Texans squeeze past Colts 20-16, tighten AFC South race
Sun Nov 30 4:27pm ET
Field Level Media
All of a sudden, there is a race in the AFC South after the Houston Texans won their fourth consecutive game 20-16 on the road against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday afternoon.
With quarterback C.J. Stroud back in the lineup, the two-time defending South champion Texans (7-5) got back in the division race and bumped the Colts (8-4) down a rung and into second place behind the Jaguars.
Stroud completed 22 of 35 passes for 276 yards and one interception and Nico Collins caught five passes for 98 yards and ran for a score. Stroud was 9-of-13 passing in the second half, including 3 of 3 on third down.
Houston's defense held the NFL's No. 1 scoring offense to under 20 points for the first time this season and kept Colts running back Jonathan Taylor out of the end zone. Taylor had 85 rushing yards and 36 yards receiving.
The Colts were stopped on seven of 10 third-down attempts.
Taylor was dropped for a 5-yard loss and the Colts had to settle for Michael Badgley's 42-yard field goal, tightening Houston's lead to 20-16 in the fourth quarter.
Stroud hit Collins for 29 yards to start the ensuing drive, which ended with the Colts' defense stopping the Texans on three consecutive run plays -- Woody Marks on second-and-1 and tight end Cade Stover on successive direct snaps -- from the Colts' 17. The turnover on downs put the ball back in Jones' hands with 4:45 remaining.
Taylor moved the chains on two first-down carries on the drive. Jones found Alec Pierce for 22 yards over the middle before Taylor's tote for 11 yards and a 1-yard loss brought the two-minute warning.
On 3rd-and-9, Jones evaded the blitz and floated a pass to Josh Downs in the right flat, but his second drop of the game and Michael Badgley's missed extra point off the left upright in the second quarter set up a make-or-break fourth down with 1:49 to play. Jones fired high and wide to Michael Pittman Jr.
Jones completed 14 of 27 passes with 201 yards and two touchdowns. Pierce had a team-high 78 receiving yards on four catches.
Playing with a left leg injury -- reportedly a hairline fracture in his fibula -- Jones' mobility was limited. He took multiple direct shots, including a shot on the left leg with 12 minutes left in the game that was ruled roughing the passer on Texans defensive tackle Tim Settle Jr.
Houston regained the lead with 12:38 to play. A run fake up the gut froze the Colts' defense and Stroud flipped the ball to Collins looping from the right side of the formation to win a race to the front-left corner of the end zone. Ka'imi Fairbairn's extra point appeared to sail wide to the left, but officials deemed the PAT good and the Texans took a 20-13 lead.
Jones found his touch and the Colts tied the game at 13-13 with 2:51 left in the third quarter on a 12-yard TD pass to rookie tight end Tyler Warren. The score came one play after a 32-yard pass interference flag on Texans safety Caden Bullock placed the ball in the red zone.
On the previous possession, Houston trekked to the Colts' 14 but Indianapolis stuffed Nick Chubb for no gain and Adetomiwa Adebawore sacked a backpedaling Stroud on third down to limit the Texans to Fairbairn's 43-yard field goal on fourth-and-21.
Chubb bullied his way into the end zone and shoved Colts safety Cam Bynum out of his path for 4-yard touchdown and a 10-6 lead for the Texans in the second quarter. The touchdown answered Jones' 19-yard TD pass to Pierce.
Colts cornerback Sauce Gardner watched the final three quarters of the game from the sideline with his left foot in a boot. He was helped off the field on Indianapolis' second defensive snap and ruled out with a calf injury.
Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair spent time in the medical tent for a concussion test and treatment for a foot injury in the fourth quarter but was back on the field after the two-minute warning.
The Colts play at Houston to end the regular season in January. Indianapolis visits Jacksonville next week. The Jaguars throttled Tennessee on Sunday to improve to 8-4.
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The Paur Report
Starts, Sits, Sleepers: Week 14
Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs (knee) remained limited during Thursday's practice. This was the second day in a row that he logged a limited session. Although his appearance on the injury report is less than ideal, managers should feel optimistic that he has been able to get on the field in some capacity. Jacobs has been the overall RB8 in PPR leagues this year with 731 rushing yards, 245 receiving yards, and 11 touchdowns. Assuming he's active this week, he should be started in all leagues as he takes on a Chicago Bears defense allowing the 15th-fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs in 2025.
