Colts vs Texans Match Player Stats from the January 6, 2024, Week 18 meeting show why Houston left Lucas Oil Stadium with a 23-19 victory and a playoff berth. C.J. Stroud completed 20 of 26 passes for 264 yards and two touchdowns, while Nico Collins caught all nine of his targets for 195 yards and a touchdown. Houston took the lead for good when Devin Singletary finished a 12-play, 73-yard fourth-quarter drive with a 3-yard touchdown run.

Indianapolis produced 360 total yards to Houston’s 306, and Jonathan Taylor ran for 188 yards, but Houston controlled the more valuable efficiency categories. The Texans went 2-for-2 in the red zone, while Indianapolis went 0-for-3. Houston also converted 5 of 13 third downs compared with 1 of 11 for Indianapolis, and the Texans stopped Gardner Minshew’s fourth-and-1 pass to Tyler Goodson at the Houston 15 with 1:03 remaining.

This breakdown covers Stroud, Minshew, Taylor, Collins, Singletary, both defenses, turnovers and special teams. It also tracks every scoring quarter, the late Houston touchdown drive, Indianapolis’ final possession and the statistics that sent DeMeco Ryans’ Texans into the postseason.

Colts vs Texans Match Player Stats

Both teams entered the game at 9-7. Houston improved to 10-7 after the win, while Indianapolis finished the season at 9-8. Indianapolis had beaten Houston 31-20 in their Week 2 meeting, so Houston’s Week 18 victory split the 2023 regular-season series.

Houston played without inactive wide receivers Robert Woods and Noah Brown and defensive end Jonathan Greenard. Indianapolis listed Chris Lammons, Trey Sermon, Henry Black, Adetomiwa Adebawore and Jack Anderson among its inactive players. ESPN and ABC carried the game nationally with Joe Buck, Troy Aikman and Lisa Salters on the broadcast.

Houston’s starting offense included Stroud, Singletary, Collins and Dalton Schultz, with Laremy Tunsil, Juice Scruggs, Michael Deiter, Shaq Mason and Charlie Heck across the offensive line. Indianapolis started Minshew, Taylor, Michael Pittman Jr. and Josh Downs, with Bernhard Raimann, Quenton Nelson, Ryan Kelly, Will Fries and Braden Smith forming the listed offensive line.

Game Summary

Indianapolis opened with an 11-play, 56-yard possession. Taylor carried five times on the series, Minshew completed three consecutive passes to Pittman for 5, 7 and 9 yards, and Minshew added a 9-yard scramble. Houston stopped the Colts at its 14-yard line, leaving Matt Gay to kick a 38-yard field goal for a 3-0 Indianapolis lead.

Houston answered on its first offensive snap when Stroud found Collins down the middle for a 75-yard touchdown. The play gave Houston a 7-3 lead only nine seconds into its first possession and immediately changed the shape of the game.

Houston’s offense spent much of the remainder of the first half trading punts with Indianapolis, but Stroud and Collins continued moving the chains. Late in the second quarter, Collins converted third-and-2 with a 29-yard reception that moved Houston to the Indianapolis 8. Singletary carried twice to the 1-yard line, then Stroud found fullback Andrew Beck for a 1-yard touchdown with 1:57 left.

Gay answered with a 52-yard field goal, sending Indianapolis to halftime behind 14-6. Taylor then changed the score quickly in the third quarter. After Minshew hit Kylen Granson for 23 yards, Taylor broke through the Houston defense for a 49-yard touchdown. Indianapolis followed with Minshew’s two-point pass to Mo Alie-Cox to tie the game at 14.

Houston regained the lead after Gay’s 57-yard attempt hit the right upright. Stroud ran for 12 yards on the next Houston series, and Ka’imi Fairbairn converted a 51-yard field goal for a 17-14 Texans advantage.

