High-profile acquisitions Stefon Diggs and Joe Mixon lit up the field on Sunday, as the visiting Houston Texans kicked off the season with a thrilling 29-27 triumph over the Indianapolis Colts.
Mixon was a workhorse, carrying the ball 30 times for an impressive 159 yards and a touchdown. On the receiving front, Diggs showcased his playmaking ability by hauling in six passes for 33 yards and two crucial touchdowns, including a dramatic 2-yard pass from C.J. Stroud with 4:42 remaining that widened the score to 29-20.
Houston dominated offensively, outgaining Indianapolis 417-303 and commanding time of possession with the ball for a staggering 40 minutes.
Stroud was surgical, completing 24 of 32 passes for 234 yards, while wide receiver Nico Collins tormented the Colts once again with six receptions for 117 yards. Collins has been a nightmare for Indianapolis, racking up 341 receiving yards in two games against them last year, more than any other receiver vs. any team in the league.
Second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson provided several electrifying moments for the Colts. He delivered big plays, completing 9 of 19 passes for 212 yards with two touchdowns and one interception, and made an impact on the ground with six runs for 56 yards, including a 3-yard score with 2:14 left that brought the Colts within two points.
However, the Texans closed the game in clutch fashion, converting a pair of pivotal third downs. Stroud connected with Collins for a 12-yard reception on the right sideline, and Mixon sealed the deal with an 11-yard run on third-and-3 with 1:48 remaining.
Ka’imi Fairbairn initiated the scoring for Houston with a 51-yard field goal at 6:44 of the first quarter. Moments later, Richardson fired back, finding Alec Pierce for a 60-yard touchdown under two minutes later. Fairbairn’s 50-yard field goal made it 7-6 Indianapolis after the first quarter.
Diggs then caught a 9-yard touchdown pass from Stroud with 11:31 left in the first half, giving Houston a 12-7 lead that they’d carry into halftime. Fairbairn’s third field goal, a 51-yarder, extended the lead to eight early in the third quarter before Jonathan Taylor’s 5-yard touchdown run cut the advantage to 15-13.
