Honestly, walking into NRG Stadium on January 4, 2026, most fans probably felt a weird mix of hope and total dread. The 2025-2026 season was a wild ride, and not exactly the fun kind if you’re a Colts fan. We saw a team that started out 8-2, looking like absolute world-beaters, only to face-plant into a seven-game losing streak. That brings us to the final whistle: the score of the indianapolis colts football game was a 38-30 loss to the Houston Texans.
It wasn't just a loss. It was a 17-yard fumble return for a touchdown by Tommy Togiai as time expired that really twisted the knife.
If you just look at the box score, you see a 30-38 final. But numbers kinda lie, don’t they? They don’t tell you about the desperation of a team trying to salvage a winning season or the frustration of a quarterback like Riley Leonard, who put up 270 passing yards and three total touchdowns but still couldn't overcome the momentum of a Texans team that was resting its starters by halftime. C.J. Stroud did his thing early, accounted for two scores, and then basically grabbed a clipboard to watch the backups finish the job.
What Really Happened With the Score of the Indianapolis Colts Football Game
The game was a back-and-forth slog that felt like a microcosm of the whole season. Indy actually led 10-6 in the first quarter. Alec Pierce was a bright spot, hauling in a massive 66-yard touchdown pass that made you think, "Okay, maybe they’ve still got some life." But the second quarter was a disaster. Houston dropped 17 points while the Colts' offense sputtered.
Riley Leonard isn't a bad quarterback. He’s actually shown a ton of grit. He ran for a one-yard touchdown in the third quarter to put the Colts back on top 24-23. You’ve gotta give him credit for that. But the defense just couldn't get off the field when it mattered most. Ka'imi Fairbairn was a machine for the Texans, kicking six field goals.
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Six.
When you let a kicker beat you like that, it's a sign that your "bend but don't break" defense is just mostly breaking.
Breaking Down the Final Minutes
The end of the game was pure chaos. With about two and a half minutes left, Blake Grupe nailed a 22-yard field goal to put the Colts up 30-29. For a split second, it looked like they might actually break the curse and finish the year 9-8. But the Texans drove down the field with zero resistance. Fairbairn hit a 43-yarder with 12 seconds left. 32-30.
The Colts tried one of those desperate "lateral everything" plays on the final kickoff return. It ended with the ball on the turf and Tommy Togiai rumbling into the end zone.
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Final score: 38-30.
Why the Score of the Indianapolis Colts Football Game Still Matters
The reason people are still talking about this specific game score isn't just because it was the season finale. It’s because it solidified an 8-9 record and a third-place finish in the AFC South. That matters for the 2026 schedule. Since they finished third, their 2026 opponents are now locked in, and it's a gauntlet.
The Colts are looking at a 2026 home slate that includes:
- Houston Texans
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- Tennessee Titans
- Baltimore Ravens
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Miami Dolphins
- Dallas Cowboys
- New York Giants
And the road games? Even tougher. They have to travel to Kansas City to face Mahomes and go to Philadelphia. If they had won that game against Houston, they might have had a "second-place" schedule, which is often marginally easier. Instead, they’re stuck in the middle.
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The Shane Steichen and Chris Ballard Debate
There's a lot of noise online right now about whether Shane Steichen and Chris Ballard are the right guys for the job. Honestly, it’s a tough call. Steichen led the team to an 8-2 start. That’s elite. But losing seven straight to end the year? That’s almost impossible to do unless there’s a massive systemic failure or a total loss of the locker room.
The owner, Carlie Irsay-Gordon, is sticking with them for now. But 2026 is clearly a "playoffs or bust" situation. The fans at Lucas Oil Stadium have been patient, but that patience is basically gone. They want to see the team win the AFC South for the first time since 2014.
Practical Next Steps for Colts Fans
If you're wondering how to track what's next for the team, here is the roadmap for the 2026 offseason:
- Watch the 2026 NFL Draft: The Colts have some massive holes in the secondary. Look for them to prioritize a lockdown corner or a ball-hawking safety in the early rounds.
- Monitor Riley Leonard’s Development: He showed flashes of being "the guy," but the turnovers and fumbles (like the two lost in the Texans game) have to stop. His chemistry with Alec Pierce and Jayden Higgins will be the focus of training camp.
- Check the Schedule Release: The NFL usually drops the full schedule with dates and times in May. That’s when we’ll see exactly when those brutal road trips to KC and Philly happen.
- Free Agency Targets: The Colts have some cap space. Look for them to be aggressive in the defensive line market. They need more than just sacks; they need consistent pressure to help their young DBs.
The score of the indianapolis colts football game on January 4 was a disappointment, no doubt. But in the NFL, the "what have you done for me lately" mentality means the 2025 collapse will be forgotten the second they win a game in September 2026. Until then, we’re left staring at a 38-30 score and wondering what could have been.