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Colts tie Texans, 20-20, in Week 1 matchup

Kevin Hickey
·3 min read

The Indianapolis Colts (0-0-1) were physically present for the Week 1 opener against the Houston Texans (0-0-1), but their game didn’t bother to show up for the first three quarters.

Despite the Colts being the largest favorites of the week entering the game, the Colts were utterly and emphatically out-matched in just about every facet of the game during the first 45 minutes.

They trailed 20-3 with over 10 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. They finally started to find their groove, scoring 17 unanswered points to the end of regulation.

Both teams had chances to put the game away but neither team did enough to show they truly deserved to win.

Here’s everything we know from the Week 1 tie:

Final score: Colts 20, Texans 20

Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

OT

Final

Colts

3

0

0

17

0

20

Texans

0

10

10

0

0

20

The game was over when...

AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith

The Colts had a chance to win the game with a 42-yard field goal attempt, but Rodrigo Blankenship’s kick went wide right. After that, neither team generated enough momentum to get to field-goal range.

Keys to the game

AP Photo/David J. Phillip

  • The offensive line was essentially a revolving door allowing pressure and run stops without giving any push in either phase of the game.

  • The Colts were plagued by turnovers. Matt Ryan had an interception and a fumble lost. He fumbled three other times, but they were recovered by the Colts.

  • The 17 unanswered points in the fourth quarter saved the Colts from a ridiculously embarrassing loss.

  • Rodrigo Blankenship kicked two kickoffs out of bounds and missed the potentially game-winning attempt from 42 yards.

3 Stars of the game

Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports

  1. RB Jonathan Taylor:  A continuation of his 2021 season, Taylor took 31 carries for 161 rushing yards, one rushing touchdown while adding four receptions for 14 yards.

  2. WR Michael Pittman Jr.: Another big game for Pittman Jr., who had more than double the targets of any other player. He finished with nine receptions on 13 targets for 121 yards and the game-tying touchdown in the fourth quarter.

  3. DE Kwity Paye: It was a quiet day for Paye for the majority of the game, but he came in clutch during overtime, registering two sacks on the opening drive after Blankenship kicked the ball out of bounds.

Injuries

AP Photo/Adrian Kraus

  • LB Shaquille Leonard (back) was inactive for the game.

Quick Hits

AP Photo/David J. Phillip

  • Alec Pierce dropped a would-be touchdown to open the second quarter. The Colts wound up failing the fourth-down attempt at the goal line.

  • Halfway through the third quarter, rookie Bernhard Raimann took over at left tackle for Matt Pryor. Pryor eventually came back as the starting left tackle.

  • DT Grover Stewart was a menace against the run all day, helping limit the Texans to 2.8 yards per carry.

  • WR Mike Strachan had some big catches—a 20-yarder and a 16-yarder as the fifth wideout.

  • The pass rush added just five quarterback hits on the day.

  • Matt Haack had three of his four punts land inside the 20-yard line

What's next?

AP Photo/David J. Phillip

Head coach Frank Reich will speak with the media Monday as the team prepares for another road trip against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 2.

Story originally appeared on Colts Wire