Colts corral undermanned Texans team, 20-14

The Indianapolis Colts upset the rival Houston Texans on Sunday afternoon in Week 9, 20-14. Here are all the highlights, the game recap and the final score.

In what was one of the strangest lead-ups to a game this week, the Indianapolis Colts somehow find a way to beat the rival Houston Texans at NRG Stadium on Sunday afternoon, 20-14. Indianapolis improves to 3-6 on the season, while Houston falls to 3-5 on the year.

Houston at one point was laying as many as 13 points at home to the visiting Colts. That was until the Texans’ franchise quarterback, Deshaun Watson, tore his ACL in practice Thursday and now will be out for the year. Houston had to go back to its Week 1 starter in Tom Savage. It just wasn’t enough to clip Jacoby Brissett and the Colts.

The signature play in this game came on an 80-yard touchdown pass from Brissett to his favorite receiving target in T.Y. Hilton. It was a big gain already, but Houston kind of forgot to touch Hilton when he fell to the turf on his own accord. He would find sweet, delicious pay dirt, helping the Colts get a big win in divisional play.

Houston has several problems. Their two best defensive players in defensive ends J.J. Watt and Whitney Mercilus are out for the year. Add in the Watson injury and Houston will struggle to win games the rest of the way. Despite winning the division the last two years, Texans head coach Tom O’Brien is now very much on the hot seat.

More from FanSided

• MLB Rumors: White Sox offer ‘small opening’ in Dylan Cease, Luis Robert trade talks
• LAST CHANCE: $250 Guaranteed Bonus for Your Week 1 College Football Bet at DraftKings and FanDuel!
• MLB Rumors: Justin Verlander has a clear suitor, but it comes with a catch
• MLB Rumors: Braves trade grade, Cardinals trade bait, Red Sox selling
• USMNT news: Turner to Forest, Trusty to Sheffield, Reynolds to Westerlo

Though it too is a lost season for the Andrew Luck-less Colts, it’s nice to see what Brissett can do under center in the Indianapolis offense. He has developed a great rapport with Hilton. Though his future isn’t in Indianapolis, Brissett is clearing showing that he is a franchise quarterback in this league, albeit a low-end one.

What this game taught us more than anything is that neither club will contend in the AFC South race going forward this year. It will be between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Tennessee Titans. It would be shocking to see Houston or Indianapolis to approach eight wins this season. Both might be destined to picking in the top 10 of the 2018 NFL Draft.

Though a win on the road for the Colts should feel good, it doesn’t make up for wasting a year of Luck’s prime due to injury mismanagement. At least guys like Brissett and Hilton are playing hard for a lame duck head coach in Chuck Pagano. Those are two players that most NFL teams would love to have. Good effort by the Colts in this one.

Three Stars

1. T.Y. Hilton: Hilton had five catches for 175 yards and two touchdowns.
2. Jacoby Brissett: Brissett completed 20 of 30 passes for 308 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. He also had two rushes for 12 yards on the ground.
3. DeAndre Hopkins: Hopkins had six catches for 86 yards and a touchdown.

Highlights

Next Game

The Colts will have a tough home game in Week 10. They will host the Pittsburgh Steelers for a 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff at Lucas Oil Stadium on Nov. 12. CBS will have the early afternoon telecast.

Next: NFL Power Rankings: 30 Best Coaches of All-Time

Houston will have to travel to the West Coast for their Week 10 game. The Texans will play the Los Angeles Rams on Nov. 12. Kickoff from Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum will be at 4:05 p.m. ET. CBS will have the late afternoon telecast.