The Houston Texans were in a position to earn the No. 1 pick in the 2023 draft on Jan. 8, 2023.
However, a late touchdown and Lovie Smith’s decision to go for a two-point conversion gave the Texans a win and dropped them to the second spot in the selection process.
A year later. the Texans defeated the Indianapolis Colts, 23-19, to earn an AFC playoff berth.
The player who directed the Houston offense brilliantly? C.J. Stroud, who Houston took with that second pick in the 2023 NFL draft.
January 8, 2023: The Texans beat the Colts in Week 18, causing them to drop from the No. 1 pick to No. 2.
January 6, 2024: The Texans beat the Colts in Week 18 to clinch a playoff berth, with their No. 2 overall pick quarterback leading the way. pic.twitter.com/h6Jg4H6g60
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 7, 2024
Almost the same time, next year, and the Colts still rue the Texans.
Scoring
| Quarter | Time | Tm | Detail | HOU | IND |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11:17 | Texans | Brandin Cooks 11 yard pass from Davis Mills (Ka’imi Fairbairn kick) | 7 | 0 |
| 9:40 | Texans | Ka’imi Fairbairn 37 yard field goal | 10 | 0 | |
| 3:56 | Colts | Michael Pittman Jr. 1 yard pass from Sam Ehlinger (Chase McLaughlin kick) | 10 | 7 | |
| 2 | 10:30 | Texans | Jonathan Greenard 39 yard interception return (Ka’imi Fairbairn kick) | 17 | 7 |
| 3 | 6:40 | Colts | Zack Moss 15 yard rush (Chase McLaughlin kick) | 17 | 14 |
| 3:51 | Texans | Jordan Akins 19 yard pass from Davis Mills (Ka’imi Fairbairn kick) | 24 | 14 | |
| 0:52 | Colts | Rodney McLeod 27 yard interception return (Chase McLaughlin kick) | 24 | 21 | |
| 4 | 10:30 | Colts | Mo Alie-Cox 4 yard pass from Sam Ehlinger (Chase McLaughlin kick) | 24 | 28 |
| 3:33 | Colts | Chase McLaughlin 54 yard field goal | 24 | 31 | |
| 0:50 | Texans | Jordan Akins 28 yard pass from Davis Mills (Jordan Akins pass from Davis Mills) | 32 | 31 |