Official Texans @ Colts Game Thread, 1/8/2023

[Keith]

The Texans (2-13-1) mercifully end their season on Sunday at the Colts (4-11-1). With one more loss or a Week 18 win from the Bears, the team will secure the first overall pick in April's draft. Their opponent this weekend sucks though, and the Bears have already announced their starting quarterback, Justin Fields, will not play due to a hip injury. Sure, Jan.Wouldn't surprise me to hear of a surprise inactive player or two from the Texans in response.

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TV = CBS (channel 11 local), Sunday, noon CST, 1/8/2023

Announcers = Spero Dedes, Jay Feely

The line = Indianapolis by 2.5

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Other Sunday viewing in the Houston area:

FOX (early) = Minnesota @ Chicago, Kenny Albert, Jonathan Vilma

CBS (late) = NY Giants @ Philadelphia, Ian Eagle, Charles Davis

FOX (late) = Dallas @ Washington, Kevin Burkhardt, Greg Olsen

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Prime time:

Saturday 3:30pm = Kansas City @ Las Vegas (ESPN/ABC)

Saturday 7:15pm = Tennessee @ Jacksonville (ESPN/ABC)

SNF = Detroit @ Green Bay (NBC)

[Warren]

This game needs to be dedicated to evaluating the Driskel/Burkhead backfield. If they want to work Mills in as a WR, that's fine, because the tradeoff of taking an actual athlete off the field is well worth it when you can surprise the defense with a look that you've shown for a few weeks now. But it's time to let Jeff cook.

[Keith]

Inactives

WR Phillip Dorsett (hamstring)
CB Steven Nelson (illness)
OL Jimmy Morrissey (concussion)
TE O.J. Howard (hip)
DL Thomas Booker
QB Kyle Allen

Not sure the nature of Nelson's illness, but his absence will be felt the most. He's been out for the illness all week and didn't make the trip. Nelson is under contract for next season, as he signed a 2-year deal for a reported $10 million last April.

[Keith]

Texans receive, touchback.

First play of the game goes 33 yards to Brandin Cooks. So much for the tank. Jordan Akins gets 15 to the IND 23 two plays later. 9 yards to Teagan Quitoriano, who is back from injury. Davis Mills then finds a wide open Cooks in the back of the endzone for the 11-yd touchdown.

Extra point is good. 75 yard opening drive. Can't recall the last time the Texans opened a game like this.

Texans 7, Colts 0
11:17 1st quarter

As if going 2-13-1 isn't a fireable offense, winning today might be.

[Keith]

Texans kick.

FUMBLE!

Texans M.J. St4ewart recovered a fumble dislodged by a Colts player on the return. I mean, which team is tanking today?

Offense back out on the IND 18. Loses yards. Ka'imi Fairbairn makes the 37-yard field goal.

Texans 10, Colts 0
9:40 1st

[Keith]

Ok, got some lunch... catching up.

Colts respond, QB Sam Ehlinger with an 11-play touchdown drive covering 75 yards in 5:44, culminating in a 1-yd completion to an open Michael Pittman. Somebody blew a coverage.

Texans move the ball 30 yards in their next drive, but it stalls near midfield. Cam Johnston punts to the IND 9.

First quarter closes as the Colts move backwards 7 yards when the Christain boys (Harris and Kirksey) split a sack. Colts punt from the back of their endzone, returned to the IND 46 by Desmond King.

Texans drive to the IND 21, but RB Royce Freeman fumbles after a 7-yard carry to the 14. Ehlinger's first pass though is...

INTERCEPTED!

LB Jonathan Greenard picks off the pass and returns it 39 yards for the pick six. Kick is good.

Texans 17, Colts 7
10:30 2nd quarter

[Keith]

Colts begin on their own 22 following the kickoff. 2nd year RB Deon Jackson gets involved, 7-yd carry then a 6-yd carry before Ehlinger finds him for 17 to midfield. On 4th and 3, Ehlinger goes back to Jackson for a short pass to the left sideline that he runs for 27 yards.

INTERCEPTED

The Colts drive is abruptly ended when Kirksey steps in the throwing lane to pick off Ehlinger at the Texans 2, returning it to the 20.

17-7
4:46 left in the half.

Bears down 0-16. Woof.

[Keith]

RB Dare Ogunbowale gets 11 yards up the left side to the 29. Mills connects with Quitoriano for 22 across the 50. Two minute warning. Completion to Chris Moore is reviewed and upheld, 10 yard gain to the IND 38.

Short pass to Ogunbowale is snuffed out easily by the defense, loses 5 yards. Drive stalls, poochy punt goes to IND 7.

Colts have 1:32 left in the half to do something. Jackson takes the first down carry 13 yards, then Ehlinger goes back to him for 5-yard and 4-yard completions. Drive stalls at the 40 when Maliek Collins drops Ehlinger for a sack. Time expires on a 3rd and 3.

Texans 17, Colts 7
Halftime

In a game where Lovie Smith is maybe coaching for his next job, he has Rex Burkhead with 0 carries and 0 receptions (on one target). If he ever gets another job, he should be forced to take Pep and Rex with him.

