The Colts didn’t just beat the Texans on Sunday. They won in a way that had been missing from their recent script: messy, tense, and decided by the plays that matter most.
That’s the part that stands out after sitting with the result. Indianapolis has had ugly wins before, including the Chicago and Miami games in 2024 during the Anthony Richardson era, but never one like this against a good team.
Houston’s defense made sure nothing came easy. Even at 0-3, there was plenty to respect about that side of the ball.
The Colts had to fight for every yard, and the Texans did a strong job up front, getting into the backfield and forcing Indianapolis to operate without Alec Pierce. That changed the shape of the game.
Daniel Jones had a pile of turnovers, and the biggest issue was familiar: he was drifting backward in the pocket and creating problems before the throw even came. That kind of movement can get a quarterback in trouble because tackles lose track of the launch point.
Jones, though, also showed something important late. Against Houston’s vision zone and spot-drop looks, he did a good job moving hook defenders with his eyes and opening windows when the game tightened up.
That eye manipulation showed up against a defense built to read the quarterback. In Cover 3, Reed Blankenship was sitting on Jones’ eyes, drifting with his landmarks when Jones looked toward the sideline and holding when the quarterback stared right at him. It’s the same kind of read-and-react work teams drill every February at the combine.
Josh Downs was another major piece of the win. He was excellent, and his role is limited only by his size.
Even so, he owns that role as well as anyone. Downs is dangerous after the catch, and one of the best examples came on a second-level RPO with a glance route that put the WILL linebacker in conflict.
Once he catches it, he has a knack for working back the other way on in-breaking routes. That move is now on tape, and it will be something defenses have to account for.
Teams will be studying how to tackle him all week, because sometimes his feel for space makes the angle irrelevant anyway.
There were also some rough snaps that nearly flipped the game. On one Snag + Basic concept the Colts have used over and over with Jones, Minshew, Richardson, Flacco, and others, the read should have led the ball to the running back in the flat. Instead, Jones held on the snag route and ended up strip-sacked at a crucial moment.
The Texans’ offense deserves some credit for hanging around, but it was also limited. Without Nico Collins, it wasn’t explosive, and outside of CJ Stroud’s accuracy, there wasn’t much that stood out.
Still, Houston did what it has done in Colts matchups before: Stroud made the key plays when the moment demanded it. The Texans also helped hand the game away in the fourth quarter, but they stayed alive while losing the turnover battle.
There were encouraging signs on defense for Indianapolis, too. The third-down sub package with Tomi and DeForest Buckner looks like something the Colts can build on.
Both players are explosive off the ball, and one well-timed stunt created a free runner in the interior gap. That’s the kind of execution that can turn a down in a hurry.
Justin Walley is also starting to settle in at nickel corner. He’s gaining confidence every week, and the growth is showing.
There was also a rep where the Colts played man coverage with real stickiness, even if September overall hasn’t always looked like that. Some of that is tied to the Texans’ receiver talent, but it’s still the style the Colts want to play.
Heading into Week 4, the offense has to rediscover its identity. Without Alec Pierce, the Colts need somebody - anyone - who can threaten downfield.
Without speed on the field, explosive plays get harder to chase. Safeties can sit shallower, the field gets compressed, and coverage becomes more aggressive.
If Indianapolis can force defenses to loosen up, Jonathan Taylor can get back to the kind of production that had him looking like a near lock for more than 120 rushing yards every week.
Burks is one name to watch there. He’s been used as the jet motion and sweep player, and he has speed, but defenses don’t have to truly respect him yet because he doesn’t have the route or target volume to demand it. That has to change soon.
Defensively, the Colts need another strong showing this week to feel good about where things are headed. They’ll be facing a backup quarterback without receivers who should threaten a corner the team gave up two first-round picks for.
The pass rush becomes the key storyline here. The interior rush has done its job.
Now it’s time for Laiatu Latu to start affecting the game, no matter what role Lou Anarumo has him playing in.
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Still, a quarterback switch does not automatically make the Commanders an easy draw. Mariota brings a different kind of challenge, one that can alter the feel of the game in a hurry if the Colts are not sharp early. For Indianapolis, the bigger issue may be less about who is starting for Washington and more about making sure a favorable setup does not turn into a tense afternoon. [Read more 🡒]