The Indianapolis Colts fell to AFC South foe the Houston Texans 20-16. Here are the winners and losers from the divisional clash.
Winner: The Texans playoff odds
The Texans entered Sunday with a 43% chance of making the playoffs. A loss knocked their odds down to 31% per The Athletic’s NFL Playoff Simulator. Sunday’s victory over the Colts bumped Houston’s playoff chances all the way up to 62%. Houston began the season 1-3, lost quarterback C.J. Stroud to injury before winning three in a row with backup Davis Mills. The win over the Colts is Houston’s fourth in a row, improving its record to 7-5.
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Winner: Alec Pierce, WR, Colts
Pierce began his career behind longtime starter Michael Pittman Jr., but the soon-to-be free agent is emerging as the Colts top receiving option and should be headed for a larger role next season (wherever he plays). Pierce showed his big-play ability racking up 78 yards on four catches with one touchdown. The touchdown came in the corner of the end zone over two Texans defenders, a play few receivers could make. Pierce drew a pass interference penalty in the third quarter, setting up a Tyler Warren touchdown one play later
Winner: Tyler Warren, TE, Colts
Warren popped up on the injury report Saturday with an illness, but the rookie performed well at likely less than 100%. Warren caught three of four targets for 22 yards and one touchdown. He had one blemish with a fumbled snap on a QB sneak in the first half, but overall, Warren’s continued to be a steady producer for the Colts offense.
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Loser: Sauce Gardner, CB, Colts
Sauce Gardner, the player who was supposed to be the final piece of a playoff caliber defense, limped off the field just two plays into the game. Gardner suffered a calf injury against the Texans and did not return. Losing Garnder is a huge blow to a Colts team playing with a quarterback at less than 100% health. Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud exploited a Sauce-less secondary, going 22 of 35 for 276 yards through the air.
Jonathan Taylor, RB, Colts
The Colts offense begins and ends with running back Jonathan Taylor. Against the Texans’ stingy pass defense, Indy needed a big day from Taylor on the ground. The Offensive Player of the Year candidate responded with a subpar game for his standards, rushing for 85 yards on 21 carries and no touchdowns. He added three catches for 36 yards. Indy desperately needed a breakaway run from Taylor to jolt the offense, but the Texans did not allow one.
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Loser: Laiatu Latu, DE, Colts
The Colts defense sacks Texans quarterback twice, but neither takedown was from former first-round pick Laiatu Latu. Latu entered Sunday’s game leading the team with 5.5 sacks, but in key moments against the Texans, Latu was nowhere to be found. Latu ended the game with one tackle. no tackles for loss and no sacks. Latu’s three interceptions show his unique ability to catch the ball as a defensive lineman, but he isn’t on the field for his pass coverage, he needs to find ways to consistently get after the passer to live up to his status as the No. 15 overall pick in 2024.
Joel A. Erickson and Nathan Brown cover the Colts all season. Get more coverage on IndyStarTV and with the Colts Insider newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Colts vs Texans winners and losers
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: Sports.yahoo.com
