For 45 minutes, Houston's offense looked like the one that managed 6 points against Cincinnati. The Texans had 7 points through 3 quarters. The Colts opened with a field goal in the first and scored 10 more in the second to lead 13-7 at the half. Both sidelines had injury scares. Colts kicker Spencer Shrader (groin) and edge rusher Laiatu Latu (chest) both left and came back, and so did Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair (groin).
Then nobody scored in the third quarter. The preview expected a lot of points from 2 defenses that had just allowed 41 and 33, but it never turned into that kind of game. By kickoff the total had already dropped a long way, and the game finished well under even that.
The fourth quarter is where Houston finally scored. The Texans put up 10 in the final 15 minutes, and their 17 points were the most they'd scored since the 31 against Buffalo in the opener. Indianapolis answered with 6 of its own and held the 2-point lead to the end. Houston came close to a comeback, but 3 empty quarters left too much to make up.
The preview's headliners, Dalton Schultz as Stroud's go-to target, Will Anderson Jr. rushing the passer without Clowney, and Taylor carrying the Colts, aren't covered in the line score, and this recap doesn't have their individual numbers. What the scoreboard does show is that the team with the working offense won, as expected, and that Houston is still turning long drives into too few points. Indianapolis moves to 1-2. Houston is 0-3, and Schefter reports Collins has a decent chance to return against the Cowboys on October 4. The Texans need him back.