Searching for their first win of 2026, Houston must spark C.J. Stroud’s rhythm early and neutralize Jonathan Taylor to survive a high-stakes divisional showdown in Indianapolis.
The Houston Texans are heading into Indianapolis on Sept. 27 looking for something they haven't experienced yet in 2026 — A WIN.
Houston enters its Week 3 AFC South matchup at 0-2 after falling 36-31 to Buffalo and then suffering a frustrating 20-6 home loss to Cincinnati. Indianapolis is also 0-2 after losses to Baltimore and Kansas City, making Sunday's game at Lucas Oil Stadium an early-season divisional matchup with plenty of urgency on both sides.
For Houston, though, I don't think the formula has to be complicated. The Texans have shown flashes on both sides of the football. What they haven't done is put everything together for four quarters.
Here are my five keys to getting it done against the Colts.
1. Get C.J. Stroud and the Offense Going Early
This has to be No. 1.
The Texans cannot spend another game waiting until the second half for the offense to find some rhythm. C.J. Stroud has thrown for 627 yards through two games with two touchdowns and no interceptions, but the numbers don't tell the entire story. Against Cincinnati, he threw for 353 yards on 55 attempts, yet Houston finished with just six points.
That's a problem.
Houston needs to get Stroud comfortable early with quick throws, play-action, screens and some tempo. Don't make every possession feel like Stroud has to convert third-and-8 just to keep the offense alive.
I'd also like to see Houston take a couple of calculated shots downfield early. Make Indianapolis defend the entire field. Even if those shots don't connect, they can create space underneath and make the Colts think twice about crowding the line of scrimmage.
Houston has moved the football. Now it needs to turn those yards into touchdowns.
2. Jonathan Taylor Cannot Take Over the Game
If I'm DeMeco Ryans, I'm walking into this game with one defensive message: Jonathan Taylor isn't beating us.
Indianapolis still has one of the NFL's most dangerous runners, and Taylor's presence gives Shane Steichen the ability to build the Colts' offense around the running game, play-action and manageable situations for Daniel Jones.
The Chiefs pressured Indianapolis in Week 2, but the Colts showed they could handle pressure packages with Jones, Taylor and the offensive line. That should be a warning for Houston that simply blitzing more isn't necessarily the answer.
The Texans need disciplined gap control. Don't over-pursue. Don't give Taylor cutback lanes. Make Indianapolis consistently face second-and-8 and third-and-7 instead of second-and-4.
If Taylor gets rolling, Indianapolis can control the clock and keep Houston's defense on the field.
3. Turn Pressure Into Turnovers
This might be the biggest defensive key of the afternoon.
Houston's pass rush finally looked like the unit we've expected against Cincinnati. The Texans recorded five sacks, and DeMeco Ryans praised Will Anderson Jr. and the defensive front for the pressure they generated.
But Ryans also pointed directly to what's missing, which was the takeaways. Houston has gone two straight games without forcing a turnover.
That's where Will Anderson Jr., Danielle Hunter and this defensive front have to turn pressure into actual game-changing plays.
A sack is great, but a sack-fumble that gives Stroud the football at Indianapolis' 25-yard line is better.
The Texans' secondary also needs to capitalize when pressure forces Jones to speed up his reads. Derek Stingley Jr., Kamari Lassiter and the rest of Houston's defensive backs need to be aggressive when those opportunities come.
The defense has been asked to carry a heavy load already. Creating two or three extra possessions could completely change this game.
4. Finish Drives With Seven, Not Three — and Definitely Not Zero
Houston moved the football against Cincinnati but couldn't finish. That's where the Texans have to clean things up immediately.
After scoring touchdowns on four of five red-zone opportunities against Buffalo, Houston struggled badly to convert opportunities against Cincinnati. The Texans' own postgame coverage highlighted those red-zone issues following the 20-6 loss.
When Houston gets inside the Indianapolis 20, I want to see aggression.
Use Stroud's mobility. Move the pocket. Get the tight ends involved. Give the Colts something besides predictable runs into a crowded defensive front.
And don't forget about Nico Collins and the other big-bodied receiving options when Houston gets close to the goal line.
This team isn't in a position to waste scoring opportunities. When you're 0-2 and playing a division opponent on the road, field goals aren't always enough. Houston needs touchdowns.
5. Play Clean Football and Win the Field-Position Battle
This is the boring key nobody likes talking about, but it could decide the game. Houston needs to stop making life harder on itself.
Ryans specifically pointed to field position after the Cincinnati game, saying the Texans allowed the Bengals to start possessions around midfield too often. He also emphasized eliminating penalties, improving returns and executing in the kicking game.
That's complementary football.
Make Indianapolis drive 75 or 80 yards against this defense instead of handing the Colts a short field. On offense, avoid the holding penalty that turns second-and-4 into second-and-14. Protect Stroud and stay ahead of the chains.
This game doesn't need to be pretty, but rather It needs to be disciplined.
My Two Pennies
The Texans are 0-2, but I'm not ready to hit the panic button after two games. What I do think is that Sept. 27 is an important and early test.
Houston has already lost two games, and now the Texans are going on the road for an AFC South matchup against another 0-2 team. There shouldn't be any shortage of urgency on either sideline.
For me, Houston's path is pretty straightforward. They need to start faster offensively, contain Jonathan Taylor, turn defensive pressure into takeaways, score touchdowns in the red zone and stop giving away field position.
Do those five things and the Texans give themselves a strong chance to leave Lucas Oil Stadium with their first victory of 2026.
But more importantly, they can start looking like the football team we expected to see coming into the season.
At 0-2, we've seen flashes, but on Sunday, it's time to put together four quarters.
