The Indianapolis Colts broke their nine-game losing streak in dramatic fashion in Week 3, beating division rival Houston 19-17. Indianapolis was the better team for much of the game, but they were flirting with a second consecutive late heartbreak. This time, it was Shane Steichen’s men who made the big plays in the end.
Several things were unchanged from the first two weeks of the season. Indy still relies on Jonathan Taylor far too much. They still miss Alec Pierce. They still make far too many mistakes, and their linebackers still struggle mightily in coverage.
However, this week we saw several encouraging signs from the Colts. Many of their younger players – especially defensive backs Justin Walley and AJ Haulcy - looked more comfortable than in the first two games.
5 takeaways from the Indianapolis Colts' thrilling win over Houston
They remain works in progress, but at least they are trending in the right direction. The fact is, Houston’s offense is not very good, and CJ Stroud has regressed quite a bit from his rookie season, so the defensive backs should have looked better.
But after giving up 500 yards to Baltimore and Kansas City in the first two weeks, holding Houston, however limited they were, to just 223 yards was a huge step forward. Here are several other takeaways from the Colts' first win of 2026.
The receiving corps is developing an identity
Without Michael Pittman and without Alec Pierce – at least for a little while – the Colts' receivers, who were so potent last season, have been mediocre at best in 2026. That is beginning to change as players grow more accustomed to their roles this year.
It was good seeing Tyler Warren become more involved. He still is not getting downfield as much as he should, but the Colts are moving him around more than ever, which should pay dividends. He can line up in the backfield or out wide, as a traditional in-line tight end, or off the line as a slot receiver. He did all of that on Sunday.
There is a temptation with Pierce out to move Josh Downs as well. They should resist that. Downs can take the occasional snap on the perimeter, but he is a slot receiver through and through, and that's where he should remain most of the time.
Keenan Allen had a nice bounce-back game after a tough week in Kansas City. Laquon Treadwell has made an important downfield catch in each of the last two weeks. Indy desperately needs a healthy Alec Pierce, but the other pass catchers are developing something of a rhythm in his absence.
The defensive line is stepping up
We knew that DeForest Buckner was the best player in the Colts' front seven. He was excellent again on Sunday. But he got strong support from Grover Stewart, Adetomiwa Adebawore, and Tim Smith. Together, those interior defenders combined for 13 tackles and all three of the team’s sacks.
Granted, the interior of Houston’s offensive line is not particularly good, but it was nice seeing Indy taking advantage of their superiority.
Spencer Shrader is the real deal
There was a lot of concern when punter Rigoberto Sanchez handled the opening kickoff. Spencer Shrader’s groin was causing him some concern. It didn’t seem to matter once the game began.
Shrader was perfect on the day, going four for four on field goals, including a 58-yarder and the game-winner from 53 with just 16 seconds left. Shrader continues to validate Shane Steichen’s trust.
Sadly, CJ Allen is not
Any illusions Colts fans have been harboring about CJ Allen should be forgotten now. In his third week as a pro, the Colts' top draft pick this year was on the field for 5 defensive snaps. This cannot simply be attributed to injury anymore. For whatever reason, the Colts' coaches simply do not appear to trust Allen.
Fellow rookie linebacker Bryce Boettcher is struggling mightily, but he still plays a lot more than Allen. The same is true of rookie safety AJ Haulcy. As other players make strides, Allen seems to be stuck in neutral, with no signs of ever shifting into gear.
This team is resilient
During their losing streak, the Colts did not always play well. But they played hard. Shane Steichen did a nice job of keeping his team pointed forward. Indy had plenty of reasons to give up on Sunday. Three turnovers – to none for Houston. Six penalties – to two for Houston. Four sacks. Losing the lead late.
Any of those things could have led to collapse. None did. Best of all, their quarterback showed what he is made of, and that goes a long way toward instilling toughness throughout the roster. Jones’ fumble with less than five minutes to go could have easily cost Indy the game. But he came back a little while later to lead the winning field goal drive.
Rookie guard Jalen Travis had a tough wake-up call going against Houston’s elite pass rushers, but by the end, he too was up to the task. We’ll soon see how well this newfound toughness plays out when the Colts travel to Tottenham to take on the Washington Commanders, also coming off an improbable, resilient win over Seattle.
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