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The Houston Texans pulled out an exhilarating 23-19 win over the Indianapolis Colts, punching a ticket to the playoffs. Listed below are three takeaways from the Texans’ dramatic win:
Texans’ unimaginable journey remains to be rolling: What a narrative the Texans are. A season faraway from a 3-13-1 end, they don’t seem to be solely 10-7 and headed to the postseason for the primary time since 2019, however the future can be blindingly vivid, paced by head coach DeMeco Ryans and quarterback C.J. Stroud.
Ryans and Stroud shined on the largest stage for both on the NFL degree in Week 18 in opposition to the Colts. The Texans’ HC made the fitting calls late, whereas their rookie QB carried out enterprise like a grizzled veteran.
With the rating tied 17-17 with 7:13 left, Stroud orchestrated a 12-play, 73-yard game-winning drive. Deep into the sequence, Stroud took an enormous hit within the pocket to attach on a 23-yard go to wideout Nico Collins, organising a go-ahead three-yard landing by operating again Devin Singletary a play later.
On the night time, Stroud was 20-of-26 for 264 yards (10.2 YPC) with two TDs and nil interceptions. In the meantime, his favourite goal, Collins, secured 9 of 9 targets for 195 yards (21.7 YPC) and a rating.
Ryans and Stroud are the fifth first-year HC/rookie QB combo to succeed in the playoffs. Since 1950, solely John Harbaugh/Joe Flacco (2008), Mike Smith/Matt Ryan (2008), Rex Ryan/Mark Sanchez (2009) and Chuck Pagano/Andrew Luck (2012) have completed the feat.
In the meantime, Stroud has emerged as one of many league’s finest younger QBs. In Week 18, he turned solely the fifth rookie all-time to surpass 4,000 yards passing. Moreover, he is solely the third QB drafted No. 2 or greater to complete their first season with a profitable file, becoming a member of Luck and Robert Griffin III.
Texans’ protection weathered the storm vs. Colts: It wasn’t the prettiest efficiency, however it acquired the job completed. Enjoying overwhelmed up whereas lacking a number of key gamers like defensive lineman Jonathan Greenard, the Texans’ protection stood up when needed, even when a controversial fourth-down name by the Colts with the sport on the road bailed them out.
Together with a cease late to all however safe the win, the unit clamped down on third down, holding the Colts to just one conversion on 11 makes an attempt. In the meantime, they stored Indy’s No. 1 receiving menace, Michael Pittman (5 catches, 44 yards), primarily beneath wraps.
What they did not do was cease electrical again Jonathan Taylor, who had his finest recreation since Week 10 of the 2022 season. Taylor did no matter he needed in opposition to the Texans third-ranked rush protection (88.5 YPG), ending the sport with 188 yards (30 carries) and a TD.
Houston did regulate late to decelerate Taylor and the Colts’ dashing assault. Nonetheless, it’s trigger for concern, particularly with the playoffs looming.
Questionable selections late will hang-out the Colts: Indianapolis did not play an ideal recreation. Nonetheless, down the stretch, they put themselves in place for a game-winning rating late, and if not for 2 curious selections late by head coach Shane Steichen, they might be on the way in which to the playoffs as a substitute of dwelling.
Trailing by six, 23-17, the Colts confronted fourth-and-one from the Houston 15-yard line with 1:06 to go. Forward of the try, the Texans wasted roughly 30 seconds earlier than opting to take a timeout. Then, as a substitute of feeding Taylor, who discovered success all recreation and had carried the soccer on seven consecutive performs, Indy acquired difficult.
A second later, an off-target play-action go from QB Gardner Minshew slipped by the fingers of RB Tyler Goodson, ending the Colts’ season.
Regardless of the logic in throwing a go to a again who’d touched the soccer solely 18 instances coming into Sunday, Steichen stated after the sport that he “felt good” in regards to the name.
In his protection, it labored, kind of. Minshew’s go was off track, making it a tougher catch than wanted. Nonetheless, it is one Goodson would like to have again.
Whereas the loss will take time to recover from, it should not damper what the crew completed, nor ought to it influence pleasure for the long run. Steichen appears to be like like the fitting man for the job, and QB Anthony Richardson can be again in 2024.
The Colts surpassed expectations this season, and that is a superb factor, regardless of the way it all ended.
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