Houston Texans vs Indianapolis Colts Match Player Stats (Oct 27, 2024)​

The Houston Texans vs Indianapolis Colts matchup delivered everything AFC South fans could want, with Houston hanging on for a nail-biting 23-20 victory at NRG Stadium on Sunday, October 27, 2024. Week 8’s divisional clash featured standout individual performances and player stats that showcase exactly why this rivalry has become must-watch football in 2024.

Texans Sweep Season Series, Strengthen Division Grip

For the second straight meeting this season, the Texans (6-2) got the better of their division rivals, dropping the Colts to 4-4 and creating serious breathing room in the standings. Sunday’s victory at NRG Stadium marks just the second time in team history that Houston has swept Indianapolis in a season series.

The scoring breakdown shows how this back-and-forth slugfest unfolded:

A packed house of 71,380 fans watched Houston overcome an early seven-point hole with a dominant second quarter that completely flipped the momentum. The quarterly player stats highlight how the Texans’ 14-0 run in the second period ultimately made the difference in this tight divisional contest.

Tale of Two QBs: Stroud Cool Under Pressure, Richardson Shows Flashes

The quarterback matchup couldn’t have been more different in both style and production.

Houston’s C.J. Stroud continued his red-hot sophomore campaign, carving up the Colts secondary all afternoon. Stroud hit on 25 of 37 throws (67.6%) for 285 yards and a TD, posting a rock-solid 99.5 passer rating. He kept his clean sheet in the INT column intact, though a late fumble nearly cost his team.

“When you see a young QB perform like that in a pressure-packed divisional game, you know you’ve got the real deal,” Fox Sports analyst Greg Olsen noted during the broadcast.

Stroud’s most impressive throw? A 49-yard laser to Stefon Diggs that set up one of Ka’imi Fairbairn’s three successful field goals.

On the flip side, the Colts’ Richardson endured a rough day at the office even with some highlight-reel moments. The raw stats tell the tale:

Richardson uncorked an absolute rocket with his 69-yard TD strike to Josh Downs in the opening quarter, briefly pushing Indy ahead 10-3. The athletic QB also added 45 yards with his legs, but connected on barely 30% of his passes and got planted in the turf five times by Houston’s hungry pass rush.

Mixon, Taylor Trade Haymakers in Ground Game Battle

Both sidelines showcased Pro Bowl-caliber backfield talent in a game where the running backs lived up to their billing.

Mixon has been everything Houston hoped for when they snagged him in the offseason, and Sunday was no exception. The veteran workhorse pounded out 102 yards on 25 carries with a TD. According to the Texans official game recap, Mixon made NFL history as the first player ever to rack up 100+ rushing yards and a touchdown in four of his first five games with a new team.

“Mixon’s been exactly what this offense needed,” CBS Sports analyst Trent Green said during the broadcast. “His ability to get tough yards between the tackles opens everything up in the passing game for Stroud.”

Taylor answered with a monster return performance after missing three weeks with an ankle injury. The former rushing champ gashed Houston for 105 yards on 20 totes (5.3 avg) and bulldozed his way in for a 1-yard score that kept Indy’s hopes alive in the fourth quarter.

A look at the receiving breakdown shows two completely different aerial strategies.

Houston’s Stroud spread the ball all over the field, hitting eight different targets. Diggs led with 5 catches for 81 yards before his knee injury forced him to the sideline. When the star wideout went down, Schultz (4 for 52), Dell (4 for 35, TD), and Mixon (4 for 32) all stepped up.

Dell’s TD grab came at the perfect moment. With just 17 seconds on the clock before halftime, the speedy receiver snagged a 7-yard score that put Houston up 17-10, changing the entire complexion of the contest.

Indy’s passing game? Pretty much the Josh Downs show. The second-year wideout hauled in 4 for 109 with a score while the rest of the crew barely made a peep. Pittman Jr., usually a target monster, caught just one ball for 16 yards on six targets.

CBS Sports game tracking showed Downs accounted for a whopping 78% of the Colts’ receiving yards. That kind of lopsided production might work for a game, but good defenses will shut that down in a hurry.

