The Houston Texans and the Indianapolis Colts meet up for their final game of the regular season.
For fans of the 2-13-1 Texans and the 4-11-1 Colts, the game is nothing more than a 60-minute countdown to the end of a disastrous 2022 campaign that unpacked failed goals, unrealized expectations, and a painful reminder of just how deep each club really is in their rebuild.
Houston can lose the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft if they beat the Colts and the Chicago Bears also lose to the Minnesota Vikings. Chicago won’t be taking a quarterback in the draft with the top pick, if that is any consolation.
Follow along for all updates from Lucas Oil Stadium here.
First quarter
15:00 — Houston gets started with QB Davis Mills hitting WR Brandin Cooks for a 33-yard gain to the Indianapolis 42-yard line.
11:22 — Mills hits Cooks for an 11-yard touchdown on second-and-8. Extra point is good. The drive took seven plays, 75 yards in 3:43. 7-0, Texans
11:22 — CB Dallis Flowers fumbles the kickoff for the Colts and S M.J. Stewart recovers for the Texans at the Indianapolis 18-yard line.
9:44 — Houston goes three-and-out, but the good news is one can still get points from three-and-outs if they are in the opponent’s red zone. K Ka’imi Fairbairn hits a 37-yard field goal. 10-0, Texans
3:59 — QB Sam Ehlinger throws a 1-yard touchdown pass to WR Michael Pittman. Extra point is good. 10-7, Texans
1:04 — On third-and-7 from the Colts’ 45-yard line, Mills throws an incomplete pass looking for RB Rex Burkhead.
Second quarter
15:00 — The Texans sack Ehlinger for a 7-yard loss. LBs Christian Harris and Christian Kirksey split the sack on third-and-10 from the Colts’ 9-yard line.
10:52 — RB Royce Freeman rushed for seven yards up to the Colts’ 14-yard line on second-and-8. However, DE E.J. Speed forced Freeman to fumble, and S Julian Blackmon returned the turnover 34 yards up to the Colts’ 42-yard line.
10:41 — DE Jonathan Greenard may have had a terrible season, but he had maybe the play of the year as he one-hands an interception from Ehlinger and rushes 39 yards for a touchdown. DE Rasheem Green had his arms around Ehlinger’s ankles. Extra point is good. 17-7, Texans
4:56 — Ehlinger throws an interception to Kirksey on third-and-9 from the Houston 13-yard line. Kirksey returned the takeaway up to the Houston 20-yard line, a return of 18 yards.
1:42 — Mills throws an incomplete pass looking for TE Jordan Akins on third-and-15 from the Colts’ 43-yard line. The Texans decide to send P Cam Johnston out for a punt, not allow Fairbairn to try a 60-yard field goal.
Halftime
Stats
TEXANS
Mills: 10/14, 119 yards, TD; 1 carry, 6 yards
Cooks: 4 catches, 76 yards, TD
Kirksey: 2 tackles, 0.5 sack, QB hit, pass breakup, INT
COLTS
Ehlinger: 12/16, 89 yards, TD, 2 INT; 3 carries, 9 yards
Zack Moss: 6 carries, 47 yards; 3 carries, 7 yards
Michael Pittman: 2 catches, 7 yards; TD
Third quarter
11:55 — Ehlinger’s pass falls incomplete on fourth-and-goal from the 3-yard line. Turnover on downs.
9:43 — Mills throws an incomplete pass looking for WR Chris Moore on a third-and-10 from the Houston 15-yard line.
6:48 — Moss rushes for a 15-yard touchdown. Extra point is good. 17-14, Texans
3:57 — Mills throws a 19-yard touchdown pass to Akins. Extra point is good. 24-14, Texans
1:00 — Mills throws a pick-six returned by S Rodney McLeod for 26 yards. Extra point is good. 24-21, Texans
0:07 — Mills ends the third quarter with his second interception as he looks for Moore on a third-and-8 from the Houston 27. LB Rodney Thomas picks off Mills and takes it to the Colts’ 42-yard line, a return of 11 yards.
Fourth quarter
10:34 — Ehlinger throws a 4-yard touchdown pass to TE Mo Alie-Cox. Extra point is good. 28-24, Colts
9:48 — Mills throws a 5-yard pass to WR Amari Rodgers on a third-and-7 from the Houston 28-yard line.
8:57 — S Jalen Pitre is being evaluated for a concussion and was taken to the locker room after a trip to the blue medical tent on the sideline.
3:37 — K Chase McLaughlin nails a 54-yard field goal right down the middle. 31-24, Colts
1:26 — Mills throws a 30-yard pass to Cooks on fourth-and-12 from the Colts’ 48-yard line. Replay Official reviewed the play and confirmed the ruling of a completed pass. Houston converts.
1:07 — LB Zaire Franklin sacks Mills for a 10-yard loss on third-and-10 from the Colts’ 28-yard line. Houston calls their second timeout.
0:58 — Mills throws a 28-yard touchdown pass to Akins, his second of the day. Houston calls their final timeout ahead of the two-point conversion attempt. Mills looks for Akins again and the attempt succeeds. 32-31, Texans
0:02 — Ehlinger’s pass falls incomplete on the Hail Mary attempt. Houston wins, but it costs them the No. 1 overall pick, which goes to the Chicago Bears. The Texans have No. 2 overall as they finish 3-13-1.
Injuries
Second quarter — TE Brevin Jordan was listed as questionable with a knee injury. In the third quarter, Jordan was later downgraded to out.
8:57, Fourth quarter — S Jalen Pitre is being evaluated for a concussion and was taken to the locker room after a trip to the blue medical tent on the sideline.
