The Indianapolis Colts defeated the Houston Texans 19–17 in Week 3 of the 2026 NFL season on September 27. Spencer Shrader kicked the game-winning 53-yard field goal with 16 seconds remaining. The AFC South rivals will meet again in Week 11 on November 19, 2026, in Houston on Thursday Night Football.
Key Takeaways
- The Colts beat the Texans 19–17 in their first 2026 meeting.
- Spencer Shrader made four field goals, including the game-winning 53-yarder.
- C.J. Stroud threw for 167 yards and one touchdown for Houston.
- Daniel Jones passed for 235 yards and one touchdown for Indianapolis.
- The Texans and Colts meet again November 19 at Reliant Stadium.
Texans vs Colts: Latest Result
The latest Texans vs Colts game was a dramatic AFC South matchup that came down to the final seconds.
Indianapolis entered Week 3 at 0–2, while Houston also had an 0–2 record. The stakes were high because the losing team would fall to 0–3 and take an early setback in the division race.
The Colts eventually escaped Lucas Oil Stadium with a 19–17 victory. The win moved Indianapolis to 1–2, while Houston dropped to 0–3.
The game was especially frustrating for Houston because the Texans had taken a 17–16 lead with only 1:48 remaining. Indianapolis responded with a final drive that put Shrader in position for the winning kick.
What Happened in the Texans vs Colts Game?
The Colts controlled much of the early game and led 13–7 at halftime.
Daniel Jones connected with Keenan Allen for a six-yard touchdown, while Shrader added field goals from 39 and 58 yards. Houston answered with a touchdown pass from C.J. Stroud to Foster Moreau.
Neither team scored in the third quarter, keeping the game within reach for both sides.
The fourth quarter provided most of the drama. Indianapolis extended its advantage to 16–7 before Houston began its comeback.
Ka’imi Fairbairn kicked a 24-yard field goal, and Woody Marks later scored on a one-yard touchdown run. That touchdown gave Houston a 17–16 advantage with less than two minutes remaining.
The Colts did not panic.
Jones completed a crucial 20-yard pass to Laquon Treadwell during the final drive, helping Indianapolis move into field-goal range. The Colts then used the clock and gave Shrader the opportunity to win the game.
He delivered with a 53-yard field goal with 16 seconds remaining.
Houston had only 11 seconds for a final possession, but the Texans could not produce a comeback.
C.J. Stroud vs. Daniel Jones
The quarterback comparison was interesting because both players produced useful moments, but neither offense consistently dominated.
| Player | Comp/Att | Passing Yards | TD | INT |
| C.J. Stroud, Texans | 16/27 | 167 | 1 | 0 |
| Daniel Jones, Colts | 24/36 | 235 | 1 | 1 |
Stroud finished with 167 passing yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. Jones threw for 235 yards and one touchdown but also had an interception and lost two fumbles.
The numbers show why the game was so close. Houston protected the football through the passing game, but Indianapolis generated more sustained offensive production.
Key Players and Performances
For Indianapolis, kicker Spencer Shrader was arguably the biggest difference-maker. He made all four of his field-goal attempts, including kicks from 39, 58, 37 and 53 yards.
Josh Downs led the Colts with five receptions for 77 yards, while Keenan Allen caught six passes for 63 yards and a touchdown.
Running back Jonathan Taylor carried the ball 23 times for 68 yards and helped Indianapolis control the clock.
For Houston, Stroud supplied the passing touchdown, while Woody Marks scored the late rushing touchdown that briefly put the Texans ahead.
Defensively, Will Anderson Jr. had a major impact with 2.5 sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
Texans vs Colts Team Stats
The Colts produced 300 total yards compared with 223 for Houston. Indianapolis also had the advantage in time of possession, holding the ball for 35:13 compared with Houston’s 24:47.
| Category | Texans | Colts |
| Total yards | 223 | 300 |
| Passing yards | 153 net | 211 net |
| Rushing yards | 70 | 89 |
| First downs | 17 | 19 |
| Third down | 4/11 | 7/15 |
| Time of possession | 24:47 | 35:13 |
| Final score | 17 | 19 |
One unusual part of the game was the turnover battle. Houston did not turn the ball over, while Indianapolis lost two fumbles and threw one interception. Yet the Colts still won because they generated more offensive plays and controlled possession.
That makes the 19–17 result particularly notable.
What the Result Means for the AFC South
The Week 3 result gave Indianapolis an important early divisional victory.
