INDIANAPOLIS — Rookie quarterback CJ Stroud and the Houston Texans defeated the Indianapolis Colts 23-19 on Saturday night, with Devin Singletary scoring the winning touchdown on a 3-yard run with 6:20 remaining. , qualified for the playoffs.
The Texans (10-7) will advance to the postseason for the first time since 2019.
They have won seven of their last 10 games and still have a chance to win the AFC South even if Jacksonville loses to Tennessee on Sunday.
Indianapolis (9-8) suffered its third loss in five weeks and was eliminated from playoff contention.
He has not appeared in the postseason since 2020.
Stroud completed 20 of 26 for 264 yards and two touchdowns.
Nico Collins had nine catches for 195 yards and one score, and Singletary had 64 yards on 24 carries.
The Colts went on a 4-1 run in the second half from the Houston 15.
But the Colts' hopes ended when wide-open Tyler Goodson dropped a pass from Gardner Minshew.
The loss ruined Jonathan Taylor's best game of the season.
He rushed 30 times for 188 yards and 1 TD. Minshew completed 13 of 24 for 141 yards.
It was a strange game that started with Stroud's 75-yard TD pass to Collins on the Texans' first play from scrimmage and included an extended third quarter and a replay play in the second half.
But after Taylor's 49-yard TD run and Minshew faked a handoff for a nifty two-point conversion, running back and floating a pass to Moe Ailey-Cox early in the third quarter, the game ended with Colts coach , leaning towards Shane Steichen's Matt Gay bet. A 57-yard field goal that hits the right upright.
Houston quickly moved into scoring position, taking a 17-14 lead on Kaimi Fairbairn's 51-yard shot with 3:29 left in the third.
Indy tied the score on Gay's 35-yard field goal on the ensuing drive, but Stroud responded with a 12-play, 73-yard drive that took over seven minutes to complete and ended with Singletary's 3-yard TD run. Ta.
