Houston defense appears to be ready for playoffs
TEXANS 22, COLTS 17
INDIANAPOLIS» The Houston Texans hoped to cash in on a hefty offseason investment in the offense.
Turns out, their rugged defense may still be the way to the playoffs.
On a day the Texans scored only one touchdown against Indianapolis, the defense forced three turnovers and stopped the Colts on fourth-and-1 with 1:24 left in the game to preserve a 22-17 win Sunday.
“What the defense did is truly unbelievable,” quarterback Brock Osweiler said. “It was like a playoff game.”
Win a couple more, and it will be a playoff game.
By snapping a three-game losing streak, Houston (7-6) and Tennessee remained tied atop the AFC South though the Texans are better positioned because of season sweeps over the Titans and Colts (6-7).
The Texans won their second straight game in Indy after losing their first 13 and have won nine straight over division foes. This one sure wasn’t easy. Nick Novak made five field goals, Lamar Miller ran 21 times for 107 yards and scored on a 2-yard run late in the first half for all of the points.
Former Bronco Osweiler, meanwhile, went 14-of-24 for 147 yards with no touchdowns despite twice starting drives inside the Colts’ 20-yard line.
Still, the old-school style played right into the hands of Houston’s defense, which picked off Andrew Luck twice and recovered a fumble after Jadeveon Clowney beat tight end Dwayne Allen on third-and-goal from the 3-yard line.