NRG Stadium erupts as Texans secure a nail-biting 38-30 win over the Colts. Relive the chaos, critical plays, and stunning finish.
Our very own beat reporter, Big Sarge, was live from NRG Stadium right after the final whistle, delivering TexansRoundtable’s postgame reaction following Houston’s 38-30 win over the Colts, and the vibe matched the game: chaotic, tense, and decided by the smallest margins.
This one never found a comfortable lane. The Texans opened by stacking points the old-fashioned way, leaning on Ka’imi Fairbairn’s leg early as he knocked through a pair from 51 and 48 yards. But the Colts answered with the loudest play of the afternoon, a 66-yard touchdown from Riley Leonard to Alec Pierce that briefly flipped the building and put Houston in chase mode.
From there, Houston’s offense settled in with its cleanest stretch before halftime. C.J. Stroud connected with Jayden Higgins for a score and later punched in a two-yard rushing touchdown to swing momentum back. Still, Indianapolis kept countering, and Pierce struck again on an eight-yard touchdown as the game stayed tight into the break.
Sarge’s recap hits the turning points that made this feel like a playoff game more than a Week 18 closer. Leonard’s one-yard rushing touchdown put Indy in front in the third, the teams traded field goals, and the Colts carried a slim edge into the fourth before nudging ahead 30-29. Then came the moment: Fairbairn stayed perfect, drilling the go-ahead 43-yarder with 12 seconds left to cap a 6-for-6 day.
And the ending? Pure mayhem. On the final snap, the Colts fumbled, Tommy Togiai scooped it and scored, and the Texans slammed the door in the most Texans way possible.