Game Blog | Colts lose another season-opener, fall 29-27 to Texans

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Colts are set to kick off their 2024 NFL regular season against their AFC South rival Houston Texans. 

After posting a 2-1 record in the preseason, there's still some questions that will need to be answered as the season progresses.

Many fans, pundits and coaches are wondering whether or not Colts sophomore quarterback Anthony Richardson can stay healthy this season and show the front office that they made the right decision by drafting him.

Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Lucas Oil Stadium, which will feature its roof and windows open, according to owner Jim Irsay. 

Keep it here all game long for live updates as the Colts look to start the season on a high note. 

FOURTH QUARTER:

• FINAL: Texans 29, Colts 27
• 1:01 — The Texans are in victory formation and begin to kneel out the clock.
• 1:48 — Joe Mixon punches his way through the Colts' defensive line for a 9-yard gain and what should be a game sealing first down.
• 1:48 — The Colts have used all their timeouts as the Texans have a 3rd and 3 at their own 48.
• 2:00 — Nico Collins makes an insane catch to give the Texans a first down. Officials review the call, but ultimately rule it was a catch.
• 2:00 — The Texans run Joe Mixon to run the clock out to the two-minute warning. On 3rd and 6, Houston is called for a false start, making it now 3rd and 11.
• 2:14 — On 4th and Goal, Anthony Richardson fights his way through several Texans defenders to punch his way into the end zone. The extra point is good. 
  • SCORE: Texans 29, Colts 27

• 3:23 — Jonathan Taylor runs up the middle for a 5 yard gain, but is stopped short of the goal line.
• 3:27 — On 1st and Goal, Anthony Richardson finds Mo Alie-Cox, but Alie-Cox cannot bring it in.
• 4:26 — Somehow, some way, Anthony Richardson hurls another long bomb to Alec Pierce for a 57-yard gain and a first down.
• 4:31 — Back-to-back incomplete passes bring up 3rd and 10. Anthony Richardson is then called for a false start, making it 3rd and 15.
• 4:42 — Fairbairn's kickoff is taken to the Colts' own 32-yard line.
• 4:42 — On fourth and goal, C.J. Stroud finds Stefon Diggs for a 2-yard touchdown pass. Fairbairn's extra point is good.
  • SCORE: Texans 29, Colts 20
• 5:38 — After driving downfield into the red zone, the Colts stop the Texans on 4th and Goal.
• 11:28 — Joe Mixon gets the call again and runs for an 8-yard gain.
• 12:12 — C.J. Stroud finds Joe Mixon for an 11-yard gain and a first down.
• 12:12 — Spencer Shrader's kickoff goes for a touchback.
• 12:12 — Anthony Richardson again dazzles, tossing a 54-yard touchdown pass to Ashton Dulin! The extra point is good, bring the Colts within two points of Houston.
  • Score: Texans 22, Colts 20

• 13:05 — On third down, Jonathan Taylor punches his way to a 3-yard gain and a first down.
• 13:35 — Anthony Richardson hurls a deep pass to Adonai Mitchell, but Michell can't haul it in. HOWEVER! Houston is called for illegal contact, giving the Colts a first down.
• 13:41 — Fairbairn's kickoff goes into the end zone for a touchback.
• 13:41 — Joe Mixon easily runs into the end zone for a Texans touchdown. The extra point is good.
  • SCORE: Texans 22, Colts 13

• 13:45 — Kenny Moore comes up with a HUGE interception, but it's all for naught as he's called for holding. Texans now have another 1st and Goal.
• 14:36 — On 2nd and Goal, Grover Stewart stops Joe Mixon for no gain.
• 15:00 — C.J. Stroud throws to Stefon Diggs, but he's pushed out of bounds for no gain.

THIRD QUARTER:

• END 3Q: Texans 15, Colts 13
• 0:05 —  Joe Mixon runs for a gain of 9 yards, but the Colts are called for defensive holding. The third quarter ends with the Texans having a fresh set of downs at the Colts' 14-yard line.
• 1:40 — On third down, the Colts defense gets huge pressure on C.J. Stroud, but Stroud is able to get a pass off. Nico Collins comes down win the catch for a 19-yard gain and a Texans first down.

• 3:31 — Houston's Tank Dell runs for a gain of 4-yards, but Houston's Nico Collins is called for holding.
• 4:15 — C.J. Stroud passes to Nico Collins for a gain of 7 and a first down.
• 5:36 — Houston's Joe Mixon breaks away for a 13-yard gain and a first down.
• 5:40 — Colts' Spencer Shrader kicks off, but once again it results in a touchback. The Texans take over at their own 30.
• 5:40 — Almost immediately, Jonathan Taylor runs up the middle for a touchdown! The Colts attempt the two-point conversion, running an option play which sees Anthony Richardson pitch to Jonathan Taylor, but Taylor is stopped short of the line.
  • Score: Texans 15, Colts 13

