Texans survive late against Colts 38-30

The playoff-bound Houston Texans rested several starters Sunday and still found a way to close the regular season with another victory.

Kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn nailed a go-ahead field goal with 12 seconds remaining, and the Texans held off the Indianapolis Colts 38–30 to extend their winning streak to nine games and secure the No. 5 seed in the AFC playoffs. Houston (12–5) will travel to Pittsburgh for a wild-card matchup next weekend.

Quarterback C.J. Stroud accounted for two touchdowns in the first half before sitting out the remainder of the game as coach DeMeco Ryans opted to rest multiple starters after halftime with the division outcome largely decided. Defensive tackle Tommy Togiai sealed the win on the final play, scooping up a fumble and returning it 17 yards for a touchdown.

Houston, which clinched its third straight postseason berth a week earlier, became the fifth team since 1990 to start a season 0–3 and still reach the playoffs, and the first franchise to do it twice, also accomplishing the feat in 2018.

The game swung back and forth throughout the second half. Indianapolis took a 30–29 lead with just over 2½ minutes remaining, but Fairbairn responded with a 43-yard field goal to put Houston back in front. The kick was his sixth field goal of the game, a career high.

Stroud finished his day with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Jayden Higgins and a 2-yard rushing score, both in the second quarter, as the Texans built a 20–10 lead. Fairbairn’s 29-yard field goal before halftime made it 23–17.

Indianapolis rookie quarterback Riley Leonard made his first NFL start and accounted for three touchdowns, throwing for 270 yards with two passing scores and adding a 1-yard rushing touchdown early in the second half. However, he also lost a fumble and threw an interception that proved costly.

The Colts briefly grabbed momentum when Leonard’s 1-yard touchdown run gave them a 24–23 lead on the opening drive of the second half, a possession set up by a 53-yard reception from wide receiver Alec Pierce. Houston answered later in the third quarter with a 43-yard Fairbairn field goal.

After Pierce was ejected late in the third quarter following an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, Indianapolis settled for a 39-yard field goal that made it 27–26. Houston reclaimed the lead early in the fourth quarter when an interception by Alijah Huzzie set up a 44-yard Fairbairn kick, though the Colts answered once more before Fairbairn’s late heroics.

Pierce led Indianapolis with four receptions for a season-high 132 yards and two touchdowns, including an 8-yard score that capped a 92-yard drive late in the first half and a 66-yard touchdown catch early in the game. Jonathan Taylor was limited to 26 yards on 14 carries, finishing the season second in the NFL in rushing with 1,585 yards.

The Colts (8–9), who were eliminated from playoff contention the previous week, closed the season with their seventh straight loss.

Injuries

Texans RB Jawhar Jordan injured his ankle in the second quarter and did not return.

Up next

Texans: Visit the Pittsburgh Steelers on Jan. 12 in the AFC wild-card round