The Houston Texans are looking to secure their first 12-win season since 2012, entering Year 3 under DeMeco Ryans. To accomplish the feat, they’ll have to defeat the Indianapolis Colts at home to close out the regular season.
The Texans’ Week 18 game will air on CBS at Noon CT on Sunday at NRG Stadium. According to BetMGM, the Texans open as a 10.5-point underdog on the road over the Colts, with the over/under set at 39.
Sitting at 11-5 following a 20-16 win over the Los Angeles Chargers, the Texans are in great shape for a third straight division title appearance going into Week 18. The offense stalled during the second half, but two early touchdown passes to Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel from C.J. Stroud was enough to keep momentum on Houston’s side late.
As for the Colts, they’re looking to end the season with at least a .500 record or better. Riley Leonard will get the call at quarterback with Philip Rivers going 0-3 as the starter and he could be fighting one of the league’s best defenses when it comes to closing the gap on quarterbacks.
The Texans, who currently remain a half-game back in the AFC South standings, could at least tie the Jacksonville Jaguars with a win on Sunday. Should the Titans pull off the upset at EverBank Stadium, Houston would clinch the No. 3 seed in the AFC playoffs and host the No. 6 seed next weekend.
Follow along live with Texans Wire throughout Sunday afternoon live at NRG Stadium, from kickoff to the final whistle, as Houston looks to secure a Week 18 win to close out the NFL regular season:
Clutch Ka’imi one last time
The offense did everything right to set up the game-winning drive. Davis Mills connected twice with Jaylin Noel and Xavier Hutchinson to put the Texans into the Colts’ territory. Indy used all three timeouts to set up a 43-yard potential game-winning field goal from Ka’imi Fairbairn, giving Houston a two-point lead.
Big Man TD to win the game
Tommy Togiai had been a name Texans have loved all season long. He’s been a favorite among the coaching staff. And on the final play of the regular season, he took a fumble recovery 17 yards back to a big man touchdown, giving Houston an 8-point win and a ninth straight victory to close out the season.
The Texans will be the No. 5 seed in the AFC playoffs and will travel to face off against the winner of the AFC North.
A new leader in the AFC South
Following a 41-7 win over the Tennessee Titans, the Jacksonville Jaguars have won the AFC South. The Texans will be a wild card in a win or loss over the Colts. With a win, Houston will be guaranteed the No. 5 seed and will face off against either the Baltimore Ravens or Pittsburgh Steelers in the wild-card round.
Here comes Indy late
Taking over eight minutes off the clock, a late 22-yard field goal from Blake Grupe has the Colts up by 1 with just over three minutes to play. Should the score hold, the Texans could fall to the No. 6 seed.
Texans retake the lead
An Alijah Huzzie interception sets up another field goal attempt from Ka’imi Fairbairn. The fifth and potentially final field goal — a 44-yarder — puts the Texans back in front.
Last quarter of the regular season
The Texans trail by one with a chance to go up and secure a 12-win season entering the last quarter of play.
Alec Pierce ejected
Alec Pierce, Indianapolis’ star offensive weapon, was ejected for making contact with the official following an incomplete pass on third down. He’s been the No. 1 threat on either side, hauling in four passes for 132 yards and two touchdowns.
Drive stalls in the red zone, but enough for a field goal
The Texans held the Colts to a field goal to make it a 27-26 game, but the pathway to the end zone was easy for Riley Leonard. Two passes over 16 yards downfield put the Colts in the red zone, but the defense stepped up big.
Fairbairn again
Make it 4-for-4 for Ka’imi Fairbairn gives the Texans a two-point lead with just over six minutes remaining in the third quarter.
Well…good job defense?
It’s a three-and-out for the Colts’ offense, which is good since the Texans are trailing by 1.
It’s time for the second-team
Davis Mills will start the rest of the way on offense, meaning the starters are done for the day.
Wow….bad start for Houston in second half
Three plays later, the Colts have the lead. Alec Pierce’s record-setting day continues with a 66-yard gain to set up Indianapolis at the 1-yard line. Riley Leonard walked it in a play later for a 24-23 lead, marking his third score of the game.
Time to rest starters?
