Keenan Allen finally put a stamp on his Colts tenure Sunday, and the timing fit perfectly into Indianapolis’ first win of the 2026 season.
The Colts edged the Houston Texans 19-17 to snap a nine-game losing streak that stretched back into last season. It also ended a five-game skid against Houston that had been hanging around since early 2023.
This one came through every phase. Indianapolis stacked up five scoring drives on offense, the defense squeezed Houston into a miserable afternoon, and the kicking game stayed clean when it mattered.
Allen’s night stood out most on offense. He caught 6 of 9 targets for 63 yards and a touchdown, his first as a Colt. In the process, he moved past Andre Johnson (1,062) for 12th place on the NFL’s all-time receptions list.
Daniel Jones led the passing game with 235 yards, while Jonathan Taylor handled the ground work with 68 rushing yards. Josh Downs paced the Colts in receiving with 77 yards, and tight end Tyler Warren kept building his own early résumé with 9 catches for 55 yards. Warren also passed Coby Fleener (889) for the third-most receiving yards by a Colts tight end in his first two seasons.
The Colts also kept showing real stubbornness on fourth down. They converted both of their attempts for the second straight week, marking the first time they’ve gone 100% in consecutive games with at least two tries since Weeks 4 and 5 of 2019.
Defensively, Indianapolis delivered one of its most disruptive outings in a while. The Colts forced five three-and-outs, their most in a game since Week 9 of 2025, and got to Houston quarterback C.J.
Stroud early and often. Stroud had just 40 passing yards in the first half, which was the second-fewest in his career through two quarters and his lowest since Week 14 of 2023.
Houston managed only 12 net yards in the first quarter, the fewest by a Colts opponent in an opening quarter since Week 9 of 2025. Indianapolis also logged three passes defensed in the first quarter for the first time since Week 17 of 2023.
Adetomiwa Adebawore was a major force up front, finishing with 3 tackles, 1 for loss, 1.5 sacks and 3 quarterback hits. That sack total was a new single-game career high. DeForest Buckner also finished with 1.5 sacks, and it marked the first time the Colts had two players with at least 1.5 sacks in the same game since Week 15 of 2023.
Cornerback Justin Walley added 3 tackles and 2 pass breakups, while Charvarius Ward Sr. led the team with 8 tackles.
Spencer Shrader stayed perfect, going 4-for-4 on field goals and 1-for-1 on extra points. His 58-yard field goal just before halftime matched his career long. Rigoberto Sanchez had one punt for a 47.0 net average, and Anthony Gould handled both return jobs, averaging 32.0 yards on a kickoff return and 12.5 yards on two punt returns.
One more number rounded out the day: the Colts won despite a turnover margin of minus-3 or worse for the first time since Week 15 of 1999.
In Other News...
Colts Passing Game Just Put Pressure On One New Receiver
Alec Pierce landing on injured reserve because of a heel injury forced the Colts to make a quick adjustment at wide receiver, and Darius Slayton is the latest piece brought in to help keep the passing game moving. The timing is familiar for Slayton, who reunites with Daniel Jones after their years together with the Giants, and he has already spoken about feeling good about that connection while working with wide receivers coach Reggie Wayne.
For Indianapolis, the interest goes beyond simply plugging a roster hole. The Colts need production from a receiver group that has been reshuffled by the injury, and Slaytons arrival adds both familiarity for Jones and another veteran voice in the room. How quickly that translates on the field is the next question, especially as the offense looks for a steadier rhythm and a little more explosiveness from its new-look options. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Passing Breakout Leaves One Big Concern For This Offense
Daniel Jones best passing day of the season came in Week 3, and the ripple effect was easy to see for the Colts. His 235 yards against the Houston Texans gave Josh Downs, Keenan Allen and Tyler Warren a much-needed boost, while Alec Pierces injury and move to injured reserve forced the offense to lean more heavily on that trio in the passing game. For a unit that has been searching for rhythm, the production offered a clearer picture of what this offense can look like when the quarterback is comfortable pushing the ball.
The bigger question now is whether it can last. Pierces absence has already changed the structure of the receiver room, and the Colts do not have a timetable for his return, which means Downs, Allen and Warren may keep carrying a larger load for a while. The Texans game showed the passing attack can be more than just functional, but it also left Indianapolis facing the kind of test every improving offense eventually gets: proving one good day is a start, not a one-off. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Head To London With A Few Costly Problems Still Unsettled
The Colts finally got a win thanks in large part to the defense, but the trip to London arrives with a few offensive questions still hanging around. Against the Texans, Indianapolis showed it can lean on its defense and survive, yet the next step is making the rest of the operation look cleaner against Washington, especially when it comes to finding more reliable downfield pass options and squeezing more out of the offenses formation looks.
There is also a player-by-player element to the cleanup work, with the staff still looking for steadier performances from pieces such as Deion Burks, Jalen Travis and Robbie Gould. Using more 13 personnel is part of the conversation, too, which suggests the Colts are still sorting out how they want to attack from week to week. A win can settle the mood for a day, but it does not erase the list of things that have to be better overseas. [Read more 🡒]