Indianapolis Colts Defensive Player of the Game: Week 9 at Texans

In easily his best game since joining the Colts, Jabaal Sheard came up huge when Indianapolis needed him the most. Sheard is this week’s Defensive Player of the Game.

Jabaal Sheard came over to the Colts as an unrestricted free agent this offseason. Sheard signed a 3-year $25.5 million contract with Indianapolis after playing his first six seasons with the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots.

Taking advantage of the Texans’ offensive tackle Chris Clark, who was filling the shoes of the recently traded Duane Brown, Sheard was in the Texans’ backfield all afternoon.

Sheard had 9 total pressures on Sunday against Houston, including 4 quarterback hits and 2 sacks.

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With the Colts already leading 10-0 late in the second quarter, Sheard maneuvered his way into the Texans’ backfield and got a strip sack of Houston quarterback Tom Savage. Luckily for Savage, his teammate Julien Davenport recovered the fumble.

And while Sheard’s first sack helped stop the Texans and hold them to a punt, there was no bigger defensive play that Sheard’s strip sack of Savage in the game’s final moments.

With Indianapolis up 20-14, the Texans received the ball at their own 20 yard line after a Rigoberto Sanchez punt.

With 3:10 left in the game, Savage would lead his team down the field to the Indianapolis 7 yard line with 18 seconds left in regulation. The Texans would miss on their first three chances to punch it in the end zone for the game-winning touchdown, which set up fourth down and goal from the 7-yard line with 0:02 left.

Sheard overpowered the Texans’ left tackle and got his hand on the ball, swatting it out of Savage’s hand. Several players from both teams would chase the ball down, and with no time left on the clock the Colts emerged victorious.

Sheard had been relatively quiet to this point in the season, only recording 2.5 sacks before today. The Colts hope this game is the start of a big second half of the season for Sheard and the Colts’ defense.

Next: Indianapolis Colts Offensive Player of the Game: Week 9 at Texans