Texans stave off Colts in Thursday night AFC South showdown

HOUSTON — Deshaun Watson threw two touchdown passes to DeAndre Hopkins and finished with 298 yards to help the Houston Texans beat the Indianapolis Colts, 20-17, on Thursday night to take the AFC South lead.

The Texans (7-4), who were embarrassed by Baltimore, 41-7, on Sunday, trailed by four early in the fourth quarter when Hopkins got in front of Pierre Desir and stretched out to haul in a 30-yard reception to give the Texans a 20-17 lead. The Texans got things going on that drive with a 33-yard run by Carlos Hyde.

Houston’s defense stepped up after that, forcing a punt on the next drive before stopping the Colts (6-5) on fourth-and-7 with 3 minutes left.

Jacoby Brissett threw for 129 yards and came up a yard shy of a first down on Indy’s fourth-down attempt late in the fourth quarter.

Hopkins finished with 94 yards receiving, and his first TD reception came on a 35-yard grab in the second quarter. Will Fuller, who returned after sitting out three games with a hamstring injury, had seven catches for 140 yards to help the Texans to victory.