Gay’s third made field goal, a 35-yarder early in the fourth, tied the score at 17. Houston responded with the possession that ultimately separated the teams. Stroud converted third down with Schultz, escaped pressure to find Collins for 14 yards on second-and-14, and later connected with Collins for 23 yards to the Indianapolis 7.

A horse-collar penalty moved the ball to the 3, where Singletary scored. Fairbairn missed the extra point, leaving Houston ahead 23-17 with 6:20 remaining.

Indianapolis still reached the Houston 15. Minshew opened that drive with a 28-yard completion to Downs, while Taylor repeatedly carried the ball inside Houston territory. Taylor’s runs of 2, 6 and 1 yards created fourth-and-1 at the 15, but Minshew’s short pass toward Goodson fell incomplete with 1:03 remaining.

Cameron Johnston later ran out of the Houston end zone for an intentional safety with one second left. Henry To’oTo’o recovered Pittman’s fumble after Indianapolis attempted laterals on the ensuing free kick, ending the game at 23-19.

Quarter by Quarter Breakdown

First Quarter

Gay opened the scoring with a 38-yard field goal after Indianapolis drove 56 yards. Stroud immediately answered with his 75-yard touchdown pass to Collins. Minshew then took an 8-yard sack on Indianapolis’ next series, while Houston’s Johnston later pinned the Colts at their own 14 with a 44-yard punt.

Second Quarter

Collins’ 29-yard reception converted third-and-2 and moved Houston inside the Indianapolis 10. Stroud finished the drive by finding Beck for a 1-yard touchdown with 1:57 remaining. Taylor then gained 11 yards and Downs caught a 16-yard pass before Gay converted from 52 yards, cutting Houston’s halftime lead to 14-6.

Third Quarter

DeForest Buckner sacked Stroud for an 8-yard loss on Houston’s opening second-half drive. Indianapolis answered with Granson’s 23-yard reception and Taylor’s 49-yard touchdown run, followed by Minshew’s two-point conversion pass to Alie-Cox. Gay then missed from 57 yards, and Fairbairn made a 51-yard attempt to restore Houston’s lead at 17-14.

Fourth Quarter

Gay tied the game with a 35-yard field goal, but Stroud answered by leading Houston on a 12-play, 73-yard drive. Collins supplied receptions of 14 and 23 yards on that possession before Singletary scored from 3 yards. Minshew later failed to connect with Goodson on fourth-and-1, and Johnston’s safety reduced Houston’s final margin to four points.

Complete Team Scoring Summary

Houston scored three touchdowns, with Collins, Beck and Singletary accounting for them. Indianapolis scored its only touchdown on Taylor’s 49-yard run, while Gay supplied three field goals and Minshew found Alie-Cox for the two-point conversion.

Why Houston Texans Won

Efficient Quarterback Play

Stroud completed 20 of 26 passes for 264 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. His 76.9 percent completion rate, 10.2 yards per attempt, 134.1 passer rating and 88.7 QBR all exceeded Minshew’s corresponding numbers.

Stroud also created first downs with his legs, including a 12-yard run after Gay’s missed 57-yard field goal. His efficiency allowed Houston to create scoring opportunities without relying on a productive rushing average.

Red Zone Execution

Houston reached the red zone twice and scored touchdowns on both trips. Stroud’s 1-yard touchdown pass to Beck finished the first opportunity, while Singletary’s 3-yard run completed the second.

Indianapolis reached the red zone three times but finished 0-for-3 in red-zone touchdown efficiency. That difference forced the Colts to rely on Gay’s field goals instead of matching Houston touchdown for touchdown.

Third-Down Conversion Gap

Houston converted 5 of 13 third downs, while Indianapolis finished 1 of 11. Collins converted third-and-2 with a 29-yard catch before Beck’s touchdown, and Schultz moved the chains on third down during Houston’s final touchdown drive.

Indianapolis’ inability to sustain drives left Taylor’s 188 rushing yards without enough touchdown production.