As halftime arrives, the Texans could be score watching. Out at EverBank Stadium, the Jacksonville Jaguars lead 31-7 over the Tennessee Titans and are primed to win the AFC South. Houston could choose to rest starters knowing it’ll be a wild-card team.
Texans expand lead
The offense does enough to get in scoring position, but a stall outside the red zone kept Houston at bay from making it a 10-point game. Instead, Kai’imi Fairbairn drills his third kick of the day, this time from 29 yards out, to give the Texans a 23-17 lead entering halftime.
Alec Pierce about to get paid
Once again Alec Pierce remains in his bag while looking to cash in this offseason. Winning a one-on-one battle against Derek Stingley Jr., the veteran pass-catcher hauled in his second touchdown pass from Riley Leonard, making it a 20-17 game with just under two minutes left.
Pierce, who has three catches for 79 yards, is inching closer toward his first 1,000-yard campaign. He’ll need 50 more yards to hit the 1K marke.
Bad drive for Houston’s offense
The Texans’ offense stalled on third down, leading to a punt inside Indy’s 6-yard line.
Colts waving white flag?
It’s a three-and-out for the Colts and a penalty against special teams. Houston has a chance to make it a 17-point game — or at least a 13-point game — with a scoring drive to close out the first half.
Stroud sensation expands the lead
It’s the C.J. Stroud. On the first play following the fumble recovery, the Texans quarterback kept it himself for a 2-yard touchdown run, expanding Houston’s lead to 10.
Oski Oski Oksi!
The Texans are taking over. Two plays after the Jayden Higgins touchdown, Danielle Hunter stripped-sacked Riley Leonard and watched as the ball rolled near the goal of Indianapolis. Henry To’oTo’o at the Colts’ 2, giving Houston’s offense a chance to tack on their lead even more.
Higgins haul in
An Xavier Hutchinson 33-yard gain put Houston in the red zone, but it took six more plays for C.J. Stroud to connect with Jayden Higgins for an 11-yard touchdown reception. For this first time, the Texans take the lead, 13-10, with just over 11 minutes remaining in the second quarter.
After First quarter
The Colts lead 10-6 with the second quarter on the horizion.
Welcome to Houston, Mr. Imai
The newest Houston Astros pitcher is in the building for his first taste of Houston sports. Star Japanese right-hander Tatsuya Imai, who inked a three-year deal worth $54 million in guarantees, was seen with owner Jim Crane and agent Scott Boras for Sunday’s game.
Back on the board
The Texans forced a third-down stop against Alec Pierce, but the yardage was good enough to set up a 50-yard field goal Blake Grupe. It’s 10-6 Indinapolis entering the final minutes of the first quarter.
Shane Steichen gets in his bag of tricks
Houston forced a three-and-out, but a fake punt and 12-men on the field penalty gave the Colts a gain of 19 and a fresh set of downs.
Bad penalties cost a touchdown drive
C.J. Stroud connected with Jayden Higgins for a pickup of 36, putting the Texans inside the 12, but an ineligible player call against Ed Ingram negated the play. Houston got back six yards, but all it did was set up another 48-yard field goal from Ka’imi Fairbairn to make it 7-6 with just over six minutes remaining in the first quarter.
Riley Leonard came to play
Call it luck. Call it talent. Whatever it is, the Colts take a lead in the game at 7-3 with a 67-yard touchdown pass from Riley Leonard to Alec Pierce on third-and-long in under a minute. Tremon Smith missed his assignment and left the speedy vertical threat wide open for an easy score.
Dalton Schultz starts hot
What a start for Dalton Schultz. Two catches, including a one-handed 32-yard pickup on third-and-10, set up the Texans inside the Colts’ red zone. An intentional grounding pushed Houston to the 40 and made it a third-and-23. Houston took the point with a 51-yard field goal from Ka’imi Fairbairn to make it 3-0.
This is the second straight week that the Texans have scored on the opening drive.
Offensive start
For a second straight week, the Texans will start the game on offense. Last Saturday, Houston connected with a 76-yard touchdown pass to Jayden Higgins on the third play of the game to make it a 7-0 lead.
A celebrity in the house
No Nick Chubb?
It seems like Nick Chubb’s days with the Texans could be coming to an end. Houston elected to make the former Pro Bowl running back a healthy scratch in favor of Dare Ogunbowale and Jahwar Jordan.
