Texans aim to extend their remarkable unbeaten streak against the Colts, seeking a division title and playoff seeding in their season finale showdown.
For the third time in four seasons, the Houston Texans will be wrapping up their season in week 18 against the Indianapolis Colts. In the two previous matchups, the Texans have walked away as victors. Yet, the impact of the wins were vastly different from one season to the next. For context:
2022
In 2022, and with the #1 pick in the draft on the line for Houston, the Texans won 32-31 in a come-from-behind thriller at Lucas Oil Stadium. Quarterback Davis Mills led the way for Houston, helping to generate a 14-play, 83-yard drive that culminated with a clutch 28-yard desperation heave to tight end Jordan Akins for a touchdown reception with only 50 seconds left in the game.
Head coach Lovie Smith then opted to go for the two-point conversion, which saw Mills complete a pass to Akins again for the successful attempt.
In winning that contest, the Texans then fell to the second slot in the draft with a 3-13-1 record. paving the way for the Carolina Panthers to trade with the Chicago Bears for the #1 overall pick.
The Panthers selected quarterback Bryce Young, while the Texans drafted C.J. Stroud at #2.
2023
In 2023, both the Texans and Colts had 9-7 records and the opportunity to clinch the AFC South crown and thus a spot in the AFC Playoffs with a win (due to a loss by the Jacksonville Jaguars earlier in the day). It was a "winner-take-all" scenario at Lucas Oil Stadium (again).
The #2 overall pick in Stroud was the field general at this point, having electrified the NFL throughout the regular season and guided his team to the doorstep of a postseason berth in his rookie season.
Clinging to a 23-17 lead with only 1:06 left in the fourth quarter, the Colts sat at the Texans' 15-yard line on 4th & 1, threatening to score the go-ahead touchdown.
Colts running back Tyler Goodson then dropped a would-be first-down pass from quarterback Gardner Minshew that ended their drive and effectively sealed the Playoffs for Houston.
2025
This time around, the Texans sit as the fifth seed in the AFC with an 11-5 record, while the Colts have been eliminated from postseason contention and are reeling from both quarterback quandaries and an injury-plagued season.
Only Houston would gain anything from a victory here. Not only would it give them 12 wins on the season (tying the franchise record), it would also help them clinch the AFC South for the third-straight year and improve in the AFC seedings before next weekend's postseason slate begins.
Including the 2022 victory over Indianapolis, the Texans have gone 5-1-1 against the Colts over the last four seasons (winners of the last four games in a row). It's the best seven-game stretch for the Texans in their 48-game all-time series against the Colts.
If they topple the Colts yet again in this year's season finale, they'll only add to their upward trajectory and further solidify their place as stalwarts in the division and possibly beyond.
Do you think the Texans secure win #12 against the Colts on Sunday? Let us know in the comments section below and by mentioning us at @Texans_RTB on X!