From RotoBaller
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed (foot, shoulder) remained a limited participant in Thursday's practice. The 25-year-old has been sidelined since he fractured his collarbone in Week 2, and he's also dealing with the lingering effects of a Jones fracture in his foot from the preseason. Reed had 45 receiving yards and one touchdown in the season opener, and he could re-establish himself as the Packers' No. 1 receiver when he returns to action. He'll face plenty of competition, though, as Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs have been playing well lately. His exact return date remains unknown, as Reed is still on injured reserve and would need to be activated before he can play in a game. Once he does return, he should be viewed as a low-end WR3/flex in Green Bay's strong passing offense.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (concussion) has been ruled out for the remainder of Thursday's Week 14 contest against the Detroit Lions. He had been dominant prior to his departure, catching six of eight targets for 121 yards. Concussions typically sideline players for more than a week, but given that the Cowboys have 10 days until their next game, there's a slight chance that Lamb could clear concussion protocol before Week 15 against the Los Angeles Chargers. George Pickens will step up as the Cowboys' top receiver in his absence, ranking as a mid-to-high WR1 in fantasy football. Ryan Flournoy and Jake Ferguson should also earn more targets in Dallas' passing offense.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman (ankle) was a limited participant in practice on Thursday. This was a step backward after he had logged a full session on Wednesday. Fantasy managers should pay close attention to his status on Friday, as it appears he's trending in the wrong direction. In the event that he can't suit up this week, DeAndre Hopkins would likely operate as the Ravens' No. 2 receiver alongside Zay Flowers. At the moment, neither Bateman nor Hopkins is a reliable fantasy option in leagues with 12 or fewer teams.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston (shoulder) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice. This was the Chargers' first practice session as they prepare for Week 14 against the Kansas City Chiefs, which means that Johnston will have two more opportunities to log a full session before the team publishes its final injury report of the week. Fantasy managers should check back over the next few days for updates, but at this point, it appears that Johnston has a decent chance to play. He's the overall WR30 in PPR leagues this year and is coming off a decent game in which he caught three passes for 23 yards and a touchdown. In his last contest against the Chiefs, he racked up five catches, 79 yards, and two touchdowns. He's a low-end WR3/flex option for this week.
From RotoBaller
Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (glute) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice. This was the second consecutive day that Walker was limited. Although it's concerning to see him on the injury report once again, fantasy managers should feel optimistic given that he was able to get on the field in some capacity. If he practices in full on Friday, he should be able to enter the weekend without an injury designation. Otherwise, he could end up being labeled as "questionable." Either way, he's trending in the right direction for Sunday's Week 14 contest against the Atlanta Falcons. Although Walker shares the backfield with Zach Charbonnet, he has posted double-digit fantasy points (PPR) in each of his last three games and remains a high-end RB2 this week. Atlanta has allowed the 11th-most fantasy points to running backs in 2025.
From RotoBaller
Seattle Seahawks tight end AJ Barner (knee, shoulder) was a full participant in practice on Thursday. This was an improvement after he was limited the day before. Barring any sort of setback, Barner should remain a full participant in Friday's practice, which would put him on track to play in Sunday's Week 14 contest against the Atlanta Falcons. The 23-year-old is the overall TE18 in PPR leagues this year, but his fantasy value could slip a little against a Falcons defense that has allowed the second-fewest fantasy points to opposing tight ends in 2025.
From RotoBaller
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith (foot) practiced in full on Thursday. This was an improvement for the veteran quarterback after he had logged a limited practice session on Wednesday. Assuming Smith remains a full participant on Friday, he should enter the weekend without any injury designation, leaving him on track to play in Week 14 against the Denver Broncos. In his last game against Denver, the 35-year-old had 143 passing yards, zero touchdowns, one interception, and six sacks. He has been sacked 25 times over his last four games and will remain outside the top 24 fantasy quarterbacks for Sunday's divisional battle.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams (ankle) was a limited participant in practice on Thursday. This was the second day in a row that Williams was listed as limited on the team's official injury report. It's refreshing to see the 25-year-old get on the field in any capacity, but ideally, he'll log a full session on Friday to avoid any sort of injury designation heading into the weekend. It's also possible that the Rams have reduced Williams' workload in practice to keep him healthy down the stretch. Offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur recently told ESPN's Dan Graziano that Los Angeles' decision to split touches between Williams and Blake Corum has kept Williams fresh, so we can expect that they'll continue to manage his practice and game workload going forward. Nevertheless, he remains an impactful pass-catching and touchdown threat out of the backfield, keeping him in the low-end RB1 tier for Week 14 against the Arizona Cardinals.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Davante Adams (hamstring) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice. According to Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com, Adams said his left hamstring is "feeling good" and feels much better than he expected. As the Rams continue to prepare for Week 14 against the Arizona Cardinals, it was refreshing to see Adams get on the field in some capacity after he missed practice on Wednesday. Ideally, he'll log a full practice on Friday and enter the weekend without an injury designation. However, if that doesn't happen, he's at least trending in the right direction. The veteran receiver has been dominant lately, extending his touchdown streak to six games last Sunday against the Panthers. During that six-game window, he has 293 yards and 11 touchdowns, and he ranks as the overall WR3 in PPR leagues. Assuming he plays this week, he'll continue to be a strong WR1 and should be started in all formats.
From RotoBaller
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Greg Dortch (chest) missed a second straight day of practice this week on Thursday, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Dortch apparently suffered a chest injury in last week's loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and is firmly in danger of missing the Week 14 contest this Sunday against the division-rival Los Angeles Rams. In addition to Dortch, Marvin Harrison Jr. (heel) looks iffy to play this weekend as well, which would leave Michael Wilson as the target hog once again in Arizona's passing game. Xavier Weaver and Andre Baccellia would be included in the starting lineup if both Dortch and Harrison are ruled out. Dortch is extremely hard to trust when he's the WR3 for the Cardinals, but he did deliver fantasy-relevant numbers in the two games that Harrison missed after having an appendectomy in Weeks 11 and 12, catching 12 of 15 targets for 119 yards and two touchdowns.
