The Indianapolis Colts (0-0-1) nearly left NRG Stadium with an embarrassing upset loss to the Houston Texans (0-0-1), but they wound up leaving with a 20-20 tie.
For the first three quarters of the game, it looked like the Colts were still playing in the preseason. There was no sense of urgency, bone-headed plays and an all-around lack of physicality on both sides of the ball. They looked like they were simply going through the motions.
Had it not been for 17 unasnwered points during the fourth quarter to tie the game, we’d be talking about a loss that rivaled the collapse against the Jaguars to end the 2021 season.
But the Texans gave the Colts some help, and the Colts found their groove late in the game. Against a team that’s not the Texans, it would have been even uglier.
However, that’s not what happened. They tied, and we get to dive into the studs and duds from Week 1:
STUD: RB Jonathan Taylor
To no one’s surprise, Taylor was an absolute DAWG on Sunday. The reigning rushing champ continued his trek to win the title again, taking 31 carries for 161 rushing yards and a touchdown. He also added four receptions for 14 receiving yards. On the game-tying drive late in the fourth quarter, Taylor took four carries for 49 rushing yards and helped set up the eventual touchdown. Taylor continues to ascend into the league’s best running back.
DUD: K Rodrigo Blankenship
Blankenship’s day started well enough as he converted both of his field-goal attempts through the first three quarters. Then, it all fell apart. Despite playing inside, Blankenship kicked two consecutive kickoffs out of bounds, giving the Texans starting drives at the 40-yard line. The second one came to open overtime, which could have really been a detriment for the Colts. Even though he was bailed out, he had a chance to win the game in overtime with a 42-yard attempt. Instead, it was wide right, and the Colts start their season with a tie.
STUD: WR Michael Pittman Jr.
Another absolute DAWG. Pittman Jr. is truly ascending into a new tier of wide receivers. Pittman Jr. was constantly winning all over the field to the tune of nine receptions on 13 targets for 121 yards and the game-tying touchdown late in the fourth quarter. That touchdown truly showcased Pittman Jr.’s physicality with the ball in his hands.
DUD: RT Braden Smith
It was a rough day for the entire offensive line, but one of the main culprits was Smith. The starting right tackle looked more like a shell of himself in pass protection, constantly allowing Matt Ryan to be under pressure quickly. If the Colts want their offense to run with any sort of consistency, they have to get better production from one of the highest-paid tackles in the NFL.
STUD: DT Grover Stewart
While the defensive line for the Colts was bullied for the majority of the game when it came to rushing the passer, Stewart was a menace in the middle of the front when it came time to stop the run. Even when he wasn’t directly making a stop, Stewart’s presence was in the backfield constantly. He finished with a quarterback hit and two tackles for loss on the day, and he helped hold the Texans backfield to 25 carries for 63 yards (2.5 yards per carry).
DUD: WR Alec Pierce
It’s going to take time for the rookie to get settled into the NFL. And I’m still high on what Pierce will be. It’s just one game. But his NFL debut will be one to forget. Pierce saw just two targets and one of them could have turned the tide. On the third drive of the game, Pierce had an easy touchdown reception come his way. Instead, he dropped it. The Colts wound up going for it on fourth down at the goal line two plays later and failed to convert. It will get better, but it was a rough debut for the rookie.