Hunter, Defense Come Up Clutch in Crucial Moments

The big men up front decided this one, with key defensive plays at pivotal moments tipping the scales Houston’s way.

Texans edge rusher Danielle Hunter earned every penny of his free agent contract, notching two sacks including the game-sealer. As the clock hit zeros, Hunter blew right past Indy’s right tackle to drop Richardson and jar the ball loose, with Will Anderson Jr. pouncing on it to trigger a wild celebration.

For the Colts, Dayo Odeyingbo almost played the hero role with his strip-sack of Stroud late in the fourth. The third-year DE not only knocked the ball free but recovered it himself at the Houston 18-yard line with just over three minutes left on the clock.

But the game’s biggest defensive highlight came courtesy of Houston safety Jalen Pitre, whose second-quarter pickoff of Richardson at the Colts’ 17-yard line set up a quick-strike TD. That momentum-swinging sequence turned a tie game into a Texans advantage they protected the rest of the way.

Pro-Football-Reference play-by-play data shows the Texans’ front seven was relentless all day, racking up 5 sacks, 7 tackles for loss, and 7 QB hits, keeping Richardson under constant duress and forcing hurried throws throughout the afternoon.

Three Game-Changing Plays That Swung the Pendulum

Box scores give you the stats, but they don’t always capture the handful of plays that truly decide the outcome. Three critical moments shaped Sunday’s result:

1. Pitre’s Pick (Q2, 0:35)
   With the scoreboard showing 10-10 and halftime looming, Jalen Pitre jumped a Richardson pass meant for Pittman and returned it to the Colts’ 7. One snap later, Stroud found Dell for the TD that put Houston up 17-10 going into the break.
2. The Stand (Q4, 3:07)
   After Odeyingbo’s fumble recovery gifted Indy prime field position at the Houston 18, the Texans D slammed the door shut. Hunter’s clutch third-down sack pushed the Colts back to their own 5, forcing a punt instead of a potential game-tying or go-ahead score.
3. Hunter’s Game-Closing Sack (Q4, 0:00)
   With Indy at midfield and one final shot at a miracle, Hunter blew past his blocker to drop Richardson as time expired. The ball popped loose, Anderson jumped on it, and the Texans sideline erupted.

“Those three plays show exactly who we want to be as a defense,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans told reporters afterward. “Physical, opportunistic, and at our best when the pressure’s highest.”

Keys to Victory: Stats That Mattered

Dig into the box score and you’ll find exactly how Houston pulled off this crucial win:

The comparison of player stats shows clear advantages for Houston in key areas. The clock control jumps off the page – Houston dominated possession by nearly 11 minutes, keeping their D fresh while wearing down Indy’s front seven. The player stats reflect a dramatic third-down conversion gap, with the Texans moving the chains twice as efficiently while playing cleaner football with nearly half the penalty yardage.

Playoff Race Heats Up

This W reshapes the AFC South race at the season’s halfway mark. Houston sits pretty at 6-2 with a season sweep over Indy, while the Colts drop to .500 and face an uphill climb.

For the Texans, Sunday’s performance stamps their ticket as genuine playoff material. With Stroud’s pinpoint passing, Mixon’s tough running, and a D-line that shows up when it matters most, DeMeco Ryans’ squad looks built for January football.

The Colts have work to do. Taylor’s comeback provides a solid foundation, but Richardson remains raw. That 31.3% completion rate jumps off the stat sheet for all the wrong reasons, though his cannon arm and scrambling ability give Indy fans reason for optimism down the stretch.

Also Read: Denver Broncos vs Kansas City Chiefs Match Player Stats (Jan 05, 2025).

FAQ’s About Houston Texans vs Indianapolis Colts Match Player Stats

With this victory, the Texans have firmly established themselves as the team to beat in the AFC South. As both squads look ahead to Week 9, the player stats from this Houston Texans vs Indianapolis Colts clash will serve as both a blueprint and a warning for future opponents.