What a way to start the season! The Texans won their third straight game IN Indianapolis and the first of the 2024 season 29-27. Let's dive into some of the BIG plays of this win over Indy.

2nd Quarter

• 11:35 remaining
• Colts leading 7-6
• 3rd and six - +10 yard line

The Texans trailed by one early in the second quarter of this one and truly needed to get into the end zone after two LONG field goals from K Kaimi Fairbairn. So, on 3rd and six from the 10 yard line, the Texans put three receivers to the field (on the right side). Nico Collins was the most inside WR (labeled as the #3), while Tank Dell was the next inside WR (labeled as the #2). That put Stefon Diggs as the widest WR, labeled as the number one wide receiver. On the snap, Nico and Tank FLEW upfield to essentially clear out the underneath area. It looked like the Colts were in some sort of Tampa two on the goal line so when Nico went up the field, Colts LB Zaire Franklin ran with him. That opened a HUGE void in the middle. Diggs then sprinted right into that void and by the time Colts DB Kenny Moore realized what was happening, he was too late trying to cover for his LB pal. QB C.J. Stroud ripped a fastball to Diggs at the five yard line, who lunged over the goal line for the Texans first TD of the year.

2nd Quarter

• 2:42 remaining
• Texans ahead 12-7
• 2nd and 12 - +20 yard line

The Colts put together a strong drive just before the half but after a tackle for a loss on first down, their offense faced a 2nd and 12 from the 20 yard line. They brought 11 personnel (one RB, one TE, three WR) into the game. They put a bunch to the right side of the formation and QB Anthony Richardson in the gun. It looked like the Texans were playing man-to-man or match coverage out of the bunch. Either way, they had nearly every Colts WR covered on the pass concept but Richardson tried to hit the crossing route to TE Kylen Granson, who was covered by Jimmie Ward. Rookie S Calen Bullock was floating in the middle as the free safety and he just read Richardson's eyes. He told me in the locker room after the game that he just watched Richardson get locked into Granson and broke on the ball when he cocked his arm. Richardson airmailed the throw to Granson and it landed in the waiting arms of Bullock for his first career NFL interception. What a play to keep points off the board at the end of the first half!

4th Quarter

• 13:45 remaining
• Texans ahead 15-13
• 1st and Goal - +3 yard line

It was the Joe Mixon/OL show on Sunday. I can't remember ever running the ball right at the Colts like the Texans just did in this week one win. I mean, the Texans front just MAULED them all day long. So, on 1st and goal, the Texans put a Stefon Diggs-Tank Dell-Dalton Schultz bunch on the right side with Brevin Jordan as the inline blocker on the left hand side next to Laremy Tunsil. Schultz went in motion and it was time for a good 'ol outside zone toss to the left side, with Schultz as the lead blocker. Jordan made one heck of a block on the contain player and knocked him into the cheap seats. Schultz turned back on the DE. LG Kenyon Green pinned Colts star DT DeForest Buckner inside and that cut off the pursuit from the inside basically. LT Laremy Tunsil stumbled on his pursuit of a blue shirt but he crawled forward just enough to knock down the LB. Mixon got vertical immediately and sped into the end zone for his first touchdown as a Texan.

4th Quarter

• 4:45 remaining
• Texans ahead 22-20
• 4th and Goal - +2 yard line

Oh man, it was time to sweat a bit with it being fourth down in a GOTTA HAVE IT SITUATION. The Texans ran the good 'ol sprint left option. Stefon Diggs and Nico Collins were split out to the left side of the formation and the Colts played man coverage against that duo. It's a route that I saw the WR working on FOR-EV-ER in one of the practices this week. They repped all the options on that route, but when Nico ran his route up the field to the back pylon, there was all kinds of room near the pylon. As such, Stefon broke immediately to the pylon and he had yards of room to work and he had two steps, at a minimum, on the inside cover man. Stroud sprinted to his left and dotted Diggs in the end zone for his second TD of the day.

4th Quarter

• 2:00 remaining
• Texans ahead 29-27
• 3rd and 11 - -29 yard line

The Texans offense had just false started, making the subsequent third down that much more difficult. So, OC Bobby Slowik put his 11 personnel in the game - one TE, one RB, three WR and put QB C.J. Stroud in the shotgun. Tank Dell and Stefon Diggs were slotted in a bunch with Dalton Schultz on the left side of the formation, with Nico Collins in a condensed split on the right side of the formation. Why did I mention that he had a condensed split? Because Nico wanted room to run his out route near the first down marker The Colts brought a unique four man rush and played zone behind it, but Stroud was focused on Collins v. Colts CB Jaylon Jones on the right side of the formation. The Colts four man pressure was two E/T stunts that the Texans did just enough to slow them down in front of Stroud. They provided just enough time for Stroud to throw the most incredible pass of the day. Colts CB Jaylon Jones couldn't have been in better shape to knock it away, but Stroud threw it a couple of yards out of bounds, inches away from Jones…into the arms of Collins for the all important first down. DIME TIME!!