A SWEEP, BABY! How about that?!? Well, this game was ALL about big plays, so let's break them down here. My Big Play Breakdown is comin' atcha like Joe Mixon eyeing the end zone.
2nd quarter
10:11 remaining
Colts leading 10-3
1st and 10
+14 yard line
Man, Joe Mixon was ridiculously good again on Sunday and this run for a touchdown was the best of the day. What I love about this run was that this was the exact same concept that the Texans ran against the Packers that was one block away from being a touchdown in the fourth quarter. This time, though, was a touchdown. It was a split zone play with zone blocking to the right with TE Cade Stover "splitting the backside" to the left side. WR Stefon Diggs went in motion to the left side just as the ball was snapped and Stover followed him. Mixon took the handoff to the right side and as the line walled off the interior guys, LG Jarrett Patterson started up to the linebacker level. He stumbled on his way to E.J. Speed but in so doing, he laid the perfect cut block on Speed and that one block opened the way for Mixon to cut that zone run back. (Unfortunately, because Patterson lost his balance, he couldn't brace himself and his head hit Speed's knee - that resulted in an unfortunate concussion for Patterson, who missed the rest of the game) Then, Mixon put on a show, fighting off any and all defenders in white jerseys, POUNDING the ball into the end zone for a much needed TD. I mean, MAN'S RUN…Kyle Brandt get the Scepter ready.
2nd quarter
0:34 remaining
Game tied at 10
3rd and three
-11-yard line
On the first play of the last Colts series of the half, Anthony Richardson threw out to the left flat, seemingly never seeing rookie Kamari Lassiter jump in front of his receiver. But, Lassiter just couldn't come up with the pick. MAN, THAT WOULD'VE BEEN HUGE! The Colts ran Jonathan Taylor for seven yards, setting up a third and three. During the broadcast, Andre Ware and I thought exactly the same - they're not to take a chance, backed up. Here comes QB Draw. I was absolutely CONVINCED that it was coming when the Colts came out in empty. But, on the snap, Richardson dropped to throw. I nearly choked on my gum…well, if I had some, I would've. The Colts had five eligible receivers on the play and they ran hitches to the first down marker. The Texans played zone with the five underneath defenders, jumping all the hitch routes. The coverage was pretty sticky but Richardson still cocked to throw to slot WR Josh Downs. However, Texans nickel Jalen Pitre read it perfectly and darted in front of Downs. He snatched the pass for his first interception since his rookie year and then started running for the end zone. He eventually got tackled at the seven yard line which led to…
2nd quarter
0:23 remaining
Game tied at 10
1st and goal
+Seven-yard line
On the first play after Pitre's interception, the Texans went for the throat immediately. They put 11 personnel on the field with RB Joe Mixon to QB C.J. Stroud's left side. TE Dalton Schultz lined up with Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell in a clustered bunch to the right side. Diggs ran up the middle of the field to clear out, while Dalton Schultz ran a whip route back to the inside. Tank, though, ran up the field to the back of the end zone and took a right to the back pylon. He had a step on the Colts DB. Stroud moved up in the pocket and then eyed Tank working the back line. Just as he took a hit from Colts DT DeForest Buckner, Stroud threw for Tank at the back of the end zone. Tank went up over Colts DB Samuel Womack, made the grab and two tapped the feet for a massive touchdown to take a 17-10 lead. The Stadium went NUTS when he made that catch!
4th quarter - 1st play of the quarter
15:00 remaining
Texans leading 20-13
2nd and 19
+49 yard line
After a rough start to the drive, the Texans put 11 personnel on the field, with two receivers to the left side - John Metchie III and Tank Dell - on second down. The lone TE Dalton Schultz lined up in the backfield to help in protection and WR Xavier Hutchinson lined up in a condensed split to the right side. RB Dare Ogunbowale and Schultz both shot to the flat immediately. Stroud got a little late pressure so he rolled to his right as Metchie III ran the deep over route toward the Colts sideline. As C.J. neared the Colts sideline, he eyed Metchie III working his way into the void in the Colts zone. Stroud let loose just before he took a shot and BRILLIANTLY layered a throw to Metchie III, who made a great catch for a huge first down. GREAT THROW. GREAT CATCH. FIRST DOWN. The Texans kicked a field goal a few plays later to take a ten point lead 23-13.
4th quarter
2:20 remaining
Texans leading 23-20
3rd and 15 - Colts ball
-13-yard line
I mean, it is Halloween season, so when Colts DE Dayo Odeyingbo snatched a fumble out of the air, got up off the ground and ran for a supposed TD, it was the HORROR of all HORRORS. But, thankfully, Odeyingbo was ruled down around the Colts 17-yard line. The Texans defense stuffed the first two plays and set up to face a key third down and long. So, the Colts came out in a 2x2 set - a pair of receivers to each side. The Texans planned to rush four, but the key on this was on the defensive right side, where Danielle Hunter lined up outside Denico Autry. Once the ball was snapped, Hunter took a HARD inside move underneath Colts LT Bernhard Reimann and ran that line all the way to Richardson. Autry looped outside to contain and DT Tim Settle on the other side ran RG Tucker Dalton all the way to Richardson, which kept the talented QB from striding into his throw. As he cocked his arm, Hunter engulfed the Colts QB and snatched him down to the turf at the three yard line. Hunter's sack forced a Colts punt. HUGE play.
