2024-09-09 13:15:02
A battle between division opponents is rarely without tension and drama, and the Colts’ season opener against the Houston Texans was no different, as the Texans beat the Colts 29-27 at Lucas Oil Stadium Sunday afternoon.
After the Colts’ first drive stalled at Houston’s 46-yard line on a high throw intended for wide receiver Adonai Mitchell and an eight-play, 22-yard drive ended in a 51-yard field goal for the Texans, quarterback Anthony Richardson decided to show just what he was capable of in his first NFL game since last October.
On the first play of the Colts’ second drive, Richardson carried the ball himself for an eight-yard gain. The second play was a five-yard carry by running back Jonathan Taylor. The third play was a 60-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Alec Pierce. The pass – which traveled exactly 65.3 yards in the air – is the third-longest completion in the Next Gen Stats era.
Pierce, wide open in the downfield, navigated around two Texans defenders and caught the ball in stride, easily bounding into the end zone. As Lucas Oil Stadium roared in approval, kicker Spencer Shrader made the first extra point of his NFL career, and the Colts took a 7-3 lead over their division rivals.
