Gardner Minshew and the Colts have been on fire in recent weeks, but CJ Stroud is looking to cap his Offensive Rookie of the Year campaign with a trip to the playoffs. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
No game in NFL Week 18 has clearer consequences than the Houston Texans' game against the Indianapolis Colts.
The winner makes it to the playoffs. The season of losers is over.
Both teams currently sit at 9-7, two-thirds of the way into a three-way tie atop the AFC South with the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jaguars can win the division with a win over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, otherwise the Texans-Colts winner will also win the division.
The Texans enter the game as slight favorites, thanks largely to the presence of rookie quarterback CJ Stroud, who is currently the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year favorite. The 2023 No. 2 overall pick looked electric all season but missed two games last month due to a concussion.
The Colts were supposed to have their own rookie quarterback at the helm, with No. 4 pick Anthony Richardson, but he has been out since October. Gardner Minshew has led the team ever since, winning six of the last eight games.
Follow Yahoo Sports for highlights and updates from Saturday's game.
Live107 updates
- Sun Jan 7, 2024 at 3:03am GMT
Injury update: CB JuJu Brents (hamstring) is questionable to return.
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) January 7, 2024
- Sun Jan 7, 2024 at 02:58 GMT
- Sun Jan 7, 2024 at 02:58 GMT
Pro: Nico Collins is up to seven catches for 158 yards after the Texans' first drive of the second half.
Disadvantage: They stay on their own territory and bat to open the half.
- Sun Jan 7, 2024 at 2:40am GMT
Minshew tries to throw it away.
It goes into halftime, the Texans lead 14:6. They will also be the first to get the ball in the second half.
- Sun Jan 7, 2024 at 02:38 GMT
The Texans got the ball back and burned a total of 17 seconds on a three-and-out. The Colts will somehow get the ball back at their own 34 with seven seconds left in the first half.
- Sun Jan 7, 2024 at 2:33am GMT
Matt Gay makes the 52-yarder. 14-6 Texans.
- Sun Jan 7, 2024 at 2:31am GMT
And the Colts run up the middle and gain 10 yards to reach the Houston 34. The field goal unit comes out with 40 seconds left.
- Sun Jan 7, 2024 at 2:31am GMT
Oof, Minshew just throws a low shot to Mo Alie-Cox. 3rd and 15th coming soon.
- Sun Jan 7, 2024 at 02:29 GMT
Gardner Minshew is pressured into a desperate tackle by Will Anderson Jr. that falls incomplete, but an illegal contact penalty gives Indianapolis a first down.
- Sun Jan 7, 2024 at 2:25am GMT
TOUCHDOWN TEXAN
CJ Stroud finds a wide open Andrew Beck for his second TD pass of the night. He is 10 of 12 for 151 yards, 2 TDs and no INTs.
- Sun Jan 7, 2024 at 2:20am GMT
Nico Collins has up to 5 catches for 129 yards and a TD on 5 targets. He just dragged a defender on 3rd-and-2 to reach the red zone.
WR1 stuff.
- Sun Jan 7, 2024 at 2:15am GMT
Desmond King has a good night and strikes back:
Two 15-yarders and a 13-yarder on the last one.— Drew Dougherty (@DoughertyDrew) January 7, 2024
- Sun Jan 7, 2024 at 2:15am GMT
Colts have gained 40 yards in 15 games since the first series.
— Joel A. Erickson (@JoelAErickson) January 7, 2024
- Sunday, January 7, 2024 at 02:11 GMT
- Sun Jan 7, 2024 at 2:08am GMT
The Texans line up on 4th and 1 at the 50, but Laremy Tunsil is called for a false start. They sting now.
- Sun Jan 7, 2024 at 2:05am GMT
The #Colts still has to reach CJ Stroud's area code tonight after sacking him six times in Week 2.
– George Bremer (@gmbremer) January 7, 2024
- Sun Jan 7, 2024 at 2:03am GMT
It looks like Taylor was grabbed by the collar, but it's a legal play since it was in the pocket.
- Sun Jan 7, 2024 at 2:01am GMT
Jonathan Taylor had 66 yards on 12 touches. The rest of the #Colts Got 22 yards on 10 snaps.
– George Bremer (@gmbremer) January 7, 2024
- Sun Jan 7, 2024 at 2:00am GMT
This was a strange piece. Jonathan Taylor collides with rookie wide receiver Josh Downs in the backfield on third down. It also looked like there was a Houston horse collar there.
The Colts are punting now and have gained 37 yards in three drives since that field goal.
- Sun Jan 7, 2024 at 1:57am GMT
The Colts get some breathing room with a neutral zone violation and now a first down on a Jonathan Taylor run.