Signed to a one-year, $2 million deal this offseason. Chubb began the season as the lead back in place of Pro Bowler Joe Mixon. As the season continued, rookie Woody Marks expanded his role and touches, thus taking away reps from Chubb.
Houston could be playing the long game, as it is with Pro Bowl receiver Nico Collins. The veteran pass-catcher was listed as a healthy scratch ahead of Week 18’s battle since the team needs him at full strength for the postseason. With a veteran such as Chubb, the Texans could be wise to rest him for Week 18 since his impact in the red zone could be ideal next week in the wild-card round.
But the Texans could also be considering moving off the former Cleveland Browns star in favor of youth. Last week as an active player in the 20-16 win over the Los Angeles Chargers, Chubb played in five snaps and totaled one rushing yard.
Chubb, who was due a $250,000 bonus if he ran for 94 yards today to eclipse 600 on the season, won’t get his bonus to elevate his contract. Marks is expected to see a majority of carries on Sunday, but this could be something worth monitoring over the next week as the Texans prep for the postseason.
Indianapolis Colts Inactive list
Here’s a look at the Colts’ inactive list for Week 18’s regular-season finale against the Texans.
Houston Texans Inactive list
Here’s a look at the Texans’ inactive list for Week 18’s regular-season finale against the Colts.
Watch the Texans vs. Colts game FREE on Fubo TV
What TV channel is Texans vs. Chargers on today?
The Texans and Colts play Sunday afternoon on CBS in Week 18 of the 2025 NFL regular season. Houston will look to remain in the playoff hunt and extend its win streak to nine games with a victory over Indianapolis, a goal the team has been seeking for several seasons.
Streaming options for the game include FuboTV
Texans vs. Chargers start time
Kickoff for the Texans’ Week 18 game vs. the Colts is scheduled for Sunday at 3:30 p.m. CT. The television commentators for the game are Ian Eagle (play-by-play), J.J. Watt (analyst) and A.J. Ross (sideline).
Texans-Chargers odds
Texans-Colts injury reports
Texans tickets
Looking to buy Texans tickets for Sunday or in their next three home games? We’ve got you covered.
Texans’ regular-season schedule 2025
Below is Houston’s regular-season schedule.
Week 1: Sunday, September 7, 3:45 p.m. CT: at Los Angeles Rams – L 14-9
Week 2: Monday, September 15, 6 p.m. CT: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (MNF) – L 20-19
Week 3: Sunday, September 21, Noon CT: at Jacksonville Jaguars – L 17-10
Week 4: Sunday, September 28, Noon CT: vs. Tennessee Titans – W 26-0
Week 5: Sunday, October 5, Noon CT: at Baltimore Ravens – W 44-10
Week 6: Sunday, October 12: Bye Week
Week 7: Monday, October 20, 9 p.m. CT: at Seattle Seahawks (MNF) – L 29-17
Week 8: Sunday, October 26, Noon CT: vs. San Francisco 49ers – W 26-15
Week 9: Sunday, November 2, Noon CT: vs. Denver Broncos – L 18-15
Week 10: Sunday, November 9, Noon CT: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars – W 6-29
Week 11: Sunday, November 16, Noon CT: at Tennessee Titans – W 16-13
Week 12: Thursday, November 20, 7:20 p.m. CT: vs. Buffalo Bills – W 23-19
Week 13: Sunday, November 30, Noon CT: at Indianapolis Colts – W 20-16
Week 14: Sunday, December 7, 7:20 p.m. CT: at Kansas City Chiefs- W 20-10
Week 15: Sunday, December 14, Noon CT: vs. Arizona Cardinals – W 40-20
Week 16: Sunday, December 21, 3:20 p.m. CT: vs.Las Vegas Raiders – W 23-21
Week 17: Saturday, December 27, 3:30 p.m. CT: at Los Angeles Chargers – W 20-16
Week 18: Sunday, January 4, Noon: vs. Indianapolis Colts
Texans preseason schedule 2025
Below is Houston’s preseason schedule.
This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Texans come back late over Colts to secure ninth straight victory
Reporting by Cole Thompson, Texans Wire / Texans Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
