An 0-3 start for Houston, yet again.
For the second consecutive season, the Houston Texans have started 0-3.
This team simply struggles to get going early in the year. Houston was able to overcome that last season and ultimately make a deep playoff run, but there’s no guarantee the Texans can do it again. Starting in a three-game hole is difficult enough, and it’s especially concerning in a competitive division.
Although the Texans finally found some late-game success Sunday, it still wasn’t enough.
Houston erased a nine-point fourth-quarter deficit and took a 17-16 lead with less than two minutes remaining on a Woody Marks touchdown. But the Indianapolis Colts responded by marching back down the field, and kicker Spencer Shrader drilled a 53-yard field goal with 21 seconds remaining to hand the Texans a 19-17 loss.
Houston had one final opportunity to get into field-goal range. C.J. Stroud connected with Dalton Schultz for 17 yards to move the Texans near midfield, but the game ultimately ended after a pair of incompletions.
As usual, Houston’s defense did its part for most of the afternoon.
The Texans forced three Indianapolis turnovers and kept the Colts from pulling away despite the offense struggling yet again. That’s becoming a concerning early-season trend for Stroud and this Texans team.
Stroud finished 16-of-27 for 167 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. Without Nico Collins, Houston struggled to consistently create explosive plays downfield and finished with only 223 total yards.
Indianapolis controlled much of the game until late. Houston went scoreless in the third quarter coming out of halftime, and the Colts eventually extended their lead to nine early in the fourth.
That’s right around the time Houston finally started to figure things out.
The Texans cut into the deficit with a Ka’imi Fairbairn field goal before putting together their best offensive drive of the afternoon when they needed it most. Stroud helped move Houston deep into Indianapolis territory before Marks punched it in from a yard out to give the Texans their first lead of the game.
But Houston couldn’t make it stand.
It’s rare for a team to play turnover-free football offensively, force three turnovers defensively and still come away with a loss. Yet that’s exactly where the Texans find themselves.
Houston finally showed some signs of life, especially late in the game, but it wasn’t enough.
And now the Texans are 0-3 and digging themselves out of an early-season hole yet again.
