Man, you gotta see what went down in that Colts-Texans game yesterday. Spender Shrader, the Colts kicker, played the freakin’ hero, booting a game-winning field goal with just 16 seconds left on the clock. And get this: the dude injured his groin in pregame warmups! He still went out there and nailed a 19-17 victory for Indy, making this one of those wild early-season stories nobody saw coming.
The Injured Kicker Nobody Saw Coming
Talk about stepping up! Shrader, nursing that groin injury, was lights out when his team needed him most. He hit field goals from 39, a monstrous 58, 37, and then the clutch 53-yarder to seal the deal. This is the kind of stuff you tell your grandkids about. Seriously, playing through that pain and coming up huge? That’s guts. The Colts needed it bad, too, pushing their record to 1-2. It’s an early season win that feels massive, especially after they led 13-7 at halftime and 16-7 midway through the fourth quarter. They needed that W to get things rolling, and Shrader delivered big time.
Houston’s Horrible Habits Are Back
But man, if you’re a Texans fan, you just gotta be shaking your head. They are now officially 0-3, and it’s the second straight season they’ve started this way. Last year they rallied to make the playoffs, but honestly, the odds are stacked against them repeating that miracle. C.J. Stroud actually directed a sweet seven-play, 54-yard drive to take the lead with 1:48 left, capped by a 1-yard run from Woody Marks. You think, okay, they got this, right? WRONG.
It all went sideways fast. Ka’imi Fairbairn botched the kickoff, booting it into the end zone and giving the Colts the ball at their own 35. Then, coach DeMeco Ryans completely choked on the clock management. Jonathan Taylor ripped off a run, leaving more than a minute on the clock, and Ryans didn’t use a timeout! He finally called one with just 29 seconds left, leaving no time for Stroud to even think about field goal range. Stroud’s desperate Hail Mary was short and out of bounds. The Colts outgained them, sure, but Houston just handed them that game with boneheaded mistakes.
This 0-3 start for the Texans is brutal, and these kind of early season blunders stick with you. For the Colts, it’s a massive sigh of relief and a chance to build some momentum. They ride that Shrader high, while Houston is left wondering how they blow these games. What a finish.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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