• 5:43 — On the ensuing punt, Segun Olubi comes up with a huge block and the Colts recover at the Texans 5-yard line.
• 6:33 — On third down, DeForest Buckner and Dayo Odeyingbo come up big and sack C.J. Stroud.
• 7:17 — C.J. Stroud passes short to Xavier Hutchinson for a 3-yard gain.
• 7:59 — Joe Mixon runs for a gain of 7 yards and a Texans first down.
• 8:18 — Tyquan Lewis of the Colts is called for offside after C.J. Stroud finds Dalton Schultz short of the line to gain.
• 8:55 — Joe Mixon runs for a short gain of 3 yards.
• 9:40 — The Texans get pressure on Anthony Richardson, taking him down for a 2-yard sack. This forces a punt by Rigoberto Sanchez. Steven Sims elects not to return the punt and Houston will take over at their own 10-yard line.
• 10:20 — Jonathan Taylor gets the call again, this time going for 5 yards.
• 10:55 — Jonathan Taylor runs for a gain of 2 yards.
• 10:55 — Fairbairn's kickoff goes for a touchback. The Colts take over at their own 30.
• 10:55 — The Colts defense brings up a big stop on third down, forcing the Texans to kick another field goal. Fairbairn knocks through a 51-yarder to increase Houston's lead.
  • SCORE: Texans 15, Colts 7
• 13:48 — A HUGE play that goes for naught. JuJu Brents looks to have a sure interception, but after an official review, the play was reversed into an incomplete pass.
• 15:00 — The Colts kick off, but the kickoff goes into the end zone for a touchback. The Texans start the second half at their own 30-yard line.

SECOND QUARTER:

• HALFTIME: Texans 12, Colts 7

• 0:05 — A confusing play results when the clock continues to run and forces C.J. Stroud to throw a short incompletion. 
• 0:18 — C.J. Stroud finds Schultz for a 7-yard gain. The officials review the catch and confirm it is a catch.
• 0:29 — The Texans take a timeout and C.J. Stroud throws to Nico Collins, who cannot bring it in.
• 8:29 —  Timeout called. 
• 8:29 —  Tommy Townsend punts 56 yards to Jon Weeks. There is a fair catch by Anthony Gould.
• 9:17 —  Another penalty is called on Laremy Tunsil for a false start. Five yards, enforced at HST 23 - no play. 
• 9:50 —  Timeout called. 
• 9:50 —  Rigoberto Sanchez punts 39 yards to Luke Rhodes. There is a fair catch by Steven Sims.
• 10:03 — Anthony Richardson passes incomplete short left to Michael Pittman Jr. A penalty is called on Braden Smith for an illegal formation, which the referees ends up declining. 
• 10:08 — Anthony Richardson passes incomplete short left to Adonai Mitchell.
• 10:47 — Anthony Richardson passes short right to Adonai Mitchell to IND 46 for 2 yards.
• 11:31 — C.J. Stroud passes short middle to Stefon Diggs for 9 yards, and the Texans score a touchdown. 
  • Score: Texans 12, Colts 7
• 11:40 — C.J. Stroud passes incomplete short right to Tank Dell.
• 12:22 — D Pierce makes a left tackle to IND 9 for 4 yards. 
• 12:56 — C.J. Stroud passes deep middle to Nico Collins to IND 13 for 55 yards. 

FIRST QUARTER:

• END Q1: Colts 7, Texans 6
• 1:37 — The Texans score with another field goal from Ka'imi Fairbairn.
  • Score: Colts 7, Texans 6
• 5:12 — The Colts score after Anthony Richardson throws the ball 60 yards to Alec Pierce, scoring a touchdown.
  • Score: Colts, 7 Texans 3

• 6:01 —  Anthony Richardson rushes up the middle to IND 35 for 8 yards. 
• 6:44 —  The Texans score with a 51-yard field goal from Ka'imi Fairbairn.
  • Score: Texans 3, Colts 0
• 9:38 —  C.J. Stroud passes short middle to Brevin Jordan to IND 49 for -4 yards.
• 10:52 —  Penalty called on Laremy Tunsil for a false start. Five yards, enforced at HST 48 - no play. 
• 11:40 —  Timeout called. 
• 11:44 —  Anthony Richardson passes incomplete short right to Adonai Mitchell.
• 14:15 —  Anthony Richardson passes short right to Michael Pittman Jr. to IND 49 for 6 yards. 
• 15:00 —  Ka'imi Fairbairn kicks 67 yards from HST 35 to IND -2. Anthony Gould to IND 27 for 19 yards. 
• Kickoff — Colts win the coin toss and choose to receive. 

PRE-GAME:

Colts injuries

• Will Mallory 
• Dallis Flowers 
• Sam Ehlinger 
• Blake Freeland 
• Josh Downs 
• Tanor Bortolini 
• Matt Gay 

Texans injuries

• John Metchie III
• Cam Akers 
• M.J. Stewart 
• Jamal Hill 
• Nick Broeker 
• Dylan Horton