Texans corral high-scoring Colts, narrow AFC South race with win

INDIANAPOLIS – Nico Collins scored a tiebreaking touchdown on a seven-yard run with 12:38 to play, Nick Chubb also ran for a score, and the top-ranked Houston Texans defense came up with a late stop on Sunday to earn a 20-16 victory over the Indianapolis Colts.

Houston (7-5) won its fourth straight, moving to within a game of AFC South-leading Indy (8-4), which has lost three of four. CJ Strode improved to 3-0 at Lucas Oil Stadium by going 22 of 35 for 276 yards with an interception in his first game in four weeks. He cleared the concussion protocol on Friday.

Collins caught five passes for 98 yards.

Houston forced a turnover on downs with 1:45 to play after Daniel Jones took Indy to Houston’s 31-yard line. The Colts have lost two straight for the first time this season, and it was the first time they were held under 20 points.

Playing through a lower leg injury, Jones finished 14 of 27 for 201 yards and two TDs. Jonathan Taylor, the NFL’s leading rusher, was held to 85 yards on 21 carries and failed to score for just the fifth time this season.

Stroud led the Texans on a 23-yard field goal on their first possession.

Indy made it 6-3 early in the second quarter after a Cam Bynum interception on a 19-yard touchdown pass from Jones to Alec Pierce. Michael Badgley’s extra point attempt hit the left goal post.

Houston answered with Chubb’s four-yard run to make it 10-6 and then opened the second half with a 43-yard field goal. Jones threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Taylor Warren late in the third quarter to tie it up.

After a pass-interference call on Indy cornerback Kenny Moore II early in the quarter on third-and-15, the Texans took a 20-13 lead four plays later with Collins’ seven-yard scamper down the right sideline.

All Indy could muster was a 42-yard field goal before a drop and a pass breakup ended the Colts’ perfect home record. Pierce led the Colts with four receptions for 79 yards.

The Texans announced before the game that defensive backs coach Dino Viso stayed home after the recent birth of his child. Houston’s other defensive coaches generally filled in for Wisso.

Texans: Running back Woody Marks went to the locker room in the first quarter with a foot injury but returned and finished the game. Safety Jalen Reed went to the locker room with a right hand injury and did not return. Linebacker Aziz Al-Shaar was checked for a concussion in the second half, cleared and returned for the closing minutes.

Colts: Starting cornerback Sue Gardner suffered a right knee injury on the Colts’ second defensive snap, requiring assistance to get off the field and returning to the sideline in street clothes and running shoes.

Texans: Visit Kansas City next Sunday.

Colts: Visit Jacksonville next Sunday.