Brock Osweiler comes alive just in time to help the Texans beat the Colts

Andrew Luck outplayed Brock Osweiler through most of the game, but his winning streak against the Texans was snapped Sunday night as the Indianapolis Colts suffered a 26-23 overtime loss in Houston.

The loss is Luck’s second to the Texans. In seven games against the AFC South foe, Luck has only lost just twice, including in the very first meeting of his career. The Texans and Colts split their series last season, but Luck was sidelined with a torn abdominal muscle and lacerated kidney in the game the Texans won.

Luck outperformed Brock Osweiler in regulation, finishing with 252 yards, one touchdown and an interception, plus 53 yards on the ground and a rushing touchdown. Osweiler stepped up in the fourth quarter and overtime, helping the Texans hold on for the win.

Through one quarter, the Texans had 5 net yards of total offense. Through the third quarter, Osweiler had passed for just 89 yards against a secondary that has given up 301 yards per game through the air. Osweiler finished with 269 yards and two touchdowns after turning it on in the fourth quarter with 135 passing yards and both scores.

Lamar Miller had a huge game, rushing for 149 yards and a touchdown, including this one that came late in the fourth quarter.

Miller’s stellar performance and the Texans’ late-game effort at a comeback helped to overcome Osweiler’s early play.

Houston’s defense struggled to pressure Luck throughout the game despite the fact that he’s been sacked more often than any other quarterback in the NFL so far this season. Houston sacked Luck just twice in regulation, although the second time helped swing momentum in the Texans’ favor late in the fourth quarter. Andre Hal notched his first career sack with 2:28 remaining and the Texans trailing by seven points.

Osweiler was able to connect with C.J. Fiedorowicz on a 26-yard pass to tie the game with less than a minute remaining. The Colts couldn’t get into field goal range, and the game went into overtime.

The Colts couldn’t score on their first overtime possession, sending the game into sudden death. Osweiler delivered when he needed to by hitting Jaelen Strong with a 36-yard pass to put the Texans in position to score and win the game.

Robert Nelson, who was activated from the Texans’ practice squad earlier this week, intercepted Luck in the second quarter.

Running back Frank Gore had an impressive game for the Colts, racking up 106 yards. He had surpassed the 100-yard mark, but a rush for negative yardage took him back to 99 yards in regulation. Gore finally passed 100 yards in overtime. No Indianapolis running back had racked up 100 yards on the ground since 2012, when Vick Ballard put up 105 yards against the Texans in a 29-17 loss in Week 15.

Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri inched closer to the record for the most consecutive field goal attempts made, finishing the game at 41. The record, established by former Colts kicker Mike Vanderjagt, sits at 42.

With the loss, the Colts fall to 2-4 and the Texans improve to 4-2. Both teams are still very much in the running to win the AFC South.