The Indianapolis Colts finally broke through to score a mark in the victory column in Week 3. Say what you will about the struggling Houston Texans (who have now fallen to 0-3), but that defense is fearsome. They've lost only to teams with winning records outside of Indy, and the fact that Houston is a divisional opponent only makes the win that much sweeter.
It's going to be tough to come back from a 0-2 start to take the division, especially when the competition is a Jaguars team that just eviscerated the New England Patriots, a team that went to the Super Bowl last season.
The Jaguars look to be a potential juggernaut, and despite their record, the Texans could easily prove to be stiff competition as the season continues. The Titans may be more concerned with draft standings than divisional standings after losing brutally to a Jaxson Dart-less New York Giants squad, but this division will be a tough race for Indy to win.
4 Indianapolis Colts who shone brightest in Week 3
Still, if these four players can perform as they did against Houston every week, the Colts will be in it till the end.
No. 1: WR Josh Downs
This was a Colts passing attack bereft of their highest-paid weapon, Alec Pierce. The Colts could feasibly recoup some of that lost value in the aggregate, but for a truly potent offensive showing, one of the receivers had to step up and become the main target.
Josh Downs may have cooled down slightly after having a red-hot start to the game, but he still finished with 77 receiving yards, enough to lead the team. He delivered on some crucial big plays, the most explosive of which was a 24-yard conversion.
Early on in the contest, Downs was the go-to guy. If the offense ever stalled, number 17 was looking for number two on seemingly every play, and Downs answered the call. Still, while he was the leading receiver and a crucial component to Indy's victory, it was actually another receiver who stepped up most late in the game.
No. 2: WR Keenan Allen
Josh Downs may have finished with the team lead in receiving yards overall with 77, but veteran Keenan Allen was not far behind with 63. Add in a touchdown reception on a day when touchdowns were very scarce, and it was impossible not to feel Allen's impact.
Downs felt like the go-to target early, but Allen assumed that role as the game progressed. He not only caught the team's only touchdown, but he was the receiver on a crucial 3rd-and-6 reception to set up Indy's game-winning field goal.
Many wrote off Allen as soon as he signed with the Colts, citing his age as a reason he'd be a non-factor. Well, he was very much a factor against Houston, and though he might be a veteran, he certainly is a savvy one.
No. 3: DT DeForest Buckner
The Colts' defense certainly deserves its flowers in the victory celebration. Houston is a team known for a beastly defense much more than a lethal offense, but in a game that was decided by a field goal. The margins were razor-thin.
The defense stood strong against Houston, and DeForest Buckner was a massive part of that. He finished the day with seven tackles and one and a half sacks, and his impact in applying pressure to CJ stroud was consistently noticeable.
Especially after his neck injury complications over the course of last season, Colts fans should rejoice in seeing one of its best players deliver exactly what he was supposed to. It was a very close game, and Buckner's play was instrumental in securing the win.
No. 4: K Spencer Shrader
Kicker Spencer Shrader may have finally returned to his form from early 2025, and the accuracy of his leg was pivotal in Indy's triumph. Keenan Allen provided the Colts with their sole touchdown of the day, and Shrader provided the team with four field goals to put them over the top.
Now, this performance could easily be written off as simply a kicker doing the bare minimum, not missing kicks. That is what they're paid to do, after all. However, fans are all too quick to blame the kicker when they make a mistake, and therefore they should be given their due when they come through.
Shrader made four field goals and an extra point on the day, with his longest being a 58-yard score. Though it may seem like kickers are drilling consistent field goals from farther and farther back, that's by no means an easy kick. Shrader had to be perfect in Week 3 to give the Colts the edge, and perfect he was. Colts fans now have to hope he can make a habit of it.
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