Stroud throws TD pass, Mixon adds score as Texans outlast Colts 23-20

HOUSTON -- C.J. Stroud threw for 285 yards and a touchdown and Joe Mixon ran for 102 yards pinch a people to thief nan Houston Texans to a 23-20 triumph complete nan Indianapolis Colts connected Sunday.

Stroud bounced backmost aft he had a career-worst 86 yards passing successful a nonaccomplishment to nan Packers past week to let nan Texans (6-2) to widen their lead atop nan AFC South.

Houston’s defense intercepted Anthony Richardson erstwhile and hurried and harassed him each crippled arsenic nan Texans swept their play bid pinch Indianapolis (4-4) for conscionable nan 2nd clip successful franchise history.

The Colts appeared to person taken nan lead pinch astir 3 minutes near erstwhile Mixon fumbled and it was recovered by protect extremity Dayo Odeyingbo.

He jumped up aft grabbing nan fumble and rumbled 84 yards for what was first called a touchdown that made it 27-23. But nan play was reviewed and nan people was wiped distant erstwhile he was ruled down by contact.

The Colts couldn’t move nan shot aft that and had to punt aft Danielle Hunter sacked Richardson connected 3rd down.

Indianapolis sewage nan shot again late, but Richardson was sacked by Hunter again and fumbled connected nan past play to extremity nan crippled earlier he could effort a desperation pass.

Richardson was 10 of 32 for 175 yards pinch a touchdown successful his 2nd crippled backmost aft missing almost 3 afloat games pinch an injured correct hip. He was sacked 5 times and deed different 8 times.

Jonathan Taylor had 20 carries for 105 yards and a touchdown for nan Colts successful his return aft missing nan past 3 games pinch a sprained ankle.

The Texans led 17-10 astatine halftime and Ka’imi Fairbairn’s 2nd section extremity of nan half pushed Houston’s lead to 23-13 early successful nan 4th quarter.

Richardson recovered Josh Downs for a 25-yard summation that was initially ruled a touchdown, but a reappraisal showed that he was down astatine nan 1. Taylor scored 2 plays later to get nan Colts wrong 23-20 pinch 8½ minutes near successful nan fourth.

The Texans, who were already playing without Nico Collins, mislaid Stefon Diggs to a non-contact knee wounded successful nan 3rd quarter. Diggs was moving a way precocious successful nan 3rd 4th and pulled up and grabbed astatine his correct knee earlier falling to nan ground.

He walked to nan locker room nether his ain powerfulness and didn’t return. Diggs, who is successful his first play successful Houston aft a waste and acquisition from Buffalo, had 5 receptions for 81 yards earlier he was injured.

The crippled was tied astatine 3 erstwhile Richardson recovered Downs for a 69-yard touchdown that made it 10-3 precocious successful nan first quarter.

The Texans tied it again erstwhile Mixon scored connected a 14-yard run, evading 1 defender earlier dragging cornerback Jaylon Jones into nan extremity area pinch him.

Jalen Pitre intercepted Richardson and returned it to nan Indianapolis 7 adjacent nan extremity of nan 2nd quarter. Stroud recovered Tank Dell successful nan backmost of nan extremity area connected nan adjacent play to put Houston connected apical 17-10.

Colts: S Trevor Denbow injured his knee successful nan first 4th and didn’t return.

Texans: LT Jarrett Patterson near successful nan 2nd 4th pinch a concussion. … S Calen Bullock injured his enarthrosis successful nan 3rd quarter.

Andre Johnson was presented pinch his Hall of Fame ringing of excellence during a halftime ceremony. The receiver, who starred for Houston from 2003-14, became nan first Texans to beryllium inducted into nan Pro Footbal Hall of Fame this summer.

“Me making nan Hall of Fame wasn’t conscionable astir me, it was astir this full city,” Johnson told nan crowd.

Colts: Visit Minnesota adjacent Sunday.

Texans: Visit nan Jets Thursday night.

___

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl