Houston Texans vs Indianapolis Colts Box Score on Dec 20, 2015

The Sports Xchange
Dec 20, 2015

INDIANAPOLIS - Third-string quarterback Brandon Weeden came off the bench in the second quarter to throw the deciding touchdown pass, and Nick Novak kicked three field goals, leading the Houston Texans to a 16-10 victory against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday in Lucas Oil Stadium.

Weeden, who finished 11 of 18 for 105 yards, replaced T.J. Yates with 1:14 left in the first half after Yates sustained a serious knee injury on a 19-yard scramble.

With the victory, the Texans are 7-7 and control their destiny in the AFC South. A victory at Tennessee and another at home against Jacksonville would end the Colts' dominance in the AFC South, won by the Colts in nine of the 13 seasons the division existed.

Indianapolis falls to 6-8 and has lost three in a row. The Colts also lost quarterback Matt Hasselbeck in the fourth quarter and fell to 3-4 at home. They finish at Miami and then at home against Tennessee on Jan. 3.

Houston extended its lead to 16-10 with 1:56 remaining on Novak's third field goal, a 32-yarder with 1:56 remaining. The field goal was set up by a 34-yard fumble recovery by Texans' cornerback Kareem Jackson, who scooped up a pass dropped by Colts' wide receiver Griff Whalen. Cornerback Johnathan Joseph forced the fumble.

Texans' backup corner A.J. Bouye sealed the victory with an interception of Hasselbeck with 1:42 to play.

The Texans took a 13-10 lead with 10:36 remaining on Weeden's 8-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Jaelen Strong, capping a 10-play, 90-yard drive that included a 22-yard pass interference penalty against Colts' free safety Dwight Lowery and Weeden's 28-yard completion to wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins.

Indianapolis also was penalized five yards for 12 men on the field, giving the Texans a first down inside the Colts' 10-yard line.

Houston trimmed the Indianapolis lead to 10-6 with 2:42 remaining in the third quarter on Novak's 46-yard field goal after the Colts were forced to punt from their own end zone. The Texans began the drive at the Indianapolis 32-yard line but were hampered by a key holding penalty against tight end Ryan Griffin.

Indianapolis led 10-3 at halftime after Novak's 22-yard field goal on the second quarter's final play, capping a 10-play, 87-yard drive that included four Weeden completions in five attempts for 36 yards after Yates' knee injury with 1:14 left in the half.

Vinatieri's 29-yard field goal with 6:12 left in the second quarter had given Indianapolis a 10-0 lead. The short five-play, 24-yard drive was set up by a 19-yard punt return by Quan Bray.

The Colts took a 7-0 lead on Hasselbeck's 11-yard touchdown pass to Donte Moncrief with 14:50 remaining in the second quarter. Indianapolis drove 42 yards in seven plays after strong safety Mike Adams recovered a fumble by Houston running back Alfred Blue.

Houston out gained Indianapolis 198-118 during the first 30 minutes, but two turnovers and a missed 56-yard field goal thwarted the Texans' chances to lead or be tied through two quarters. Houston had 107 first-half rushing yards, 73 more than Indianapolis.

NOTES: Colts CB Vontae Davis had a roller-coaster-like first half, flagged twice for pass interference penalties totaling 34 yards but also interception Houston QB T.J. Yates at the Indianapolis 9-yard line to kill the Texans' opening drive ... Houston's first-half drives began at the Texans' 20, 11, 20, 7, 20 and 8-yard lines ... Texans' reserve RB Akeem Hunt had two first-half carries for 22 yards, returning to the state where he attended college at Purdue, 60 miles from Lucas Oil Stadium ... Texans WR Cecil Shorts injured his groin during the second quarter and did not return ... Indianapolis entered having beaten Houston six consecutive times, including a 27-20 victory on Oct. 8 in Houston.