The rivalry between the Texans and the Colts has become thrilling

The first choice seemed certain, but Mills and tight end Jordan Akins teamed up on what turned out to be one of the greatest plays in franchise history. They ran in a 28-yard touchdown to bring the Texans within one point. Rather than settle for another tie, Smith opted to go for the win, and Mills and Akins ran in another touchdown to give the Texans a one-point lead with 50 seconds left.

The Colts’ clock expired at 46 minutes, which gave the Texans the win. Fans were frustrated. Ryans was hired and executive vice president/general manager Nick Caserio selected Stroud with the second overall pick in the draft after the Carolina Panthers traded up to take Alabama QB Bryce Young.

Stroud’s choice worked out pretty well, didn’t it?

Now let’s go back to last season. The Texans opened with a loss in Baltimore before returning to Houston to face the Colts in the first matchup between rookie quarterbacks Stroud and Anthony Richardson. Before getting hurt, Richardson ran for two touchdowns and the Colts left NRG Stadium with a 31-20 victory.

The Texans recovered well from that 0-2 start to the season. When they played the Colts again, it was on January 6th and a playoff berth was on the line for both teams. Gardner Minshew had replaced the injured Richardson as the starter earlier in the season.

Stroud opened the game with a 75-yard touchdown pass to Nico Collins, and the Texans never trailed, but they tied the game in the fourth quarter when Matt Gay made it 17-17 with a 35-yard field goal.

Devin Singletary gave the Texans a 23-17 lead with 6:20 left, but Ka’imi Fairbairn missed the extra point. The Colts needed a touchdown and an extra point to win.

Indianapolis reached the Texans’ 15-yard line. On fourth down and one, rather than handing the ball to Jonathan Taylor, who had run for 188 yards and a touchdown, the Colts passed to Minshew. He had running back Tyler Goodson wide open for what would have been a first down, but he dropped the pass.

Ryans called kicker Cam Johnston to take a safety, and the Texans clinched a playoff spot and, ultimately, the AFC South title with the 23-19 victory.

Further illustrating how Stroud’s pick turned out to be the best in team history, he completed 20 of 26 passes for 264 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions in that Colts conquest. His efficiency rating was 134.1.

Days later, Stroud was named the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year, and the Texans crushed Cleveland 45-14 in the wild-card round — their first playoff victory since the 2019 season.

Now, if Sunday’s game at Lucas Oil Stadium is anything close to the kind of tantalizing results of the last two seasons, the Texans better strap on their helmets because fans know how badly Indianapolis wants revenge.