Official Texans vs. Colts Game Thread, 9/11/2022

[Arky]

Starting this thread early before I leave town....

The Indianapolis Colts come to town to play the Texans in the season opener in an early game on CBS. The Texans all time record vs. the Colts is 9-31, by far their most losses against an opponent. Last year, was no exception as the Colts outscored the Texans 62-3 in the two games combined.

The Colts list 3 QBs on the roster - Matt Ryan, Nick Foles and Sam Ehlinger. All 3 saw preseason action - Matt Ryan probably gets the start.

The Texans have two years in a row of 4 wins. I don't think they will be that bad this year, but you never know. Their squad-building seems better, IMO and they should be more interesting to watch with the new crop of rookies and FAs.

No prediction here - anything can happen - especially in Week 1. Is the defense better? How good will Pierce be? Guess we'll find out....

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TV = CBS (channel 11 local), noon CST, Sunday, 9/11/2022

Announcers = Tom McCarthy, Tiki Barber

The line = Colts by 8 to 9½

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Other Sunday viewing in the Houston area (my TV menu shows a double header on both channels):

CBS (late) = Kansas City @ Arizona, Jim Nantz, Tony Romo

FOX (early) = New Orleans @ Atlanta, Kenny Albert, Jonathan Vilma

FOX (late) = Green Bay @ Minnesota, Kevin Burkhardt, Greg Olsen

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Prime time:

Thursday Night: Buffalo @ LA Rams (NBC)

Sunday Night: Tampa Bay @ Dallas (NBC)

Monday Night: Denver @ Seattle (ESPN)

[Arky]

Greetings from fabulous LV, NV.

I'm watching the game with no sound in a sportsbook won't be posting much.

Texans hanging in there - now leading by a TD, 10-3.

[Keith]

TD drive set up by a nice pick from Jerry Hughes, tipping a Matt Ryan pass to himself. Aside from a couple timely 3rd down drops in the first two drives to start the game, the Texans offense moving competently. Odd third-and-short sub of Davis Mills for Jeff Driskel to hand off to Rex Burkhead for a first down carry.

Defense had a huge fourth-and-goal stop earlier in the half. Jon Greenard with a loud hit in the backfield.

Solid start. The Colts heavily involving Jonathan Taylor and Michael Pittman in their gameplan, and the Texans have done okay to contain them.

[Keith]

At the half, Texans 10 - Colts 3

Mills 10/17 98 1 TD (completed passes to 8 different receivers)

Burkhead 7-30
Pierce 5-16

Cooks 3-20
Howard 1-16, 1 TD

Hughes 2 Tkl, 1.0 Sack, 1 FF, 1 INT
Grugier-Hill 8 Tkl, 1 TFL

Fairbairn 45-yrd FG

[Keith]

Texans 20, Colts 20 - Final OT

Led 20-3 to start the fourth quarter, and led 20-6 with less than 11 minutes to play, the Texans kinda blew a neat opportunity to make a statement. Still, they defied (Vegas) odds and snuck away with a tie after an overtime in which the Colts kicker missed a 42-yd field goal attempt for the win.

With the ball and overtime nearly expired, the Texan opted to punt on a 4th-and 3 at the Indy 49 with 0:26 to play. So much for "you play to win the game". Honestly though, Lovie Smith saw what we all saw of the offense, anemia.

Thanks to losses from the Titans and Jaguars, the Texans and Colts at 0-0-1 are tied atop the AFC South.

Mills 23-37 240, 2-0, 98.9 QBR

Burkhead 14-40 (2.9), 5-30 and thoroughly unterrifying to NFL defenses
Pierce 11-33, 1-6

Cooks 7-82-0
Howard 2-38-2
Moore 3-31
Collins 2-26

Hughes 3 Tkl, 2 Sk, 1 INT, 1 FF
Grugier-Hill 14 Tkl

For the Colts:
Ryan 32-50 352 1-1, 83.1 QBR

Taylor 31-161-1, 4-14

Pittman 9-121-1


Up next is a trip to Denver. The Broncos will be coming off a short week as they start their season Monday night in Seattle.

[nunusguy]

Sure it would have been much nicer to hold that lead into the second half, and to the end of the game and win the opener vs a valid P/O contender but all in all it wasn't a bad start for the Texans on the long-haul to rebuild the team.

[Arky]

Dang, they had 'em and let it slip away.

I'm seeing a lot made of Lovie's 4th and 3 decision but one thing that is not mentioned is by punting, he gave the Colts virtually no chance to win (of course, neither could the Texans). I suppose at this point in the season, it's a defendable position. The defense was gassed and the OL looked spent, too.

[Arky]

My cell has trouble with multiple paragraphs.

(Cont.)

I placed a very large bet (for me) on the Texans going over 4 1/2 season wins and this would have been a sweet one to get.

If the Broncos play the way they did tonight and the Texans play the way they did on Sunday, the Texans have a shot at winning next Sunday.