Colts 19, Texans 17: Shrader From 53 With 16 Seconds Left

September 27, 2026 - Indianapolis - Spencer Shrader felt the groin in warm-ups and told trainers it was not good. Four hours later the roof was open, the Rivalry jerseys were on, and the kick from 53 was down the middle with 16 seconds left.

The Indianapolis Colts beat the Houston Texans 19-17. It was Indianapolis' first win in 321 days, per the club, and the end of a nine-game skid that ran through last season. Houston fell to 0-3. Daniel Jones threw for 235 yards and a score. C.J. Stroud threw for 167. The difference was four Shrader field goals and a defense that finally got off the field after two weeks of leaking yards.

Led for 59 minutes, trailed for 92 seconds

Shrader opened from 39 after 13 plays. Jones found Keenan Allen from 6 at 11:08 of the second. 10-0. Allen's first touchdown since Week 7 of 2025, when Indianapolis beat his old Chargers club. Alec Pierce was on injured reserve. The deep job went to everybody else.

Stroud answered. Twelve plays, 68 yards, Foster Moreau from a yard. 10-7. Shrader from 58 at 1:03 of the half, tying his career long. 13-7. The third quarter was empty. Shrader from 37 at 12:43 of the fourth. 16-7. Indianapolis had led the entire afternoon.

Houston finally moved. Ka'imi Fairbairn from 24 at 7:33. 16-10. Woody Marks scored from a yard with 1:48 left. 17-16. First Houston lead of the day. The Texans had been stuck under 100 yards through three quarters, per VanderBlog. The fourth quarter was the first time the offense looked awake.

The Colts got the ball at their 35 after a touchback. Jones hit Allen for 5 to the Houston 36 with 16 seconds left. Shrader's range, special teams coordinator Brian Mason had said, tops out around 71 on a perfect strike. Fifty-three was inside it. Snap. Hold. Good. 19-17.

Three takeaways, 223 yards, and still a loss

Houston won the turnover battle 3-0. Will Anderson Jr. had 2.5 sacks, a forced fumble, and a recovery. Reed Blankenship intercepted Jones. DeMeco Ryans had been waiting on takeaways. He got them. The offense did not cash them until it was almost too late.

Jones said the turnovers were on him: get the ball out, protect it when you can't. Shane Steichen called ball security in the pocket the biggest thing to clean up. The Colts still held Houston to 223 yards. They had given up 1,029 in two weeks, per the club. Sunday: four three-and-outs, three sacks, DeForest Buckner with 1.5 of them. Jonathan Taylor ran 23 times for 68. Anderson said they neutralized him. Taylor did not reach the end zone.

Tyler Warren caught 9 of 10 for 55. Josh Downs had five for 77. Allen finished with six for 63 and the score. Stroud was 16 of 27. David Montgomery ran 11 times for 33. Xavier Hutchinson led Houston with three catches for 51. Marks' 1-yard run was five carries and 15 yards for the afternoon, plus the score that almost stole it.

Shrader handled no kickoffs. He made every placekick: 39, 58, 37, 53, and the extra point. The Colts listed him as dealing with the groin and still nails. Houston's last drive after the 53-yarder had no time to become a story.

Dallas was next for Houston that week. Pittsburgh is next now. Indianapolis already used the win as a stepping stone in London. The tape from this one still reads the same: a kicker who almost sat, a front that wrecked the pocket, and 16 seconds that belonged to Shrader.

AthX Engine on a 2.5-sack loss

AthX Engine NFL scoring already has the Week 3 lines in. Anderson's 2.5 sacks and the takeaway work land at 102.50, the top total in this game. Blankenship is 58.50. Buckner is 52.50. Adetomiwa Adebawore is 49.50. Shrader is 38.00. Indianapolis' team line is 54.25.

Fantasy points measure the box. Price is what traders will pay for Anderson after a loss that still looks like a defensive masterclass, and for a Colts kicker who finished a 321-day wait from 53 yards. They move together. They are not the same number.

Track Anderson, Stroud, Taylor, Shrader, and both clubs on the marketplace. Indianapolis visits Pittsburgh on Oct. 11. Houston visits Tennessee that afternoon.

*Sources: ESPN game page, Colts.com wrap, Shrader feature, Texans VanderBlog, Texans takeaways. AthX Engine Week 3 lines scored from nflverse weekly stats (CC-BY 4.0). Information only; not financial advice.*