COLTS

Reaction to Colts' win over Texans

Manny Randhawa
Manny.Randhawa@indystar.com
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Andre Johnson (81) rushes the ball upfield during the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Oct. 8, 2015, at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.

FINAL: COLTS 27, TEXANS 20

11:26 p.m.: On 3rd and 6 at their own 20, the Colts get a big play to seal the victory -- a 43-yard Hasselbeck completion to T.Y. Hilton down the left sideline. That set up the kneel-downs, and the Colts now have won a record 16 consecutive division games.

11:21 p.m.: Mike Adams gets his second INTERCEPTION of the game on a ball floated right to him by Hoyer, who was pressured and hit by Erik Walden. Colts take over at their 16 with 1:41 to go. Houston has three timeouts.

11:16 p.m.: Wow. Much like last week with the Jaguars, Texans penalizing themselves out of a game; DeAndre Hopkins negates a big play by throwing the football at the Colt that tried to tackle him. Unsportsmanlike conduct after the Texans would have gotten well into Indianapolis territory. That's 13 penalties for 125 yards on Houston tonight.

11:12 p.m.: Colts' drive flames out, Pat McAfee punts to Houston. The Texans will start at their own 36 with 3:25 to go.

11:09 p.m.: This is the Frank Gore the Colts thought they were getting: second, third effort gets the first down on a drive the Colts would like three or four of them to ice this game.

11:05 p.m.: The Texans aren't going quietly; a 49-yard field goal from Nick Novak makes this a one-score game again. Colts 27, Texans 20. 6:07 4th quarter.

10:54 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN Colts, and who else? Andre Johnson with his second TD of the game (2-yard pass from Matt Hasselbeck), burning his former team yet again. Colts 27, Texans 17. 10:28 4th quarter.

10:50 p.m.: BIG break for the Colts; Hasselbeck throws a pick in the end zone, but it comes back because of a holding call on Houston. Instead, 1st and Goal at the 8.

10:32 p.m.: And on the next play, the Colts' defense gets completely fooled (as in, out of the TV screen viewing area fooled) and Jaelen Strong is WIDE open in the left corner of the end zone. Colts 20, Texans 17. 4:03 3rd quarter.

10:30 p.m.: After Arian Foster runs for a first down, DeAndre Hopkins with another long reception, this one for 34 yards on a Hoyer pass over the middle. Hopkins has 10 catches for 148 yards on the night, and the Texans are in the red zone.

10:12 p.m.: Big response by the Colts to open the second half after that dejecting Hail Mary to end the second quarter -- Hasselbeck hits Johnson for a 24-yard gain down the sideline. Frank Gore later punches it in from three yards out. Colts 20, Texans 10. 13:02 third quarter.

Key stats at halftime:

  • Zero Sacks: J.J. Watt loomed large as the Colts entered this game in Houston, and the star defensive end was neutralized by the Colts' double-team in the first half. Coming into the contest, Watt had nine career sacks in eight games against the Colts.
  • Hoyer hot: Brian Hoyer relieved starting Texans quarterback Ryan Mallet after Mallet appeared hurt on a Sio Moore hit in the second quarter. Hoyer proceeded to go 8 of 13 for 127 yards and a touchdown. His passer rating is 119.7 to Mallet's 41.7.
  • Hasselbeck doing the job: Matt Hasselbeck entered this game less than 100 percent -- reportedly on an IV this afternoon after fighting a bacterial infection all week -- but starting for the second straight game for the injured Andrew Luck, he's gotten the job done so far: 9/15, 91 yards, TD, 99.6 passer rating.
  • Andre Johnson is in the building: Johnson came into the game with 51 receiving yards all season. In the first half against his former team, he had three catches for 37 yards and a touchdown. The Colts will need more from him the rest of the way.

9:54 p.m.: A Hail Mary pass from Hoyer into the end zone comes down in the hands of wide receiver Jaelen Strong, a 42-yard touchdown pass to end the first half. Colts stunned, and suddenly it's a game. Colts 13, Texans 10. HALFTIME

9:37 p.m.: The praise for Matt Hasselbeck continues to roll in on social media. The backup QB is looking to go 2-0 as a starter for the Colts, and was reportedly on an IV due to a bacterial infection this afternoon. So far, he's 9-14 for 91 yards and a TD (a quarterback rating of 106.5).

