Indianapolis Colts defeat Houston Texans 19-17 to snap losing streak

The Indianapolis Colts secured their first victory of the season with a 19-17 win over the Houston Texans at Lucas Oil Stadium. The win snapped a nine-game losing streak for Indianapolis, while the Texans fell to 0-3 for the second consecutive season.

Colts kicker Spencer Shrader, playing through a groin injury, was the decisive factor. Shrader successfully converted four field goals, including a 53-yarder with only 16 seconds remaining in the game. The Colts held a 16-7 lead entering the fourth quarter before Houston mounted a late comeback. A 1-yard touchdown run by Woody Marks gave the Texans a 17-16 lead with 1:48 left, but Shrader’s clutch kick reclaimed the lead for Indianapolis.

The Texans' offense struggled throughout the contest, managing only 223 total yards. Quarterback C. J. Stroud completed 16 of 27 passes for 167 yards and one touchdown. The team's performance was hampered by the absence of wide receiver Nico Collins, who is recovering from a hamstring injury. Despite the loss, Stroud expressed confidence in the team's ability to turn the season around, noting their history of overcoming slow starts.