Defensive Discipline

• Blake Cashman led Houston with 13 combined tackles.
• Christian Harris recorded 12 combined tackles, one sack, one tackle for loss and one quarterback hit.
• Houston recorded five tackles for loss and four passes defended.
• Indianapolis converted only 1 of 11 third downs.
• Houston kept Indianapolis out of the end zone on all three official red-zone opportunities.
• Houston stopped Minshew’s fourth-and-1 pass to Goodson at the 15 with 1:03 left.

Offensive Performance Comparison

Stroud and Collins created Houston’s main production through the air, while Taylor supplied Indianapolis’ largest source of offense on the ground. Indianapolis finished with 227 rushing yards to Houston’s 60, but Houston’s two passing touchdowns gave Stroud’s 264 yards a larger scoring return.

Passing Leaders Analysis

C.J. Stroud Performance

Stroud completed passes to seven different Texans, but Collins and Schultz accounted for 14 of his 20 completions. Stroud did not throw an interception, and his two touchdown passes produced Houston’s first 14 points.

What Made C.J. Stroud Effective?

• Stroud completed all nine passes thrown to Collins for 195 yards.
• Stroud opened Houston’s offense with a 75-yard touchdown to Collins.
• Stroud found Beck for a 1-yard touchdown before halftime.
• Stroud protected the football and did not throw an interception.
• Stroud hit Collins for 23 yards on second-and-13 during Houston’s go-ahead touchdown possession.

Gardner Minshew II Performance

Minshew completed 13 of 24 attempts for 141 yards and did not throw a touchdown or interception. Downs produced Minshew’s longest completion at 28 yards on Indianapolis’ final drive, while Granson added a 23-yard reception before Taylor’s third-quarter touchdown.

Minshew produced Indianapolis’ only successful two-point conversion with his pass to Alie-Cox. His final pass, however, fell incomplete toward Goodson on fourth-and-1, ending Indianapolis’ last conventional offensive possession.

Rushing Leaders Analysis

Houston Texans Rushing Stats

Devin Singletary

Singletary’s average remained at 2.6 yards per carry, but his 3-yard touchdown finished Houston’s 73-yard fourth-quarter possession. Singletary also handled three consecutive carries after the fourth-down stop as Houston drained the final minute.

C.J. Stroud

Stroud’s 12-yard third-quarter run came immediately after Gay missed from 57 yards. His rushing total gave Houston another source of yardage on a night when Singletary’s longest carry gained seven.

Houston Texans Team Rushing

Johnston’s intentional 23-yard loss on the late safety is included in Houston’s official rushing total. Singletary and Stroud combined for 83 positive rushing yards before Johnston’s minus-23 play reduced the official team figure to 60.

Indianapolis Colts Rushing Stats

Jonathan Taylor

Taylor produced 188 of Indianapolis’ 227 rushing yards. His 49-yard touchdown tied the game in the third quarter after Granson’s 23-yard reception, and his repeated carries took Indianapolis to fourth-and-1 at the Houston 15 on the final drive.

Indianapolis Colts Team Rushing

Zack Moss added 30 yards on six carries, while Minshew gained nine yards on one scramble. Indianapolis therefore outrushed Houston by 167 yards, but Taylor remained the Colts’ only touchdown scorer.

Receiving Leaders Analysis

Houston Texans Receiving Leaders

Nico Collins

Collins caught every pass Stroud sent his way. His 75-yard touchdown gave Houston its first lead, his 29-yard reception created Houston’s first red-zone touchdown opportunity, and his 14-yard and 23-yard catches extended the go-ahead fourth-quarter drive.

Dalton Schultz

Schultz supplied three catches during Houston’s fourth-quarter touchdown drive. His 17-yard reception helped erase a second-and-20 situation, and his next catch converted third down at midfield.

Indianapolis Colts Receiving Leaders

Josh Downs

Downs caught all three of his targets. His 16-yard catch helped set up Gay’s 52-yard field goal before halftime, while his 28-yard reception moved Indianapolis from its own 24 to Houston’s 48 on the final drive.

