Colts can't ask Philip Rivers to win games on his own

Stephen Holder | IndyStar

Matt Kryger/IndyStar

Matt Kryger/IndyStar

HOUSTON – The music was blaring. That was the first sign something was different.

As you walked through the doors leading to the Indianapolis Colts’ locker room in NRG Stadium immediately following Sunday’s game against the Houston Texans, it became instantly clear this setting differed from others in recent weeks.

It did not take long to discern the Colts had won a football game. In this instance, it was their first victory since Oct. 8, a 20-14 victory over their AFC South rivals.

But just as important as the Colts simply winning was the manner in which they won.

The Colts did not back their way into this win. Oh, they certainly tried to give it away. The Colts will reliably do Colts things. But Indianapolis found a way to make the kinds of plays that win games when this game was actually on the line.

What a concept.

On third-and-goal with 7 seconds left, Nate Hairston made a game-winning play.

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And on fourth-and-goal with 2 seconds left, Jabaal Sheard made a game-winning play.

Savor it. Because these are not things we have seen from the Colts. Not these Colts. Not this season.

If anything, they have managed to do the opposite, to fumble away victories — literally and figuratively — and display near comedic incompetence in the fourth quarters of tight games.

This was different. So, so different.

“Somebody has to make a play,” nose tackle Al Woods said, “and today, everybody was hunting, trying to be the one to make that play.”

As it turned out, rookie slot cornerback Hairston was one of those fighting to make a play. And he did just that. On a third down from the 7-yard line, with the game hanging in the balance, he made a diving pass deflection at the goal line to bat the ball away from all-world receiver DeAndre Hopkins. With the Colts leading by six, a touchdown likely would have won the game.

But with the clock showing two seconds left after Hairston’s play, the Colts would have to do it again. So often, they’ve proven to be not up to this task. Against the Arizona Cardinals, they were not and lost in overtime. Against the Tennessee Titans, they were not and gave up a 10-point second-half lead. Against the Cincinnati Bengals, just a week ago, they were not either. That led to a 1-point loss against a team the Colts thoroughly outplayed.

Sheard ensured history would not repeat itself. He swooped in, overpowering offensive tackle Chris Clark at the line of scrimmage, then converging on quarterback Tom Savage for his second sack-fumble of the game. The ball was jarred loose, with linebacker Barkevious Mingo corralling it as the clock ticked to all zeroes.

Game over. A game-winning play. From the Colts?

Yep.

“When the game is on the line and you have a chance to make a play, you have to do that,” Sheard said. “I mean, we let them drive down the whole field and get down there. But we fought through that and made a play.”

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Now would be a good time to point out this was no masterpiece. The Colts allowed the Texans — who abruptly lost star quarterback Deshaun Watson to a season-ending practice injury on Thursday — to drive 67 yards in the final 3:10 of the game. As Houston methodically moved down the field, it was hard not to envision the multitude of ways the Colts could botch this game they’d dominated for most of the day.

But they dug deep and found a way to slam the door. The Colts are still a rebuilding team that probably won’t play many meaningful games this season — they’re now 3-6 — but there is something to be said for the confidence an ending like Sunday’s can generate.

“The whole time we were on the field, nobody got long faces or anything,” Hairston said. “All you heard out there was, ‘Keep fighting! Keep fighting!’ That’s where I think I see growth in the team. Everybody is buying in to fighting until the end.”

The Colts made plays outside of the final minutes, too. T.Y. Hilton was superb, catching five passes for 175 yards including one of the most surprising 80-yard touchdown receptions you’ll ever see. Quarterback Jacoby Brissett was efficient and accurate, completing 20-of-30 passes for 308 yards and two touchdowns (both to Hilton). He was aggressive when able but decisive when necessary. It was a game that showed growth in the young passer.

But the most notable thing on this day was the timely defensive plays. The plays made when the choices were as follows: Make a play or lose the game.

Maybe they won’t mean much now. Certainly, the Colts aren’t in contention for much beyond draft position. But if you don’t think there’s value in a player like Hairston, a young, wide-eyed fifth-round pick, making a huge play with a game hanging in the balance, then you’re underrating the importance of such experiences.

“Today,” Hairston said, “we focused on finishing.”

And they did just that. Go ahead: Turn that music all the way up.

Follow IndyStar Colts Insider Stephen Holder on Twitter: @HolderStephen.