Texans Secure AFC Fifth Seed With 38 to 30 Win Over Colts in Late Season Playoff Update

Houston — The Houston Texans closed the regular season with a 38 - 30 victory over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, extending their winning streak to nine games and locking up the No. 5 seed in the AFC playoff bracket.

C J Stroud accounted for two touchdowns before sitting out the second half as coach DeMeco Ryans elected to rest multiple starters once division title hopes were no longer within reach. Ka imi Fairbairn delivered the decisive moment, converting a 43 yard field goal with 12 seconds remaining to put Houston ahead for good.

The win pushed the Texans to a 12 - 5 record and set up a wild card matchup on the road against the Pittsburgh Steelers next weekend. Houston had already clinched a third consecutive postseason berth last week, but Sunday’s result finalized its playoff positioning and closed the regular season on a high note.

Fairbairn finished with a career high six field goals, accounting for 18 points and continuing a late season stretch in which Houston has leaned heavily on special teams efficiency. Defensive tackle Tommy Togiai added a final exclamation point by returning a fumble 17 yards for a touchdown on the final play of the game.

Stroud played one half, throwing an 11 yard touchdown pass and scoring on a 2 yard run before giving way to backups. Ryans also rested Will Anderson Jr Danielle Hunter and Derek Stingley Jr in the second half, prioritizing health with the playoff timeline now set.

Houston became the fifth team since 1990 to start a season 0 - 3 and still reach the playoffs, and the first franchise to accomplish that feat twice after doing so in 2018. The turnaround underscores a season defined by resilience and sustained defensive consistency.

Indianapolis rallied repeatedly behind rookie quarterback Riley Leonard, who threw for 270 yards with two touchdowns and rushed for another score in his first NFL start. Leonard also committed a costly interception and lost a fumble as the Colts saw several late opportunities slip away.

The Colts briefly took a 30 - 29 lead with under three minutes remaining, but Fairbairn responded moments later with his sixth field goal to swing momentum back to Houston. Indianapolis attempted to force one final stop, only for Togiai’s return touchdown to seal the outcome.

Alec Pierce recorded four catches for a season high 132 yards and two touchdowns but was ejected late in the third quarter after contact with an official following a disputed non call. Jonathan Taylor was limited to 26 yards on 14 carries, finishing the season with 1,585 rushing yards and second in the league.

The loss dropped Indianapolis to 8 - 9 and marked its seventh straight defeat to close the season. The Colts were eliminated from postseason contention last week, and Sunday’s game further highlighted ongoing issues finishing close contests.

Houston now turns its focus to Pittsburgh, where the Texans will open the playoffs against a veteran Steelers roster. The next steps include evaluating player health, particularly at running back after Jawhar Jordan exited with an ankle injury, and finalizing a postseason game plan built around defense, ball control, and special teams execution.

With momentum intact and a defined postseason outlook, the Texans enter the playoffs as one of the AFC’s hottest teams, having transformed an early season setback into another January opportunity.