Indianapolis Colts Receiving Touchdowns

Indianapolis did not record a receiving touchdown. Taylor scored the Colts’ only touchdown on the ground, while Minshew’s pass to Alie-Cox counted as a two-point conversion rather than a receiving touchdown.

Defensive Performance Analysis

Houston Texans Defensive Stats

Cashman finished with 13 combined tackles, Harris had 12 and Jalen Pitre recorded seven. Harris supplied Houston’s only sack, while Houston-Carson, Maliek Collins, Steven Nelson and Derek Stingley Jr. contributed to Houston’s pass disruption totals.

Interception Leaders

Houston did not intercept Minshew, but the Texans stopped Indianapolis on fourth down and recovered Pittman’s final-play fumble.

Indianapolis Colts Defensive Stats

E.J. Speed led Indianapolis with 13 combined tackles, followed by Zaire Franklin with nine. Buckner recorded an 8-yard sack, while Ronnie Harrison Jr. produced a 10-yard sack. Indianapolis pressured Stroud four times but did not force an interception.

Turnovers and Ball Security

Houston Texans

Stroud did not throw an interception, and Houston did not lose a fumble. That allowed the Texans to finish their conventional offensive possessions without giving Indianapolis a short field through a turnover.

Indianapolis Colts

Indianapolis’ only recorded turnover occurred with one second remaining. Downs returned Johnston’s free kick and lateraled to Pittman, Dare Ogunbowale forced the fumble, and To’oTo’o recovered at the Indianapolis 27 to end the game.

Special Teams Performance

Houston Texans Special Teams

Ka’imi Fairbairn

Fairbairn’s 51-yard field goal put Houston back ahead 17-14 in the third quarter. He later missed the extra point following Singletary’s touchdown, leaving Indianapolis within six points.

Dameon Pierce

Pierce’s 30-yard fourth-quarter return put Houston at its own 27 before Stroud led the 73-yard touchdown possession.

Cameron Johnston

Johnston placed four punts inside the Indianapolis 20. With eight seconds left, Houston later used Johnston as the ball carrier on fourth down, and his intentional exit through the end zone produced the safety that changed the score from 23-17 to 23-19.

Indianapolis Colts Special Teams

Matt Gay

Gay made from 38, 52 and 35 yards. His 57-yard third-quarter attempt struck the right upright, giving Houston possession near midfield before Fairbairn’s 51-yard go-ahead field goal.

Josh Downs

Downs also returned three punts for 25 yards. His final kickoff return began the lateral sequence that ended with Pittman’s fumble and To’oTo’o’s recovery.

Rigoberto Sanchez

Sanchez averaged 54 yards per punt, but Desmond King returned three punts for 42 yards, including two 15-yard returns that improved Houston’s starting field position.

Complete Team Comparison

Indianapolis led 360-306 in total offense and 227-60 in rushing yards, but Houston finished with three offensive touchdowns to Indianapolis’ one. Stroud’s two touchdown passes and Houston’s 2-for-2 red-zone rate converted fewer total yards into more points.

Biggest Reasons Houston Texans Advanced

C.J. Stroud Protected the Football

Stroud’s 20-for-26 line included 264 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. His 134.1 passer rating reflected Houston’s ability to create passing production without surrendering a possession.

Nico Collins Won Houston’s Highest-Value Targets

Collins converted all nine targets into 195 yards. His 75-yard touchdown, 29-yard third-down reception and two fourth-quarter catches of 14 and 23 yards directly supported three Houston scoring possessions.

Houston Finished Red-Zone Drives

Beck scored on Houston’s first red-zone opportunity, and Singletary scored on the second. Indianapolis reached the red zone three times and did not score a touchdown on any of those official opportunities.

Houston Controlled Third Down

The Texans converted 38.5 percent of their third downs, while the Colts converted 9.1 percent. Cashman, Harris and the Houston defense repeatedly forced Indianapolis into punts or field-goal attempts despite Taylor’s rushing output.

