INDIANAPOLIS -- As has been the case throughout the 2016 season, the Houston Texans found a way to win ugly, which allowed them to snap a three-game losing streak by beating the Indianapolis Colts 22-17. With the win, Houston remains atop the AFC South due to its unbeaten divisional record.
While quarterback Brock Osweiler was inconsistent, Houston used an old-school formula to win a crucial divisional contest that was led by a strong defensive performance and its run game. Osweiler finished 14-of-24 for 147 yards, with an interception and no touchdowns, but the Texans ran for 185 yards and forced a season-high three turnovers.
"It was a gritty performance by us. We knew we had to come in and establish the run," veteran left tackle Duane Brown said. "We ran consistently. We were able to kind of impose our will on them there in the fourth quarter. It is always a good feeling."
The Texans squandered chances early and often on offense, including two drives that started in the red zone after interceptions. They failed to score touchdowns on the drives, instead settling for field goals of 21 and 24 yards.
Fortunately for Houston, while the passing game continues to struggle, the rushing attack continued to thrive. The Texans entered the game averaging 121.2 rushing yards per game, fifth in the NFL. Led by an injured Lamar Miller, Houston ran all over the Colts. Miller had 107 of those yards as well as the Texans' only touchdown.
“Miller is a pro," Texans head coach Bill O'Brien said. "He's the definition of a pro. A professional football player is somebody who really understands the difference between injury and pain at the end of the season and can grind through it. That's Lamar. I thought Alfred Blue went in there and did some nice things there too. He's running hard.”
The defense continued to be a strength of this team, holding Colts quarterback Andrew Luck to 24-of-45 passing for 276 yards, with two touchdowns and two interceptions. The Texans' third turnover was a huge strip-sack of Luck by defensive end Jadeveon Clowney that gave Houston the ball at its own 14 and kept the score at 16-10 late in the third quarter.
The defense was playing without starting outside linebacker John Simon (chest) and cornerback Johnathan Joseph (ribs). Cornerback Robert Nelson, who played more snaps than usual because of the injury to Joseph, drew three huge pass-interference penalties, including one that was declined because Luck threw a 35-yard touchdown on the play.
"Hats off to our defense," Osweiler said. "You have to give our defense so much credit. What they did today is one of the greatest performances I've been able to witness."
With the Tennessee Titans beating the Denver Broncos, this was a game the Texans could not really afford to lose and still win the AFC South. Now, at 7-6, the Texans get back-to-back home games against the 2-11 Jacksonville Jaguars and the 5-7-1 Cincinnati Bengals. This victory means the Week 17 contest against the Titans in Tennessee could be for the division.
"It's a really good win for our team," O'Brien said. "Being where we are right now is good, but we would like to be better, obviously. We have some big games coming up."
