How to Catch Colts' Season Finale Against Texans

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Riley Leonard (15) looks to handoff to running back Jonathan Taylor (28) during the second quarter of an NFL football game at EverBank Stadium, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, in Jacksonville, Fla. The Jaguars defeated the Colts 36-19. Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

How to Catch Colts' Season Finale Against Texans

Originally posted on Indianapolis Colts on SI
By Drake Wally | Last updated Jan 2, 2026 7:06 AM ET

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The regular season will conclude for the Indianapolis Colts after they clash at NRG Stadium with the Houston Texans, winners of eight straight games.

The Colts' season fell off a cliff after the Achilles injury to Daniel Jones, followed by the return of Philip Rivers, who had previously retired, attempting to lead the team to the playoffs. However, this effort resulted in three consecutive losses instead.

Now, it's up to rookie Riley Leonard to try to execute the daunting task of finishing the Colts' season with a victory over a juggernaut.

Here's how to catch all the action as Indianapolis wraps up one of the wildest regular seasons in recent memory.

Colts vs. Texans

Date/Time | January 4th @ 1:00 pm EST
Where | Houston, TX @ NRG Stadium
Television | CBS - Ian Eagle (Play-by-Play), JJ Watt (Color Analyst), Evan Washburn (Sideline)
To find out what games will be in your area, check here.
Radio | Local Radio coverage: Sunday's game can be heard in Indianapolis on 93.5 / 107.5 The Fan, 97.1 HANK and the Ascension St Vincent Radio Network - Matt Taylor (Play-by-Play), Charles Arbuckle (Color Analyst), Larra Overton (Sideline)

Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images

Offensively, head coach Shane Steichen will need to implement a combination of getting the ball out of Leonard's hands quickly while letting the rookie signal-caller operate with his legs as well.

A heavy dosage or running back Jonathan Taylor could be in order to keep the defense guessing, which would give Leonard easier opportunities.

Additionally, it will help mitigate what will undoubtedly be a brutal pass rush from Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr., who together have accumulated 26 sacks (14 from Hunter, 12 from Anderson).

Defensively, it will be all about trying to get pressure on C.J. Stroud to help Indianapolis' banged up secondary.

The injury report from Thursday indicated that superstar cornerback Sauce Gardner (calf) is questionable for the game.

Without Gardner, it could allow Nico Collins to shine again. Last time these two teams met in Week 13, he hauled in five catches for 98 receiving yards and scored a rushing touchdown.

Nico Collins has been selected to his 2nd career #ProBowlGames!@HoustonTexans | #HTownMade pic.twitter.com/yWpJWZpi5S
— NFL+ (@NFLPlus) December 30, 2025

This game has no playoff meaning, but it would help the Colts avoid a second-straight losing season with an 8-9 finish.

If the Colts can somehow pull off this upset with defensive injuries and Leonard leading the offense for the first time in his NFL career, it could help carry something positive into the 2026 offseason.

While it's nice to be optimistic, this is a bad matchup on paper given how aggressive Houston's defense can be. We'll see how things play out to close the season for Indy on Sunday afternoon.

This article first appeared on Indianapolis Colts on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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