From RotoBaller
Denver Broncos rookie wide receiver Pat Bryant (hamstring) was added to the injury report on Thursday and was listed as a limited practice participant with a hamstring injury, according to Mike Klis of 9 News. Bryant was fully healthy on Wednesday, so this means that the 22-year-old likely suffered an injury in practice on Thursday. It's definitely something to watch for fantasy managers as the Broncos head into a rematch against the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders on the road this Sunday. Bryant has become much more involved in the offense in the last five games, and he had eight catches on 13 targets for 124 yards in the last two contests. In his first 12 NFL games, Bryant has recorded an 18-273-1 line as the WR3 for the Broncos behind Courtland Sutton and Troy Franklin. If Bryant is unable to play in Week 14, Franklin would become a much more attractive WR4/flex play in fantasy, with Marvin Mims Jr. also becoming a more attractive big-play threat in deeper formats.
From RotoBaller
Cleveland Browns rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr. has completely taken over the starting tight end role since the bye week. In back-to-back games, Fannin has played over 90% of the snaps, while veteran David Njoku has played under 50%. The rookie was able to find the endzone in Week 13, totaling 43 yards on four receptions against the San Francisco 49ers. As rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders enters the fold, Fannin has taken charge as the leading receiving option in the offense, leading the team in receptions and targets in back-to-back weeks. The Browns face the Tennessee Titans in Week 14, who have allowed the ninth-fewest fantasy points to tight ends this season. However, with a nice target share and connection with Sanders, Fannin is a TE1 in Week 14.
Las Vegas Raiders QB Geno Smith (foot) fully participated in practice Thursday, Dec. 4.
Fantasy Spin: Smith missed some practice time earlier this week but in on track to play in the Week 14 game. He struggled against the Denver Broncos earlier in the season and has thrown at least two touchdowns in only one of the last four games. Fantasy players should have better options available and can avoid Smith.
From TheHuddle
Las Vegas Raiders LB Jamal Adams (knee), WR Alex Bachman (thumb), DE Maxx Crosby (knee), TE Michael Mayer (ankle) and WR Dont'e Thornton Jr. (concussion) did not participate in practice Thursday, Dec. 4. OG Jordan Meredith (ankle) and OG Dylan Parham (back) were limited during practice. C Will Putnam (shoulder) and QB Geno Smith (foot) fully participated in practice.
From TheHuddle
New Orleans Saints OT Taliese Fuaga (ankle), RB Alvin Kamara (ankle, knee), S Justin Reid (knee) and S Jonas Sanker (head) did not participate in practice Thursday, Dec. 4. WR Chris Olave (back) was limited during practice.
From TheHuddle
Denver Broncos TE Nate Adkins (knee), DE Zach Allen (calf) and DT D.J. Jones (ankle) did not participate in practice Thursday, Dec. 4. WR Pat Bryant (hamstring) was limited during practice. LB Jonah Elliss (hamstring) and CB Reese Taylor (chest) fully participated in practice.
From TheHuddle
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (ankle), who was listed as questionable for Week 14 after not practicing all week, is officially active for the Thursday night game against the visiting Dallas Cowboys. St. Brown suffered a low-ankle sprain in the Thanksgiving Day loss to the Green Bay Packers a week ago and was considered to be on the wrong side of questionable to play this week, especially after not practicing at all Monday through Wednesday. The Lions are battling to stay in playoff contention, though, so the 26-year-old wideout will tough it out and play in a plus matchup against a Cowboys defense that allows the third-most passing yards per game (251.5). The risk fantasy managers run by leaving St. Brown in their lineups is that he'll serve as a decoy for Dallas' defense at less than 100%. On the flip side, St. Brown has been a top-five fantasy WR in half-PPR scoring in 2025, so he's probably still a better gamble than a potential replacement, especially in what is expected to be a high-scoring affair.
From RotoBaller
Minnesota Vikings OT Christian Darrisaw (knee) and DE Levi Drake Rodriguez (neck) did not participate in practice Thursday, Dec. 4. LB Jonathan Greenard (shoulder), OG Donovan Jackson (ankle), S Theo Jackson (neck), RB Aaron Jones (shoulder) and S Josh Metellus (shoulder) were limited during practice. T Jonathan Allen (non-injury), OG Blake Brandel (concussion), RB Ty Chandler (knee), DT Javon Hargrave (non-injury), C Ryan Kelly (hip), QB J.J. McCarthy (concussion), DE Jalen Redmond (hip) and S Harrison Smith (non-injury) fully participated in practice.
From TheHuddle
The Dallas Cowboys have declared DT Jay Toia, RB Jaydon Blue, DL Perrion Winfrey, LB Jadeveon Clowney, OT Tyler Guyton and WR Jalen Tolbert inactive for Week 14.
From TheHuddle
