Indianapolis Colts Offensive Player of the Game: Week 9 at Texans
By Drew Koch
T.Y. Hilton had 5 catches in the past 3 games. On Sunday, Hilton exploded with 5 catches for 175 yards against the Texans. T.Y. is this week’s Offensive Player of the Game.
T.Y. Hilton was in a funk. He was coming off of a terrible performance against Cincinnati last week where he had 2 receptions on 7 targets for 15 yards. One of those catches was for 17 yards, so the other went for, you guessed it, minus-2 yards.
On Sunday against the Texans Hilton redeemed himself. T.Y. returned to the big-play receiver that Colts fans have become accustomed to.
The Colts started out backed up in their own end on their first possession, but after six positive plays the Colts found themselves in business on the Texans’ side of the field. Jacoby Brissett then dropped a 45-yard perfect play-action pass into the open arms of Hilton as he blew past the man-to-man coverage of Texans’ defensive back Johnathan Joseph.
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The Brissett-to-Hilton connection put the Colts up early and set the tone for the entire day.
Hilton had another big play later in the first half leading to another Indianapolis score. T.Y. snagged a deep ball from Brissett and was pushed out of bounds at the Texans’ 16-yard line. The Colts couldn’t punch it to the end zone, but a 22-yard field goal from Adam Vinatieri put the Colts up 10-0.
T.Y. Hilton’s crowing moment in the Colts’ Week 9 win was the 80-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter. Hilton cut across the middle of the field on third-down and hauled in a pass from Brissett. After taking in the reception, Hilton flew up the left sideline and appeared to be taken down by Texans cornerback Kareem Jackson at the Houston 32-yard line.
The 48-yard reception would have been a nice gain, but Hilton, realizing Jackson whiffed on his attempted tackle, got to his feet and ran to the end zone for the score. The play was reviewed and upheld.
Hilton returned to form against the Texans. Colts fans are hoping what they saw on Sunday against Houston will be a sign of things to come for the Indianapolis offense.