Colts end 9-game skid with 19-17 victory over Texans as Shrader kicks winner with 16 seconds left

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indianapolis Colts kept talking about turning the page on their season-ending seven-game losing streak that cost them a playoff spot last year.

Two more losses to start the season only exacerbated the pain.

On Sunday, they finally put an end to the league's longest active losing streak — and perhaps much of the chatter.

Spencer Shrader fought through a groin injury to make four field goals, including a 43-yarder with 16 seconds to go, and the Colts' beleaguered defense held up long enough to finally lose out a 19-17 victory over the Houston Texans — their first win since last November and their first win on American soil since last October.

“It's awesome, obviously, to get that victory,” coach Shane Steichen said. “To get that win against a division opponent is huge for our football team and now we've got to go to London and try to get that done over there, too.”

For the Colts (1-2), the celebration inside the locker room was a welcome respite from the loud critics outside of it.

No, Indy didn't win many style points.

Daniel Jones was 24 of 36 for 235 yards and one touchdown, but also fumbled three times and lost two. The second set up Houston's late go-ahead touchdown.

Jonathan Taylor had 23 carries for only 68 yards. Keenan Allen hauled in six passes for 63 yards and his first TD with the Colts and Josh Downs caught five passes for 77 yards. The defense also gave up a touchdown with 1:48 to play, once again putting the Colts hopes in peril.

This time, though, Jones made the most of his last chance. He hooked up with Laquon Treadwell for 20 yards. Taylor added a 5-yard run and Allen's 5-yard catch on third down came up 1 yard short of a first down, but it was enough to set up Shrader for the 53-yarder.

“I feel like today was one of my best days with how I was striking the ball,” said Shrader, who injured his groin after the opening kickoff. “So I kind of wonder whether it was one of those things where you know sometimes if you slow down a little bit, you actually end up getting a better result because you're smoother? I felt like might have happened today."

Houston's five-game winning streak in the series ended when C.J. Stroud's desperation heave sailed out of bounds short and wide of the end zone as time expired. The Texans are 0-3 for the straight year as the offense sputters.

C.J. Stroud was 16 of 27 for 167 yards with one TD. The Texans rushed 21 times for 70 yards and had only 223 total yards against a team that allowed more than 500 yards in each of its first two games.

“These are the types of games we're supposed to win,” Stroud said. “We fought, but, at the end of the day, there's a lot of things that need to be fixed.”

It looked as though Indy's struggles would continue when Jones lost the football and Tommy Togiai recovered at the Texans 46-yard line with 4:40 left in the game. Seven plays later, Woody Marks scored on 1-yard run and the extra point gave Houston a 17-16 lead with 1:48 to go.

Instead, the Colts rallied to end their skid.

“Happy,” Steichen said, describing the locker room. “Very happy.”

Texans: LB Azeez Al-Shaair left in the first half with a groin injury, returned at the start of the second half, left again in the third quarter after re-injuring his groin and returned again late in the game. DE Mario Edwards and WR Xavier Hutchinson both left with injuries late in the fourth quarter. Edwards went to the locker room with a left leg injury. Coach DeMeco Ryans had no postgame updates.

Colts: DE Laiatu Latu left early with a chest injury. He returned in the second half.

Allen's first catch of the day was not only his first score with the Colts, it also sent him past former Texans star and Hall of Famer Andre Johnson, for 12th on the NFL's career list. He now has 1,068 receptions — trailing Colts receivers coach Reggie Wayne by two for No. 11.

Allen also had his 71st career TD reception, moving him into a tie for 50th all-time with Hall of Famer Bob Hayes and Wesley Walker.

Referee Ronald Torbert gave the officiating crew a vulgar instruction while his microphone remained on after announcing the fumble on the kickoff had been reversed.

“You guys better get your (expletive) together,” Torbert blurted out, drawing laughter inside the stadium.

The reversal gave Houston the ball, instead of setting up Indy at the Texans 28, and Stroud led Houston to its first TD, a 1-yard pass from Stroud to Foster Moreau to make it 10-7 late in the third quarter..

