NFL Game of the Week: Houston outlasts Indianapolis in season opener headlined by star sophomores

When September rolls around it means two things; Starbucks brings back their seasonal pumpkin beverages (I am proudly caffeinated by a pumpkin cream cold foam cold brew right now) and NFL football has returned (queue Carrie Underwood’s SNF intro).

The return of the NFL brought along the return of a player who lit up the field within the first five weeks last season to the tune of 713 total yards and seven total touchdowns.

That’s right. Anthony Richardson returned to the field for his sophomore season in Indianapolis after an injury-shortened rookie year.

AR-5 suffered a concussion then a shoulder sprain on his throwing shoulder that ended his 2023 campaign, but picked up right where he left off with a 60-yard bomb to Alec Pierce in the first quarter.

On the other side of the field, reigning Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud is looking to resume his play that brought the Houston Texans to the AFC Divisional Round just a year after a 3-13-1 2022 that led to Stroud’s selection with the #2 overall pick.

After a slow start that saw Texans’ kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn nail two 50-plus yard field goals, Stroud got it rolling in the second quarter with a 55-yard pass down the hashes to Nico Collins and then followed that up with a captain-to-captain touchdown throw across the middle to Stefon Diggs for the first of many between the two Space City studs.

Both teams would then trade punts before Richardson would throw a red zone interception over his intended target into the hands of Houston’s round-three rookie out of USC, Calen Bullock.

With new life and 2 ½ minutes to go, Stroud drove down the field but was unable to capitalize before the half as Houston led their AFC South opponent 12-7 at the break.

After the half, a field goal would extend the Texans’ lead to eight before a blocked punt by Indy’s special teams unit gave Johnathan Taylor a first and goal at the 5-yard line. Taylor would punch it in and a failed two-point conversion attempt later cut the lead to two.

Taylor’s touchdown would kickstart a second-half scoring spree that saw both teams score on the next four possessions as newly-signed Joe Mixon would find the endzone and run his way to 160 yards on the ground in his debut.

Houston would tack on another by way of Stroud and Diggs while Indy answered both touchdowns with yet another Richardson deep ball, this time to Ashton Dulin, that was just as impressive as his first shot.

The ensuing Indianapolis possession was déjà vu as Richardson found Pierce yet again for 50-plus yards to set the Colts up near the red zone where the dual-threat quarterback would eventually find the endzone on a three-yard scramble, closing the gap to two with a 29-27 Houston lead.

This would set up the defense with the chance to get the ball back and give Richardson, who shined with nine completions for 212 yards, two touchdowns and one interception along with 56 yards and a touchdown on the ground, a chance to lead a game-winning drive.

However, it was to no avail as a Nico Collins catch on the sideline would ice the game for the Texans (1-0), led by Stroud’s 234 yards and two scores.

Houston’s offense was too much and collected 417 total yards in 40 minutes of possession to Indy’s 20, something Richardson and Co. will look to avoid as they head to Lambeau next Sunday to face the well-rested Green Bay Packers (0-1).

The Texans will play host to the Chicago Bears next Sunday on primetime football in a matchup of undefeated teams.

Jeremy Rose is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email jrose0531@gmail.com.