Houston Texans vs Indianapolis Colts Box Score on Dec 11, 2016

The Sports Xchange
Dec 11, 2016

INDIANAPOLIS -- Nick Novak kicked a franchise-record-tying five field goals Sunday and the Houston Texans defeated the Indianapolis Colts 22-17 in a crucial AFC South game in Lucas Oil Stadium.

Coupled with Tennessee's 13-10 victory over Denver, the Texans and the Titans each improved to 7-6 and Indianapolis fell to 6-7, including 0-2 against the Texans. The Colts are 3-4 at home.

Indianapolis quarterback Andrew Luck was intercepted twice and lost a fumble, with each of the three turnovers setting up a Novak field goal.

Novak's 34-yard field goal with 2:47 remaining gave Houston a 22-17 lead, capping a drive that drained 6:19 off the clock.

The Colts had one more opportunity, but Luck threw incomplete on fourth-and-1 near midfield in the final minute and the Texans ran out the clock.

Luck's 35-yard touchdown pass to T.Y. Hilton with 9:06 to go pulled Indianapolis within 19-17, capping an eight-play, 83-yard drive.

Novak's fourth field goal -- a 41-yarder -- with 11:53 to play gave Houston a 19-10 lead. The field goal was set up when the Texans' Whitney Mercilus recovered a Luck fumble caused by Jadeveon Clowney.

Indianapolis closed within 16-10 with 9:53 left in the third quarter on Luck's 18-yard touchdown pass to Frank Gore after a 41-yard pass interference penalty against the Texans' Robert Nelson.

Houston increased its lead to 16-3 with 12:46 remaining in the third quarter on Novak's 24-yard field goal, which was set up by Andre Hal's interception of Luck and return to the Colts' 18.

The Texans scored 10 points during the final 2:26 of the second quarter to take a 13-3 halftime lead.

Lamar Miller's 2-yard touchdown run with 2:26 remaining in the first half, capping a 12-play, 80-yard drive highlighted by Akeem Hunt's 19-yard run to the Indianapolis 13, gave Houston a 10-3 lead.

Novak's 52-yard field goal with 12 seconds to go in the second quarter extended the Texans' advantage to 13-3.

Adam Vinatieri missed a 55-yard field goal attempt with 46 seconds left in the half, giving Houston the ball at its 45-yard line, setting up Novak's 52-yarder.

Vinatieri's 32-yard field goal gave the Colts a 3-0 lead with 8:31 left in the first quarter, and Novak's 21-yard field goal after a Quintin Demps interception of Luck tied it a 3 with 4:00 to go in the opening quarter.

Houston outgained Indianapolis 178-146 in the first 30 minutes when Texans quarterback Brock Osweiller completed 9 of 15 passes for 89 yards and Luck connect on 9 of 22 for 91 yards.

NOTES: Indianapolis defeated Houston 13 consecutive times in the Hoosier state until the Texans registered a 16-10 victory on Dec. 20, 2015. ... The Colts started Rashaan Melvin at left corner in place of Patrick Robinson and T.J. Green at free safety in place of Clayton Geathers. ... Indianapolis lost LG Jack Mewhort to a left knee injury in the third quarter. ... Texans RG Jeff Allen left the game in the fourth quarter with a concussion.