[Keith]

Colts receive. Parris Campbell goes 26 yards to the IND 43. Zack Moss then runs for 15. This is more like it. Ehlinger then fakes a handoff to Moss and finds Campbell by himself for 39 yards to the 8. Pass to Pittman in the endzone is incomplete. Beat Smith in coverage, Pitre late getting there. Pitre then gets a finger on the ball to deflect the third down opportunity.

24-yard field goal attempt is flagged for encroachment as Deculus jumps. Ball moves from the HOU 6 to the HOU 3. Colts HC Jeff Saturday then calls timeout as he decides to go for it on fourth down. Ehlinger then tries to throw to Jelani Woods at the goalline; ball hits fingertips but goes through them. King with the coverage. Turnover on downs.

Texans 17-7
11:51 3rd quarter

[Keith]

Vikings bench Kirk Cousins in the Bears game up 16-6. Thanks, I guess.

Texans takeover at their 3, couple plays to Ogunbowale get enough for a first down to the 15. Colts have an injured player down, Zaire Franklin. Texans punt.

Colts takeover at midfield. Greenard flagged for a facemask. Ehlinger scrambles to the HOU 22, and holding call on Harris gives them five more into the redzone. Zack Moss gets the handoff, and the Texans can't wrap him up on the 15-yd TD run.

Extra point is good.

Texans 17-14
6:40 3rd quarter

[Keith]

Touchback. Mills to Quitoriano for 52 yards to the IND 21. Mills then looks off Burkhead on 3rd and 8 and instead fires to Akins in the endzone. 19-yard touchdown pass. Extra point is good.

Texans 24-14
3:51 3rd

Bears down 13-23 under 3 to play in 3rd.

[Keith]

Colts go three-and-out and punt. The Texans take over at their own 19.

INTERCEPTION!

Mills throws the pick six to Rodney McLeod, Jr., returned 27 yards for the score. Extra point is good.

Texans 24-21
0:52 3rd

[Keith]

Mills gets right back on the field and... he throws another pick! Deep attempt for Moore is short and Thomas gets the ball at the IND 31, retuns it 11 yards.

Moss goes 11 yards up the middle. Pitre exits the field with an injury. Ehlinger to Pierce for 18, then back to Pittman for 23 to the Texans 8. Moss powers on the right side for 4. Ehlinger fires to Mo Allie-Cox for a leaping touchdown at the back of the endzone for a 4-yd TD catch.

Extra point is good. Colts finally take a lead.

24-28 Colts
10:30 4th quarter

Bears losing 26-13 with 9 min to play in their game.

[Keith]

Texans go three and out. Pitre left the game earlier for a concussion evaluation.

Punt is fumbled by Colts returner (and former Texan) Keke Coutee but picked up by a teammate.

Ehlinger connects with Alec Pierce for 11 yards to their own 38. Moss gets a couple 4-yd carries as he's up to 110 rushing yards so far. He then take his thrid straight carry 3 yards to the 50 and a first down. Ehlinger rolls left and finds Jackson for 11. Drive stalls, and Colts kick a 54-yard field goal.

24-31 Colts
3:33 left in the game

Bears now down 29-13, 3:39 remaining in that one.

[Keith]

Mills starts from the 17 and is incomplete on a short attempt under heavy pressue. Next attempt is complete to Akins for 8. Ogunbowale gets 3 on the ground for a first. Mills finds Amari Rodgers for 14 on a laser, and the offense moves quickly with time ticking. A 12-yard completion to Moore to the IND 46 brings up the 2-minute warning.

Drive appears to stumble, then on 4th and 12 Mills goes deep to Cooks, 30 yards to the IND 18! Play is reviewed and stands. 1:19 to play.

Mills appears to complete to Moore in the endzone for a one-handed touchdown, but ruled incompleet as the balls slips through his hands. 2nd down under pressure is thrown out. Mills is dropped for a sack when Franklin blitzes around right guard, 10 yard loss. Texans timeout.

4th & 20 from the IND 28 0:58 remaining. Mills escapes and amazingly goes through THomas' hands and into Akins for a touchdown.

Score is 30-31 Colts. Texans elect to go for two and the win. Use their final timeout. Bears have lost.

Complete to Akins for a successful conversion! OMG.

Texans 32-31
0:50 remaining

[Keith]

Ehlinger incomplete on first down. Off target incomplete on 2nd down. Ehlinger then gets 11 to Jackson for a new set of downs. Use their 2nd timeout. 0:34 remaining.

Ball on IND 36. Complete to Woods for 9, lots of time gone before the next snap. 2nd down play to Campbell complete, ref rules him OB to stop clock, but review says progress stopped in bounds, so Colts use final timeout.

0:06 to play, 1st down at IND 46. Incomplete.
0:02 to play. Hail Mary is incomplete, just short of the goalline anyway.

Texans win 32-31
Game over.

Texans "earn" the 2nd overall pick in the 2023 draft.

[Blitzwood]

We can’t even lose correctly!!