After three weeks, Jacksonville led the AFC South at 2–1, followed by Indianapolis at 1–2. Houston and Tennessee were both 0–3.
For Houston, the loss created immediate pressure. The Texans began the season 0–3 for the second consecutive year, making their next stretch of games especially important.
The Colts, meanwhile, finally ended a nine-game overall losing streak and also snapped a five-game losing streak against Houston.
That gives Indianapolis some early momentum heading into the second half of the season.
When Do the Texans Play the Colts Again?
The Texans and Colts are scheduled to meet for a second time in Week 11.
Date: Thursday, November 19, 2026
Time: 7:15 p.m. CT / 8:15 p.m. ET
Location: Reliant Stadium, Houston
Broadcast: Prime Video
Matchup: Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans
The rematch should have extra significance because both teams will have a clearer picture of the AFC South race by November.
Houston will also have home-field advantage in the second meeting. The Texans have designated the game as a rivalry-themed matchup and plan to debut their new Rivalries uniforms against Indianapolis.
Texans vs Colts Head-to-Head History
The Texans and Colts have developed a strong AFC South rivalry since Houston entered the NFL.
Before their Week 3 meeting in 2026, Indianapolis led the all-time series 32–15–1. The Colts then added another victory with their 19–17 win, moving the series record to 33–15–1.
Houston had entered the 2026 season with a four-game winning streak against Indianapolis at Lucas Oil Stadium, but that streak ended with the Week 3 loss.
The rivalry remains particularly important because both clubs compete in the same division. A single head-to-head result can influence playoff positioning, divisional records and late-season tiebreaker scenarios.
What to Watch in the Next Texans vs Colts Matchup
The November rematch could look very different from the September meeting.
Houston Texans Storylines
The biggest question for Houston is offensive consistency.
The Texans managed only 223 total yards in the first meeting and struggled to run the ball. Houston’s rushing attack produced just 70 yards, while the offense had difficulty creating sustained drives.
C.J. Stroud will also be an important player to watch. He finished the first matchup without an interception, but Houston needs more explosive production from its passing game.
The availability and effectiveness of key offensive players could also change the matchup by November.
Indianapolis Colts Storylines
Indianapolis will want to repeat its ability to control possession and create scoring opportunities.
Daniel Jones threw for 235 yards in the first meeting, while Jonathan Taylor carried a heavy workload. Josh Downs and Keenan Allen also provided important receiving production.
Special teams could again be important.
Shrader’s four field goals were the difference in Week 3, so Houston will need to avoid giving Indianapolis repeated opportunities to settle for points.
Texans vs Colts FAQs
Who won Texans vs Colts?
The Indianapolis Colts won the latest Texans vs Colts matchup 19–17 on September 27, 2026. Spencer Shrader kicked a 53-yard field goal with 16 seconds left to give Indianapolis the victory.
What was the Texans vs Colts score?
The final score was Colts 19, Texans 17. Houston led 17–16 late in the fourth quarter, but Indianapolis completed a final scoring drive and won on Shrader’s 53-yard field goal.
When is the next Texans vs Colts game?
The next scheduled meeting is Thursday, November 19, 2026. Indianapolis will travel to Houston for a Week 11 Thursday Night Football game at Reliant Stadium. The scheduled kickoff is 7:15 p.m. CT on Prime Video.
Are the Texans and Colts in the same division?
Yes. The Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts are both members of the AFC South. Their games have extra importance because divisional wins can affect the standings and potential playoff tiebreakers.
Who were the top performers?
Spencer Shrader was the decisive performer for Indianapolis after making four field goals, including the game-winning 53-yarder. Daniel Jones passed for 235 yards, Josh Downs had 77 receiving yards and Jonathan Taylor rushed for 68 yards. For Houston, C.J. Stroud threw for 167 yards and one touchdown, while Will Anderson Jr. produced 2.5 sacks.
Final Takeaway
The Texans vs Colts rivalry already produced one of the more dramatic AFC South games of the 2026 season.
Indianapolis survived 19–17 after Houston took a late lead, and Spencer Shrader’s final field goal settled the contest.
The story is not finished, though. These teams are scheduled to meet again November 19 in Houston. By then, the AFC South picture should be much clearer, making the second Texans-Colts matchup potentially even more important.
For fans following the rivalry, the key things to watch are C.J. Stroud’s offensive response, Daniel Jones’ consistency, Jonathan Taylor’s workload, Houston’s rushing attack and the ability of both defenses to make late-game stops.
