The Indianapolis Colts got an impressive starting debut from rookie quarterback Riley Leonard, but the defense could not make enough stops late, leading to a 38-30 loss.
The Indianapolis Colts had nothing but pride and the love of the game to play for on Sunday on the road against the Houston Texans. Despite playing some of their best football in the last couple of months, it wasn't enough as they fell to 8-9 on the season in a 38-30 loss to the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium.
It was the seventh consecutive loss for the Colts, and eight of the last nine. In the Colts' nine losses in 2025, they held a fourth quarter lead in four of them,
FIRST QUARTER
On the game's opening drive, the Colts' defense shook off a blown coverage on 3rd-and-10 that resulted in a 32-yard reception to hold Houston's offense to a field goal. On 2nd-and-12 from the Colts' 23-yard line, the defense pressured Texans quarterback CJ Stroud and forced a throwaway that was ruled intentional ground. Ultimately, Houston kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn booted a 51-yard field goal to make it 3-0 with 12:05 remaining in the first quarter.
The Colts' offense got aggressive quick on the ensuing drive. On the third play, Leonard took the shotgun snap, dropped back and launched the ball deep down the left side of the field, where a wide open Alec Pierce was waiting. It was a 66-yard touchdown connection to give the Colts an early 7-3 lead with 10:36 left in the first quarter.
To finish out the first quarter, both the Texans and Colts traded field goals — 48 yards from Fairbairn and 50 yards from the Colts' Blake Grupe.
SECOND QUARTER
Houston began to open things up early in the second quarter. They began with an 11-yard touchdown from Stroud to Jayden Higgins to take a 13-10 lead.
On the Colts' following drive, on the second play, Leonard was sacked and fumbled the ball, which was recovered by Houston at the Colts' 2-yard line. Stroud carried it in himself on the next play to make the score 20-10, Texans, with 8:32 remaining in the first half.
The two teams then traded punts before each put more points on the board before half.
Leonard and the Colts put together an eight-play, 92-yard drive culminating in an eight-yard Pierce touchdown to cut the lead to 20-17 with 1:25 remaining. Houston then gathered 59 yards on nine plays to get a 29-yard field goal and go into the locker room at halftime with a 23-17 lead.
THIRD QUARTER
The Colts received the opening kickoff and kept aggressive on the offensive side of the ball. Aided by a 53-yard pass from Leonard to Pierce to knock on Houston's goal line, Leonard ran it in from a yard out to take a 24-23 lead with 13:05 left in the third quarter.
Each team then traded a punt once again before Fairbairn added his fourth field goal of the day, this one from 43 yards to reclaim the lead, 26-24, with 6:53 remaining in the third quarter.
The Colts compiled a lengthy drive of 13 plays, covering 44 yards, in order to retake the lead on a 39-yard Grupe field goal to make it 27-24 with 1:42 left in the third quarter. With the drive nearly over, Pierce caught a pass out of bounds, and while arguing with one of the referee crew, he inadvertently bumped the ref, which drew a 15-yard penalty and ejection from the game.
FOURTH QUARTER
The Texans punted to start the fourth quarter, but then Leonard threw a bad interception right after, giving the ball back to the Houston offense. After four plays, Fairbairn added his fifth field goal of the day, from 44 yards. It gave the Texans the lead again, 29-27, with 11:15 remaining.
The Colts had an answer once again as Leonard led the offense on a 61-yard, 14-play drive, lasting 8:36 and culminating in a 22-yard Grupe field goal to make it a 30-29 Colts advantage with 2:39 remaining.
The Texans were able to take advantage of the clock, controlling all but the final five seconds as Fairbairn knocked in his career-best sixth field goal of the game, from 43 yards out.
As the Colts attempted the lateral-up-the-field routine from their 25-yard line, they fumbled after a couple of laterals, and it was picked up by Texans defensive tackle Tommy Togiai, who returned it 17 yards for a touchdown as time expired.
Early-Exit Injuries: WR Alec Pierce (ejection)
Jake Arthur has been covering the Indianapolis Colts for over a dozen years and is a member of the PFWA. He's one half of the Locked On Colts podcast and has worked for the Colts' official website, On SI, and more. You can follow him on X @JakeArthurNFL.