The Indianapolis Colts defeated the Houston Texans 19-17 inside Lucas Oil Stadium, snapping a nine-game winless drought dating back to last October and a five-game drought to their divisional rivals. Kicker Spencer Shrader delivered a career performance with four made field goals, including a much needed career-long 58-yarder before halftime, plus a 53-yarder to win the game in the final seconds.
For nearly 60 minutes, the Colts made the Texans play their game. Then, just when the game started to
slip away, they found one more way to win it as Shrader drilled a 53-yard field goal with 16 seconds remaining to end the NFL’s worst losing streak dating to last season.
It was the kind of gritty win the Colts needed to salvage their slow start to the 2026 season. Houston momentarily grabbed its only lead when running back Woody Marks powered into the end zone with just 1:48 left to play, turning a nine-point deficit into a 17-16 advantage for the visiting Texans.
Daniel Jones ignited the final drive by finding Laquon Treadwell for 20-yards to march right striking distance. After a replay overturned a first-down ruling on Allen’s six-yard reception, the Colts faced fourth-and-1 at the Houston 36.
Shrader’s 53-yard kick sailed through the uprights, sending the Lucas Oil Stadium crowd into a roar that it hadn’t felt in 11 months. Shrader was automatic, making all four of his field goalsfrom 39, 58, 37 and 53 yards, accounting for 13 of the Colts’ 19 points in the win.
The stampede refused to let Houston walk them down and repeatedly rushed into the backfield to corral the opposing QB. DeForest Buckner terminated the Texans’ opening drive by sacking C.J. Stroud. Adetomiwa Adebawore added another sack to end another Texans drive as the Colts held Stroud to just 40 passing yards in the first half and forced Houston into five three-and-outs throughout the game.
Indianapolis also converted both of its tries on fourth down, including a first-quarter keeper by Jones that extended a key scoring drive. Jones kept it and ran around the edge, then took on the contact and powered through cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. to move the chains before Shrader broke the ice with a 39-yard field goal.
The Colts marched into the end zone when Jones connected with his reliable target Keenan Allen for a 6-yard touchdown early in the second quarter. One of the biggest flaws was the Colts sustaining drives and Allen was added to become the reliable weapon to convert third down. Allen finished with six catches for 63 yards and a touchdown, passing Andre Johnson for 12th on the all-time receptions list.
Jones finished 24-of-36 for 235 passing yards and one touchdown, but his afternoon would not be considered clean by any standard. He took more hits than necessary as he was sacked four times, lost two fumbles and threw an interception caught by Reid Blankenship near the goal line.
Indianapolis won despite losing the turnover margin (-3) to become the first Colts team this century to win a game under those circumstances. It took more effort on defense. It took toughness from Jones. At the end, the decision was left to the leg of Shrader, who found a way to deliver the game-winner.
The Colts will travel to London next week to face the Washington Commanders at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with the early kickoff scheduled for 9:30 a.m.
