WATCH: Colts HC Shane Steichen yells at QB Gardner Minshew on the field with the season on the line against the Texans

The Colts lost to the Texans, eliminating from playoff contention.

WATCH: Colts HC Shane Steichen yells at QB Gardner Minshew on the field with the season on the line against the Texans

Colts head coach Shane Steichen yelled at Gardner Minshew (Screengrab YouTube)

Gardner Minshew walked into the Houston Texans game knowing that a win would guarantee the Indianapolis Colts a place in the playoffs. Both teams had a 9-7 record after 16 games this season. The game’s outcome would clearly show which team gains an advantage in the AFC South.

The game started slow, and it took until 6 minutes into the game to move forward. Matt Gay dispersed a field goal from 38 yards to put the Colts on board. However, just a minute later, Texans quarterback CJ Stroud passed a deep ball to Nico Collins for a 75-yard touchdown to silence Lucas Oil Stadium.

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Yet it took almost 14 minutes to reach the next point, thus the opportunity. Stroud found fullback Andrew Beck wide open inside the Colts’ endzone for a 1-yard TD. In the very next drive, Minshew tried to orchestrate to get close to the Texans’ red zone. He moved the chains with back-to-back first downs. First, there was a layoff to Jonathan Taylor and then a 10-yard pass to Josh Downs.

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The ball now stood at 3 and 15, and the Colts were yet to complete a 3rd down in the game with their previous five attempts. Minshew went to his most productive teammate that night. Jonathan Taylor had already carried the ball 12 times with success. However, the Texans’ defense read the play, teaming up to stop the pro-bowl running back from 5 yards short of the first down.

When Minshew was returning to the sidelines following the failed play, head coach Shane Steichen tried to cheer him up. After several replays, a rough lip read suggested that Steichen was yelling at his quarterback. This is what was heard:

We had it, Shew, we had it.
Shane Steichen to Gardner Minshew

Steichen, Minshew, and the Colts lost the game 23-17 and lost the chance to earn a playoff spot.

Gardner Minshew almost put the Colts into the playoffs

Gay finished that drive with a 52-yard field goal to cut the deficit to eight. Then, the Colts started the third quarter strongly. Taylor scored a 49-yard touchdown from a Minshew pass. The score stood at 14-14; moments later, he had to go off briefly due to a heel injury.

WATCH: Colts HC Shane Steichen yells at QB Gardner Minshew on the field with the season on the line against the Texans
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Gardner Minshew (Image via IMAGO)

A string of field goals followed from both sides. Next, it was the turn of Texans running back David Stingley, who cut past a few Colts players to score a 3-yard touchdown to make the score 17-23.

With just one minute left for the final whistle came the decisive moment in the game. Steichen had brought on second-year back Tyler Goodson, giving Taylor a breather.

On 4th and 1, Minshew took the snap and threw the ball a bit behind Goodson. As a result, he wasn’t able to catch it. Naturally, social media was unhappy with Goodson’s drop and Steichen’s decision to keep Taylor off the field.

Woodson was all teary-eyed because of the dropped pass. Gardner Minshew, who finished the season with seven wins and six losses as a starter, recording 3,305 passing yards, 15 touchdowns, and nine interceptions, took responsibility for the unfortunate drop. This is what he said:

I wish I’d put a better ball on him.
Gardner Minshew via media appearance

The loss eliminated the Indianapolis Colts from playoff contention. They have not played postseason football since 2020, when Philip Rivers led them to an 11-5 season and a Wild Card appearance.

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