The Final Houston Drive and Fourth-Down Stop Finished the Job

Stroud, Collins, Schultz and Singletary combined on the 12-play touchdown possession that consumed 7:13. Houston then defended fourth-and-1 at its own 15, where Minshew’s pass to Goodson fell incomplete with 1:03 left.

What These Statistics Mean

• Stroud produced 123 more passing yards than Minshew and finished with two passing touchdowns to Minshew’s zero.
• Taylor’s 188 rushing yards accounted for more than half of Indianapolis’ 360 total offensive yards.
• Collins’ 195 receiving yards accounted for almost 74 percent of Stroud’s 264 passing yards.
• Houston scored touchdowns on both red-zone trips, while Indianapolis finished 0-for-3.
• Indianapolis converted only one of 11 third downs despite producing 21 first downs overall.
• Singletary averaged only 2.6 yards per carry but scored the touchdown that gave Houston its final offensive points.
• Cashman and Harris combined for 25 tackles as Houston limited Indianapolis to one offensive touchdown.

Those numbers explain how Houston won despite being outrushed by 167 yards. Stroud and Collins created more passing efficiency, Beck and Singletary finished Houston’s red-zone possessions, and Harris, Cashman and the Texans defense forced Indianapolis to settle for Gay’s field goals instead of Taylor touchdowns.

Conclusion

Colts vs Texans Match Player Stats show a 23-19 Houston win built around Stroud’s 264 passing yards, Collins’ 195 receiving yards, and two successful red-zone possessions. Taylor gave Indianapolis 188 rushing yards and a 49-yard touchdown, but Houston limited the Colts to one third-down conversion and stopped Minshew’s fourth-and-1 pass to Goodson on the final meaningful offensive play.

The result moved Houston to 10-7 and initially guaranteed the Texans at least a wild-card berth. Indianapolis fell to 9-8 and was eliminated. When Jacksonville lost to Tennessee the following day, Houston became AFC South champion and the conference’s No. 4 seed, while Jacksonville and Indianapolis both finished 9-8 behind the Texans.

Houston’s next game became a home Wild Card matchup against the Cleveland Browns. Indianapolis’ season ended at Lucas Oil Stadium, leaving Taylor’s 188 rushing yards, Gay’s three field goals and the failed fourth-and-1 pass to Goodson as the final statistical markers of the Colts’ 2023 campaign.

For more match updates, read: Celtics vs Lakers Match Player Stats

Frequently Asked Questions

Who won the Colts vs Texans game on January 6, 2024?

The Houston Texans beat the Indianapolis Colts 23-19 at Lucas Oil Stadium, improving to 10-7 and securing a place in the AFC playoffs.

What were C.J. Stroud’s stats against the Colts?

Stroud completed 20 of 26 passes for 264 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions, finishing with a 134.1 passer rating and 88.7 QBR.

How many rushing yards did Jonathan Taylor have?

Taylor carried 30 times for 188 yards and one touchdown, averaging 6.3 yards per attempt and scoring on a 49-yard third-quarter run.

How many receiving yards did Nico Collins record?

Collins caught all nine of his targets for 195 yards and one touchdown, including Stroud’s 75-yard scoring pass on Houston’s first offensive play.

What was the biggest play late in the game?

Indianapolis faced fourth-and-1 at Houston’s 15 with 1:06 remaining, but Minshew’s pass toward Tyler Goodson fell incomplete and Houston took possession.

What do the Colts vs Texans Match Player Stats show about the difference between the teams?

Houston’s 2-for-2 red-zone rate and Stroud’s two touchdown passes outweighed Indianapolis’ 227 rushing yards and three field goals from Matt Gay.

Did the Texans win the AFC South after beating Indianapolis?

Houston secured a playoff berth that night, then won the AFC South after Jacksonville lost to Tennessee the next day, earning the AFC’s No. 4 seed.