No game in NFL Week 18 carried more clear consequences than the Houston Texans’ matchup with the Indianapolis Colts.
C.J. Stroud was up to the task.
The rookie quarterback led Houston to a 23-19 win over the Colts on Saturday in a true win-and-in game, sending the team to the playoffs in its first season under head coach DeMeco Ryans. Stroud was 20-of-26 for 264 yards and two touchdowns, with 195 of those yards going to wide receiver Nico Collins.
The Texans can now win the AFC South with a Jaguars loss. Here’s Frank Schwab’s recap on it all and how it all went down live:
Live155 updates
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Here’s Frank Schwab’s recap on all of that.
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CJ Stroud just walked into a division rival’s house in a win-and-in game without his No. 2 and 3 receivers and posted 264 yards on 20-of-26 passing with two TDs and no picks. He is 22 years old.
Collins was amazing (195 yards) and the Texans o-line kept him off the ground, but that is special stuff.
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Ballgame, Texans win 23-19 and advance to the playoffs in their first season with head coach DeMeco Ryans and CJ Stroud. They win the division with a Jaguars loss tomorrow.
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Texans take the safety and burn the clock down to one second. They’ll free kick with a stop winning the game. 23-19 Texans
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Colts get the stop, but they won’t get the ball with more than 7 seconds left.
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Colts use both their timeouts to keep the clock at 54 seconds on 3rd and 6.
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TURNOVER ON DOWNS
Minshew throws behind Tyler Goodson, who can’t reel it in. An incompletion gives the Texans the ball with 1:03 left. Colts have two timeouts.
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Colts now have a 4th and 1 in the red zone with fewer than 90 seconds left.
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The Colts get it! It’s their first third-down conversion of the game, on their 10th try.
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We’ve got a close call on third down, with Jonathan Taylor running up the middle. Officials called it a first down, but they’re taking another look.
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Texans 11 penalties, 69 yards.
— Mike Chappell (@mchappell51) January 7, 2024
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The Colts respond with their own rookie. Josh Downs reels off a 28-yard catch-and-run to reach midfield real quick.
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Jonathan Taylor was ruled doubtful with an ankle injury, but he’s back on the field now.
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TOUCHDOWN TEXANS
Devin Singletary punches it in, but the Ka’imi Fairbairn misses his first XP of the season to keep the score 23-17. Hard to overstate how huge a drive that was by Stroud.
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Another pass, another completion to Collins, this time on a 23-yarder. He also draws a horse collar to move the ball inside the
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#Colts RB Jonathan Taylor’s injury has been changed from a heel to an ankle and he’s doubtful to return.
— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) January 7, 2024
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