The Colts executed on offense beautifully in the first half, and their defense made big plays when it mattered. They won a big game 30-23.
This was a big game. The stakes were high, with the winner being the sole leader in the AFC South. Because of those stakes, it was going to be a hard-played game. It also was generally well-played as well, and the game was close in the second half.
Jacoby Brissett had himself a career day. He threw for 4 touchdowns in this one on 26 of 39 passing and 325, which set a new career high for both yards and TD’s. He also didn’t throw any interceptions, but did have a bad fumble that gave the Texans the ball inside their own 10-yard line. But the defense stepped up and held them to a field goal.
Defensively, this team stepped up multiple times in this game. They only allowed 9 points in the first half, and made some big stops in the second half. They did allow a couple of quick drives from Houston that resulted in touchdowns, which kept the game close in the second half.
In fact, it was the defense that sealed it up at the end. Darius Leonard had a diving interception with 26 seconds left to seal up the victory. It was a big play from a guy who has missed the last three games. His presence cannot be understated for this defense.
Frank Reich did a great job putting his quarterback in a position to succeed. The Colts had a ton of uncontested catches in this game as well. Zach Pascal was the main beneficiary of that, catching 6 balls for 106 yards and two touchdowns.
This was a massive win for this football team. They now have a claim to be the second best team in the AFC. Most importantly, they are 2-0 in the division and have the lead. This is a team that needs to be taken seriously around the league.