Texans Clinch Playoffs After Outplaying the Colts
The Houston Texans have clinched the NFL playoffs for the first time since 2019 after going out on the road and defeating the Indianapolis Colts 23-19. Last season Houston was in question to receive the number one overall pick, though they ended up with the second pick, the Texans management knows they have their franchise star in quarterback CJ Stroud. Indianapolis on the other hand is now eliminated from postseason contention finishing with a 9-8 record. The Colts started out 3-5, then proceeded to win their next four games which really elevated the team in talks of reaching the playoffs. Let’s look into how the Texans won this decisive Week 18 matchup.
Indianapolis would start out with the ball first. In 11 plays they would move up 56 yards, but it would only be enough for Colts’ kicker Matt Gay to knock down a 39-yard field goal. Houston’s first possession would be awfully quick. It took just nine seconds and one play for Texans quarterback CJ Stroud to throw a 75-yard touchdown pass to receiver Nico Collins. With Texans kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn hitting the extra point, Houston led 7-3. It wouldn’t be until there were two minutes left in the first half for another score to take place. Stroud threw a one-yard touchdown pass to fullback Andrew Beck, with Fairbairn nailing the extra point. Next, kicker Matt Gay would kick a 52-yard field goal with 40 seconds left in the second quarter to cut the Colts deficit to 14-6.
Five minutes into the third quarter, Colts running back Jonathan Taylor ran 49 yards for a touchdown. Indianapolis would try and successfully attempt their two-point conversion with Colts quarterback Gardner Minshew passing it to tight end Mo Alie Cox to make it a tie game at 14. Houston would punt the ball away on the next possession in 58 seconds. On Indianapolis' next possession, Matt Gay missed a 57-yard field goal which would have given the Colts the lead. Instead, a couple of minutes later, Fairbairn made a 51-yard field goal to give Houston a 17-14 lead. Gay would redeem himself for his missed field goal in the third by making a 35-yard field goal with 13 minutes left during the fourth quarter to tie this game up once again. Houston would waste seven minutes of the clock marching down the field until running back Devin Singletary ran up the middle three yards for the touchdown. Fairbairn would hit the extra point to make it a 23-17 ballgame. With eight seconds left in the game, the Colts defense would push Texans punter Cameron Johnston to the end zone for a safety. It wouldn’t be enough however as the Houston Texans would go on to improve to 10-7 after a 23-19 win over the Colts.
Indianapolis struggled in this matchup going one for 11 on third down, while fumbling the ball once. This team has a promising future, but for now, the Colts dropped to 9-8 and are eliminated from playoff contention after their final game of the regular season. There are many probabilities on what could happen during the final day of the 2023 NFL regular season, but if the Jacksonville Jaguars lose against the Tennessee Titans, the Texans will win the AFC South Division and clinch the fourth seed in the AFC playoff picture. If the Jaguars go on to win, Jacksonville will claim the AFC South and Houston will drop down to the sixth seed.
Texans quarterback CJ Stroud went 20 for 26 hurling 266 passing yards and two touchdowns. Houston’s running back Devin Singletary had 24 carries for 63 yards and a touchdown. Texans’ wide receiver Nico Collins was unbelievable as he had nine catches for 195 yards and a touchdown. Colts quarterback Gardner Minshew went 13 for 24 with 141 passing yards. Indianapolis’ running back Jonathan Taylor had 30 carries for 188 rushing yards and a touchdown. Colts’ wide receiver Josh Downs had three receptions for 48 yards.
