Indianapolis Colts week 1 recap

Colts-Texans Recap

The Indianapolis Colts played the Houston Texans week one on Sunday, Sep. 8 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis to begin their 2024-2025 NFL season. The streak is now 11-straight seasons that the Colts have failed to win their season-opening game. This year, their first loss was to their division rival with a final score of 29-27.

AFC South division title could come down to these two teams once again

The previous meeting between the two came during the final week of the season last year in which the Texans won, 23-19. The result of that game barred the Colts from entering the playoffs but also won the Texans the AFC South division title for the first time since 2019. Sunday’s game being another close game will keep this rivalry very much heated and the final result of this game could also prove to have significant implications on who ends up winning the AFC South. The Colts are currently tied with the Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars for second place in the division as they all lost their respective opening game.

The Texans offense had an impressive day

Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud, who won offensive rookie of the year last season, had an impressive day, passing for 234 yards, two touchdown passes and no interceptions. Texans wide receiver Nico Collins recorded 6 receptions for 117 yards including a 55-yard catch in the first quarter, which was the longest pass play of the game for the Texans. Wide receiver Stefon Diggs also made his presence known in his Texans debut, catching six receptions for 33 yards and scoring two touchdowns. The Texans also had a good game rushing, finishing with 213 rushing yards. Texans running back Joe Mixon ran for 159 yards on 30 carries and scored a touchdown. Besides running out of time on the clock before halftime in field goal scoring position due to confusion coming out of a replay challenge, and an early missed two-point conversion the Texans played an impressive game offensively.

Colts welcome back Anthony Richardson and Jonathan Taylor

The Colts welcomed back key players to their offense on Sunday, including second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson. Richardson played four games for the Colts in his rookie season last year before having to undergo season-ending shoulder surgery for an injury he suffered in week five against the Tennessee Titans on Oct. 8. Richardson picked up where he left off early last season, using both his passing and running abilities to make plays.

In the first quarter, Richardson threw a 60-yard touchdown pass to third-year wide receiver Alec Pierce for the first touchdown of the game. It was an impressive throw considering that just moments before, Richardson slipped on the turf but managed to recover and was able to accurately throw the football down the field over two defenders covering Pierce for the score. Pierce finished with three catches for a career-high 125 yards receiving. Wide Receiver Ashton Dulin caught a 54-yard touchdown which was his only reception of the game.

Richardson, on just 9 completions on 19 attempts, threw for 212 yards passing. He finished the game with two passing touchdowns and ran for 56 yards and a rushing touchdown with his longest run being for 19 yards. Richardson’s late rush touchdown came on a fourth down, pushing through two Texans defenders to reach the endzone to help the Colts narrow the lead to two late in the game.

Colts running back Jonathan Taylor also returned from injury for the Colts after having his season to end due to a thumb injury he suffered in week twelve last season. Taylor contributed 48 yards on the ground and scored a five-yard touchdown following a blocked Texans punt by Colts defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo. The Colts finished with 104 rushing yards total.

Despite the contribution of the Colts' offensive backfield, the missed scoring opportunities by the Colts and Texans clutch defensive stops proved to be the difference in this game. Late in the second quarter Richardson overthrew wide receiver Adonai Mitchell when they were close to scoring territory. Later on that same drive, he threw an interception to Texans rookie safety Calen Bullock on a pass intended for tight end Kylen Granson. After a touchdown by Taylor in the third quarter, the Colts were unable to score on the two-point conversion which would have tied the game.

Colts Inconsistent Defense

The Colts defense played inconsistently on Sunday. They did put pressure on Stroud, sacking him four times during the game. Colts defensive tackle DeForest Buckner recorded a 1.5 sack during the game, picking up from his 8 sack season Pro Bowl season last year. Defensive ends Tyquan Lewis and Kwity Paye both recorded a sack, with Odeyingbo’s sack being credited as a 0.5 sack. Despite the pressure on Stroud, however, the Colts defense allowed 417 yards. They also allowed the Texans long plays and two fourth down conversions with one of those conversions being a fourth-and-goal touchdown, which helped give the Texans a nine point lead with four minutes left in the game.

The Colts inability to stop Mixon proved to be very costly, especially when the Texans were running the clock down after Richardson scored a late rushing touchdown to bring the Colts within two points with just a little over two minutes left. The Colts were able to get the Texans to face a third-and-11 with just under two minutes remaining, but failed to stop them from converting, as Collins made a tough catch to pick up the first down. Later in the drive, Mixon was able to convert on a third-and-three to give the Texans the first down they needed to keep the ball and run down the clock after the Colts used their last timeout.

The Colts will have a rematch with the Texans on Oct. 27 in Houston in week eight.

Injuries

The Colts have suffered a major loss in the secondary, losing cornerback JuJu Brents for the remainder of the year. He has been placed on injury reserve for the remainder of the year due to a season-ending knee surgery after an injury he suffered in the week one game.

Week 2 vs. Packers

The Colts played Sunday against the Green Bay Packers following their week one loss . The Packers won the game with a final score of 16-10. The Colts played without safety Julian Blackmon for week two against the Green Bay Packers due to a shoulder injury. The Colts did have field goal kicker Matt Gay return after missing the first game due to hernia surgery. Meanwhile, Packers quarterback Jordan Love did not play in week two’s game after suffering a knee injury in their season opener to the Philadelphia Eagles. Quarterback Malik Willis replaced Love and threw for 122 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. The Colts could not contain Packers running back Josh Jacobs, who ran for 151 yards, his longest run being for 34 yards.

The Colts offense, on the other hand, struggled. The Colts were scoreless at halftime. Richardson threw three interceptions, which is the most he has had in a game so far in his career.

Taylor rushed for 103 yards but had no touchdowns while the Colts had three turnovers and were 2-9 on third down. They also suffered another major loss to their defense as Buckner was placed on IR following the game due to an ankle injury he suffered.

The Colts will play the Chicago Bears at home in week three on Sunday in Indianapolis.

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