Houston Texans: FIVE Reasons Why They Beat The Colts

The Houston Texans got their offense into gear on Sunday night against the Indianapolis Colts, the NFL’s fifth-worst pass defense except they waited until they were down 23-9 to do mount a comeback. With 2:38 left to play in regulation and trailing by 14 points, Texans’ quarterback Brock Osweiler and Co. decided it was time to go to work and send the 71, 891 fans in attendance home happy, even those that bailed NRG Stadium early.

The Houston Texans got their offense into gear on Sunday night against the Indianapolis Colts, the NFL’s fifth-worst pass defense except they waited until they were down 23-9 to do mount a comeback. With 2:38 left to play in regulation and trailing by 14 points, Texans’ quarterback Brock Osweiler and Co. decided it was time to go to work and send the 71, 891 fans in attendance home happy, even those that bailed NRG Stadium early.

There may be any number of reasons why they should have lost but these are FIVE reasons why they won 26-23 in overtime:

1. Texans second-half defense

The second-half defense for the Texans was outstanding. Romeo Crennel had his guys get down and get after it. Unfortunately, too much time on the field will wear out even the best of defenses down and such allowed the Colts to break the third-longest streak (61 games) without a 100-yard rusher as Frank Gore finished the night with 106 yards.

Benardrick McKinney terrorized the Colts’ quarterback Andrew Luck for a nine yard loss on third-and three from Colts’ 38-yard line giving Houston the ball with the chance to win the game in overtime. McKinney led the team with 12 combined tackles, a sack and two quarterback hits.

Houston’s defensive line finished the night with three sacks, five tackles-for-losses, six quarterback hits and an interception.

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2. Lamar Miller

The Lamar Miller we’ve been waiting for showed out last night. Miller charged like the running back Houston fans expected to see, gaining 149 yards off 24 carries. His effort also resulted in the team’s first rushing touchdown of 2016. Miller finished his prime-time appearance with 178 all-purpose yards and two scores.

3. DeAndre Hopkins

This was rather obvious too. For most of 2016 so far, Hopkins has been the forgotten man with the emergence of rookie wide out Will Fuller. The Texans go-to guy had been targeted an average of eight times a game thus far. Last night, Hopkins had seven targets alone in the first half and finished with a season-high nine receptions on 15 targets for 71 yards.

4. Houston tight ends

The Houston tight end gang was once again active in the game plan and C.J. Fiedorowicz caught what may have been the most important catch by a Texans’ tight end since Owen Daniels was racking up receptions and yardage on his his way to becoming the Texans’ second all-time leading receiver.

The duo of Ryan Griffin and Fiedorowicz snagged nine of 12 balls thrown their way for 117 yards and the game tying touchdown with less than a minute to play. Since Bill O’Brien took over the play-calling duties three games ago, the duo have caught 22 passes for 287 yards and two touchdowns compared to 13 catches for 81 yards and zero touchdowns in the opening three games of the season.

Next: How To Fix Brock Osweiler's Problem

5. Brock Osweiler

“The Great Oz” went to work with 2:38 left in regulation to force overtime. The Texans final three drives that produced 17 points spelled the difference between being 4-2 and being 3-3 and tied at the top of the AFC South. The Texans $72 million signal caller completed 13-of-15 for 167 yards in the final three Texans’ possessions directing drives of 75, 71 and 52 yards, setting the table for his first comeback win. Osweiler finished the night going 25-of-39 for 269 yards and two touchdowns.

Honorable Mention: Adam Vinatieri connected on his 41st straight field goal which is now one three-pointer shy of former Colts’ kicker Mike Vanderjagt‘s NFL record.

It’s a good thing that record wasn’t broken on the Texans’ watch.

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