Texans: Return home to face rival Dallas.

Colts: Travel to London next Sunday to face Washington.

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

Houston Texans tight end Foster Moreau, right, catches a pass for touchdown as Indianapolis Colts linebacker Bryce Boettcher defends during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Keenan Allen, bottom, catches a pass for a touchdown as Houston Texans safety Reed Blankenship defends during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Keenan Allen (10) celebrates after a touchdown catch against the Houston Texans during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Indianapolis Colts kicker Spencer Shrader (3) kicks a game-winning field against the Indianapolis Colts during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Indianapolis Colts kicker Spencer Shrader (3) watches his game-winning field goal against the Houston Texans during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Breanna Stewart produced yet another clutch performance in the WNBA playoffs with 34 points and 12 rebounds for the New York Liberty in a 91-75 victory over the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx to open their best-of-three first-round series on Sunday.

“She’s a walking mismatch," said sidekick Sabrina Ionescu, who added 13 points.

Stewart, the two-time league MVP, added six assists, two steals and two blocks. She shot 11 for 18 from the floor with her friend and former college teammate Napheesa Collier, the 2024 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year, guarding her most of the afternoon.

“We did a solid job in the first half and then we just fouled, fouled, fouled,” Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said. “We can’t give her 12 free throws. Fouling at the end of the shot clock is just not smart.”

Stewart, who recently helped the U.S. national team win a fifth consecutive World Cup, has the second-highest postseason scoring average by any player in league history. She was two short of the franchise record for points in a playoff game, as the Liberty went 13 for 25 from 3-point range.

With center Jonquel Jones (eight points) playing through an ankle injury, the Liberty were more than happy to fire away from the outside. Leonie Fiebich went 4 for 5 from deep and had 16 points.

“We knew the shots that we were going to get,” Stewart said. “We had a few days to really practice that and be intentional, and whenever we were able to draw two — kick it to the open person, and shoot it with confidence.”

Nia Brodie led the Lynx with 16 points in 19 minutes off the bench and Kayla McBride had 14 points after missing her first five 3-point attempts. Collier and All-Star center Natasha Howard each fouled out, and star rookie Olivia Miles had a quiet postseason debut with 11 points on 3-for-12 shooting and just one assist.

“I thought we even struggled in the first half even though we had a lead,” Reeve said. “It was a little too much grinding. I think there's some easier things we can do."

New York hosts Game 2 on Tuesday with the opportunity to eliminate Minnesota, which must win to bring Game 3 back to Target Center on Thursday.

The Liberty were as tough of an opponent as a team with the league's best regular season record could face, finishing 26-18 and just two years removed from their first WNBA championship that came at the expense of the Lynx in a dramatic final that went the full five games.

The Liberty were ousted in the first round last season by the Phoenix Mercury, who then eliminated the top-seeded Lynx before losing to the Las Vegas Aces for the title.

With the memory of that humbly short trip to the 2025 playoffs still fresh, Stewart warned her teammates not to find satisfaction in the way they seized home-court advantage from Minnesota, reflecting on the overtime win in Phoenix last year that preceded a 26-point loss in New York.

“This doesn't mean relax,” Stewart said.

See AP’s full WNBA coverage here

Minnesota Lynx guard Olivia Miles reacts during the first half of Game 1 in the first round of the WNBA basketball playoffs against the New York Liberty, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt)

Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier (24) drives toward the hoop while New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart (30) defends during the first half of Game 1 in the first round of the WNBA basketball playoffs, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt)

Minnesota Lynx guard Maya Caldwell, right, and New York Liberty center Jonquel Jones, second from right, vie for the ball during the first half of Game 1 in the first round of the WNBA basketball playoffs, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt)

New York Liberty guard Marine Johannes, top, and Minnesota Lynx guard Maya Caldwell, bottom, battle for possession of the ball during the second half of a WNBA basketball game Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart (30) dribbles downcourt as Minnesota Lynx guard Maya Caldwell (3) defends during the second half of a WNBA basketball game Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)