially as Houston lost Stefon Diggs to a non-contact knee injury in the second half. Adding to the pass protection issues was left guard Kenyon Green, whose struggles led to his brief replacement by Jarrett Patterson. Unfortunately, Patterson exited with a concussion, forcing Green back into the lineup and revealing a significant gap in depth and reliability on the line.
Defense Dominates, Richardson Struggles
In contrast to the offensive challenges, the Texans' defense continues to shine, delivering another dominant performance. Houston’s defensive front and secondary made Colts’ quarterback Anthony Richardson look lost, echoing their earlier stifling of Josh Allen. Richardson’s 31.3% completion rate was the second-lowest single-game completion percentage (with 30+ attempts) in the past decade, second only to Allen’s 30%—also against Houston this season.
With relentless pressure from Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr., the Texans notched a 60% pressure rate, the highest of any team this season, now putting them at the top of the league in team pressure rate at 43.8%. Richardson was under fire on nearly every dropback, completing just 10 of 32 passes for 175 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception. This pressure, coupled with outstanding coverage from the Texans' secondary, allowed defensive backs Kamari Lassiter, Eric Murray, and Jalen Pitre to consistently break up passes and force turnovers.
Winning Ugly—Building Resilience
Fans may once again walk away from this game feeling frustrated with the Texans' tendency to play down to their opponents. Yet, while the games may be closer than they should be, there’s a silver lining here. Houston is finding ways to win close games—a valuable trait as the team heads toward playoff contention. It’s a testament to the culture head coach DeMeco Ryans has instilled, where resilience is key and no challenge too daunting. Even after a late-game fumble by Joe Mixon turned what looked like a sure win into a potential loss, the defense held its ground, refusing to let the slip-up define the outcome.
Houston has a three-game lead in the AFC South, and while some of these wins might feel scrappy, they’re wins nonetheless. This team, led by Ryans, is building a foundation of toughness and confidence that will pay dividends as the season progresses, proving they can weather the storm and come out on top—even when it’s not pretty.
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