9:31 p.m.: Texans are on the board; Hoyer comes in an leads Houston on its first scoring drive. Of note: Arian Foster was shaken up during a play on the drive, went to the sideline and put himself back in the game. Colts 13, Texans 3. 2:08 2nd quarter.

9:27 p.m.: Hoyer's moving Houston down the field, Texans down to the Colts' 19.

9:24 p.m.: After a helmet to the side from Sio Moore (drawing a penalty), Texans quarterback Ryan Mallet is on the sideline, and Brian Hoyer -- Houston's opening day starter -- is in the game.

9:18 p.m.: Adam Vinatieri is 2-for-2, this one from 42 yards. Colts 13, Texans 0. 7:37 2nd quarter.

9:15 p.m.: Colts get a big break on a roughing-the-passer penalty on J.J. Watt. Indy driving at the Houston 20.

9:07 p.m.: J.J. Watt getting double-teamed by the Colts, Indy neutralizing Houston's pass-rush threat. On that note, Hasselbeck hits T.Y. Hilton for 12 yards.

9:04 p.m.: Texans again get nothing going on offense, punt. Colts get a good bounce, will start at their own 30. 13:38 2nd quarter.

8:54 p.m.: And who scores in the back of the end zone but former Texan Andre Johnson. It comes on a four-yard pass from Hasselbeck and the Colts extend their early lead. Colts 10, Texans 0. 1:22 1st quarter.

8:54 p.m.: An Andre Johnson sighting! In Houston! Johnson with a big 23-yard pickup on a pass from Hasselbeck, and the Colts are in business at the Houston 4-yard line.

8:52 p.m.: A little #TBT from NFL.com to that time when Pat McAfee recovered his own onside kick against Houston:

8:48 p.m.: Colts force Texans to punt, and Matt Hasselbeck will head out for his second series of the evening.

8:40 p.m.: Adam Vinatieri knocks through a 48-yard field goal, and the Colts strike first in Texas. Colts 3, Texans 0. 6:28 1st quarter.

8:34 p.m.: INTERCEPTION -- Mike Adams picks off Ryan Mallet's throw, which was tipped off the hands of intended receiver Arian Foster. Catchable ball, big break for Colts, who will start at their own 44. Adams intercepted it at the 6 and returned it 38 yards.

8:33 p.m.: Not kidding about Griff Whalen being the third-string QB tonight. Check out some highlights:

8:30 p.m.: Texans on the move. Mallet with a 10-yard completion to DeAndre Hopkins to the Colts' 41.

8:28 p.m.: Four plays, four carries for Texans running back Arian Foster, producing 18 yards.

8:26 p.m.: Colts win the toss, defer. Texans and quarterback Ryan Mallet start at the 20.

8:21 p.m.: As if the Colts didn't already have enough to worry about. J.J. Watt had four sacks in two games against the Colts last year, and has nine career sacks in eight games against Indianapolis.

8:13 p.m.: Check out pregame photos from NRG Stadium:

7:47 p.m.: So what happens if quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, who has been battling a bacterial infection this week, can't make it through the entire game? His backup tonight is Josh Johnson, whom the Colts signed two weeks ago, released and then re-signed earlier this week. And the third-string QB? Why that would be wide receiver Griff Whalen. And lest you think Whalen doesn't have any experience as a signal-caller, note that he earned second-team all-conference honors as a high school quarterback in his junior and senior seasons.

7:41 p.m.: The Indianapolis Colts look for a third consecutive win following an 0-2 start to the season, but it will be a challenge with quarterback Andrew Luck out due to an injured shoulder for the second straight game. Backup Matt Hasselbeck will once again be at the helm, looking to lead the Colts to a victory over the Texans in Houston after being hit with a bacterial infection earlier in the week. According to NFL Network's Stacey Dales, Hasselbeck was still feeling the effects of the illness today:

Despite being shorthanded -- with running back Tyler Varga, linebacker Jerrell Freeman, offensive lineman Lance Louis, outside linebacker Bjorn Werner, defensive tackle T.Y. McGill and offensive tackle Denzelle Good also out -- this one is a must-win for the Colts, writes IndyStar Insider Stephen Holder.