Houston needed its defense to step up on Sunday.

The Texans offense struggled, faced a relentless pass rush and injuries against the Colts. It wasn’t a day where CJ Stroud or the offense could control the game and they needed the defense to make the difference.

Make the difference is what the Texans defensive unit did in a AFC South Divisional matchup, forcing two turnovers, sacking Anthony Richardson five times and stopping the Colts offense nearly every time it was needed in a 23-20 Texans win that propelled Houston to a 6-2 record, staying atop the division with a big win.

“I’m proud of our guys on defense,” said Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans. “I’m proud of the way they covered and I’m really proud of the line. They sacked a quarterback that is hard to sack five times today, got pressure on him and it’s a big credit to them. Everyone got after it today and it was fun on that side of the ball.”

Houston got the ball first and drove right down the field before being forced to settle for a field goal to take the lead. Indianapolis came back and tied things on its first drive and after a Houston three and out, the Colts took the lead on a busted coverage, where Josh Downs came wide open for a 69-yard touchdown throw from Anthony Richardson. Houston responded with a 10-play, 70 yard drive that culminated in a 14-yard touchdown run from Joe Mixon to tie the game.

Jalen Pitre made a huge play late in the half, intercepting a pass and returning it to the Indianapolis 7-yard-line, and CJ Stroud found Tank Dell on a 7-yard touchdown pass that gave Houston a 17-10 lead heading into the locker room.

“Pitre has been our spark plug, he just finds a way to be all over the field and that interception was such a huge play,” Ryans said. “We needed those points on offense and he made the play of the game with that. I’m proud of Jalen. He’s continued to get better and these past three weeks have been some of the best football he’s played.”

Houston and Indianapolis traded field goals in the third quarter and the Texans added another field goal early in the fourth before Jonathan Taylor scored a touchdown on a 1-yard run that trimmed Houston’s lead to three points. The Colts then stopped the Texans in the redzone, forcing a fumble and recovering it. Houston drained the clock but punted, leaving Indianapolis 54 seconds for its final drive. The Houston defense came up big one final time, stopping a Colts hail mary with a sack as the clock ran out and sealing the three point win.

“Our defense came up huge for us today and we have to find ways to be better as an offense in those moments,” Stroud said. “We have to find a way to get on the ball or not lose it and we know how big of a mistake that was, it could have cost the game. Our defense was huge today because we have to find a way to play complimentary football as an offense.”

Stroud ended the day with 285 passing yards and Mixon ran for 100 yards to lead the Texans, while Stephon Diggs, who suffered a knee injury in the third quarter, had 81 yards receiving. 

That balance will be needed again when the Texans travel on a short week to play the New York Jets on Thursday. They may be shorthanded in the game and they know it will be another important one where they need to not fall short.

“It’s hard on these short weeks,” Stroud said. “We just have to focus on recovery and preparation. We know the Jets will be ready to play at a high level and we have to match that. We have to be able to withstand that and keep building, keep rolling and find a way to earn another win.”