Colts start fast before holding off Texans, 33-28

Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts had a great first quarter and did just enough the rest of the way to hold off the Houston Texans, 33-28, on Thursday night.

The Colts (4-2) raced to a 24-0 lead after one quarter, but allowed Houston to cut it to 33-28 early in the fourth quarter on J.J. Watt’s fumble return for a touchdown.

The Texans (3-3) had two opportunities to take the lead late, but the Colts recovered fumbles by Andre Johnson and Ryan Fitzpatrick in the last five minutes.

Luck finished with 370 yards passing and three touchdowns, and T.Y. Hilton had a career-high 223 yards receiving with a touchdown, to give Indy first place in the AFC South.

The Texans were driving with less than five minutes remaining when Johnson, who had been called for pass interference two plays earlier, caught a 13-yard pass and fumbled.

Watt knocked down Luck’s pass on third down on Indy’s next drive to give Houston one last chance. But Bjoern Werner sacked Fitzpatrick and stripped the ball, and D’Qwell Jackson recovered.

Fitzpatrick threw for 212 yards and a touchdown, and Arian Foster had 109 yards rushing with two scores for Houston.

Indianapolis led by 12 when Luck fumbled, and Watt recovered it and returned it 45 yards for a touchdown. It was Watt’s third touchdown this season. He also has scored on an interception return and a reception.

Foster had a 34-yard run before Johnson grabbed a 26-yard reception to get Houston down to the two-yard line in the third quarter. Foster ran wide before cutting back inside and into the end zone untouched on the next play to get the Texans to 27-21.

The Texans were within six points in the third quarter when Luck, who was under pressure, threw a 33-yard touchdown pass to Hilton. The two-point conversion failed, leaving Indianapolis up 33-21.

After a dreadful first quarter where Houston managed just two yards, the Texans’ offense finally got going in the second quarter. They kicked a field goal on fourth and five, but the Colts got a penalty to give Houston a new set of downs.

They took advantage of the opportunity when Fitzpatrick found Johnson in the corner of the end zone and he managed to get both feet in bounds for a four-yard touchdown two plays later to cut the lead to 24-7. It was the first touchdown of the season for Johnson.

Houston got the ball back when Jared Crick tipped a pass by Luck that was intercepted by Justin Tuggle.

The Texans got to 24-14 when Foster scored on a 12-yard run.

The Colts added a field goal to make it 27-14.

Luck found Hilton on a 40-yard pass early in the first quarter, but Indy’s offense stalled after that and the Colts settled for a field goal to make it 3-0.

Trent Richardson had a five-yard touchdown run on a two-play drive that included a 49-yard pass to T.Y. Hilton.