The Day After the Day After: Houston’s Week 1 conquest of the Indianapolis Colts

The Day After the Day After, when the requisite drama and proverbial (and potentially literal) hangover is but a memory. With that, we can look back upon the week 1 slugfest that saw Houston win its season opener.

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Pass Protection Bad, Run Blocking Good: Coming into the game, you wondered just how the Houston Texans’ O-line would look. It would be the first time that all five projected starters saw action. As expected, they experienced growing pains. Tytus Howard should forget the first half, and Stroud survived three first half sacks (four total). The Indianapolis Colts’ defensive front hounded Stroud in the passing game. Yet, the O-line’s struggles in pass protection found themselves overshadowed by their performance in the running game. As Joe Mixon gave Houston one of its better running performances in recent memory, he did most of his work starting between the tackles and started most of his runs in the critical fourth quarter on the left side. The left side: Laremy Tunsil, Kenyon Green, Juice Scruggs. Not noted for run blocking last season, that group helped the Texans wear down the Colts, gouging them for 213 yards rushing and giving Houston possession for 40 minutes. With Chicago coming to town next week, the line needs work on its pass protection, but at least it showed it can road-grade a team.

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Dameon Pierce Looked Very Not Bad: This can tie back to the O-line’s performance, but in his three carries, Pierce showed flashes of the back that enthralled Houston his rookie season. In particular, his back-to-back carries in the fourth quarter yielded 12 yards, a first down, more time off the clock and a breather for Mixon. Pierce showed little of last season’s hesitation. Three carries does not a season make, but if those carries show a revitalized Pierce, then so much the better. Especially since it is unlikely that Mixon will carry the ball 30 times a game for the rest of the season.

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The Non-Place-Kicking Special Teams...Ouch: Fairbairn had a nice start to the season. However, for the rest of the special teams, they did not meet the high standards set under the Frank Ross regime. Aside from British Brooks Trafalgar-ing a Colts returner in the first quarter, the kick coverage could only rate as mediocre. You could see why the Texans just kicked the ball into the end zone to allow the offense to start on the 30, as the coverage didn’t yield any field position advantage. The punt block was a total breakdown. Townsend may have been a bit slow in his punt routine, but the right side of the punt blocking formation collapsed way too rapidly (i.e. when British Brooks got Yorktown-ed). The special teams ultimately didn’t cost Houston the game, but if the margins remain narrow for this iteration of the Texans, the special teams needs improvement.

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Is Nico Collins becoming to the Colts what TY Hilton was to the Texans?: Since last season, Nico Collins seems to play his best ball against the Colts. It was his third straight 100-yard receiving game against the Ponies, and once again, he made the big catches that crushed the will of the opposing team. The massive third and 14 conversion in the third quarter did much to keep Houston in strategic control of the game and the third down catch on the final drive all but sealed the win for Houston. Texans fans remember all too well how T.Y. Hilton did this to Houston secondaries in the 2010s. Perhaps the 2020s sees Collins balancing out that equation.

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Houston Got the Full Anthony Richardson Experience: While cliche to say that one game encapsulates the entirety of a player, today saw just about everything expected on the Anthony Richardson scouting report. The rocket arm, as seen by the long passes he launched. The athleticism, as he dodged Texans’ pass rushers and scrambled for 56 yards. The inconsistent arm, as he missed wide open receivers at short and medium distance throws. Houston went into this game keen to shut down Taylor (48 yards rushing), forcing Richardson to win with his arm. He almost did that. Yet, you saw a QB that didn’t take the unnecessary hit and gave his team a chance to win. He actually played a complete game for only the third time in his five career starts. While a danger to the Texans if he evolves as a player, it bodes well for the league if Richardson matures into an exciting player that protects himself.

Fun with Numbers:

• The Colts just really don’t like season openers. They have gone 11 straight season openers without a win. The only non-loss: The 20-20 tie with the Texans in 2022;
• This is the second season opener Houston’s won since 2016, and the first since 2021;
• This marks the first season-opener they’ve won on the road since the 21-point comeback in San Diego in 2013, and only the third time they’ve won a season-opener on the road in franchise history;
• This is also the ninth straight division road win for the squad. Their last divisional road loss: 2021 at Indianapolis;
• Relatedly, this is the third straight win for the Texans at Indy. Given that Indianapolis is a house of historic horrors for Houston (6-17 all time), it is interesting to note that Houston’s best run at Indy has come since 2020;

GAME BALLS:

• RB Joe Mixon: Setting aside the numbers (30 rushes/159 yards/1 TD), when was the last time you saw a Houston running back punish a team in the 4th quarter like he did? When the Texans needed two first downs to overcome three Indy timeouts and the two minute warning, his five rushes for 20 yards got it done.
• K Ka’imi Fairbairn: 3-3 on FGs, all over 50 yards and 2-2 on XPs.
• WR Nico Collins: See above

SHOULD BE FORCED TO LISTEN ON REPEAT TO JIM IRSAY’S LATEST ALBUM BEMOANING THE DISCRIMINATION OF A WHITE BILLIONAIRE:

• The Texans Safeties: Could really condemn the whole secondary, but on all 3 of the deep 50+ yard passes hit by Richardson, the safeties offered little to no help. Maybe it was just a bad game, but with guys like Mahomes, Rodgers, Jackson and Prescott on the schedule, best not to let that become a habit.

With that, we bid adios to week 1. Houston is 1-0, heading home to host the 1-0 Chicago Bears in a Sunday Night tilt.