In the heart of NRG Stadium, the tension was palpable. A deadlock at 10-10 between the Texans and the Colts, with just a minute remaining in the first half. Houston, facing a 4th-and-22 at the mid-field mark, had no choice but to punt.
Tommy Townsend dropped a gem deep into the Colts' territory. The ball was fair caught by Josh Downs, standing close to his own goal line, at the 5-yard mark.
As the Colts tried to gain some ground with a 7-yard run and an incompletion by Anthony Richardson, the clock ticked on. But then, the Texans' defense showcased their brilliance.
On a crucial third-down play, safety Jalen Pitre intercepted a pass from Richardson that was intended for Downs. A moment of brilliance transpired, as Pitre scuffled forward for 10 yards before finally crashing at the Colts' 7-yard line.
All eyes turned to the clock, just 0:23 seconds left in the second quarter. This interception marked Pitre's first of the season, and it was a game-changer.
Houston's offense jogged onto the field, wasting no time at all. C.J. Stroud, the Texans' quarterback, zipped a pass into a tight window on the back right side of the end zone.
The ball found Tank Dell, who superbly managed to maintain control and keep both feet in bounds for the score. After a successful extra point by Ka'imi Fairbairn, the Texans seized a 17-10 advantage just before the halftime break.
For Dell, this marked his second touchdown reception of 2024, while Stroud racked up his 11th scoring strike of the season. A thrilling end to the first half, setting the stage for an exciting second half.
