In a tightly contested Week 3 matchup, the Indianapolis Colts narrowly defeated the Houston Texans 18-16, keeping their playoff hopes alive in the 2026 season. Both teams fought hard, but the Colts managed to find a way to secure the win on their home turf. Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr led the charge with a solid performance, throwing for 269 yards, while C.J. Stroud of the Texans found the end zone with one touchdown pass. Brock Bowers emerged as Richardson's go-to target, racking up 130 receiving yards, but the ground game struggled, with Jonathan Taylor only managing 27 rushing yards. Defensively, Sauce Gardner made a significant impact for the Colts with two interceptions, which proved crucial in swinging the momentum of the game. The Texans' Will Anderson Jr. notched two sacks, but it was Gardner's timely picks that marked the turning point, allowing Indianapolis to maintain their slim lead and ultimately clinch the victory.