Battle Red Blog
Key to the Game: The Upright: Weather was not a factor inside Lucas Oil Stadium. Yet, kicks still hit the upright. In particular, the upright played a major role in two XP attempts, which altered the strategic direction of the game. First, in the 2nd quarter, Colts PK Michael Badgley doinked the XP off the left upright after a Jones-to-Pierce TD pass, giving the Colts a 6-3 lead vs.7-3. In the 4th quarter, the Texans, after a Nico Collins rushing TD, lined up for their XP attempt. Fairbairn hit it high and left. It went so high that it went over the upright, creating a rather interesting ref decision. The TV angle made it seem that Fairbairn hooked it past the upright, making it a miss and giving Houston only a 19-13 lead. However, the refs decided that the ball was just inside the line of the upright, awarding Houston a critical point, 20-13. Given that the Colts settled for a FG on the subsequent drive (20-16), the upright played a major role in the game. The Colts make their XP, it is 20-17, and they did get well inside Badgley’s FG range on that last drive. Houston doesn’t make the XP, it is 19-16. Looking at the scenarios, the doink (the most impressive one I’ve ever heard) and the judgement call put the Colts in a situation where they needed a final TD. It need not have come to that.
CJ Stroud’s up-and-down return: After missing three games, Stroud seemed quite eager to get back to leading the Texans’ offense. The first half saw a Stroud still trying to find his rhythm, with some questionable results (a throw well-beyond the line of scrimmage, a bad overthrow for an INT that lead to a Colts TD, scrambling out of a clean pocket near the Colts’ goal-line). Stroud ended the 1st half 13-of-22 for 153 yards, 1 INT, 1 sack. However, Stroud settled down in the 2nd half (9-of-13 for 123 yards, no INTs, 1 sack). Stroud looked far more poised, standing in the pocket, even with pass rushers right on top of him. If Stroud can play like that 2nd half version, then things might be looking up for Houston at the right time.
Bad Caley showed up: Over the past few games, the offense shows improvement. However, “Bad Caley” can still show up. In the 1st quarter, Houston’s opening drive got them down to the IND Red Zone. The result: Six plays from the IND 11 and only 3 points. Some Stroud issues, but a “Wild Toro” with Chubb? Houston did score two Red Zone TDs, and scored on 4 of 5 Red Zone trips. Then there is that last Red Zone trip. Midway through the 4th quarter, Houston, up 20-16, had a 2nd and 1 inside the IND 17. Three running plays (one Marks run up the middle and two Stover tush pushes) yielded nothing. At that point in the game, understand the want to run the ball...
