Indianapolis, IN
Houston Texans defeat Indianapolis Colts to clinch first playoff berth since 2019
The Houston Texans clinched their first playoff spot since 2019 following a 23-19 victory over the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday, marking a dramatic turnaround from last season when they finished 3-13.
Reaching the playoffs is a remarkable achievement for head coach DeMeco Ryans and rookie quarterback CJ Stroud in their first season at the helm, as they have stemmed the tide of three seasons of double-digit losses.
They are the first rookie quarterback and first-year head coach duo to advance to the postseason since 2012.
Budding superstar Stroud threw 20-of-26 passes for 264 yards and two touchdowns in the victory, while receiver Nico Collins tallied an incredible 195 receiving yards on nine catches to lift the Texans.
“It means a lot to our guys to get the spotlight today and to come away with a really gritty win,” coach Ryans told reporters afterwards. “It wasn’t our best performance … but the guys stood up, made the plays when we needed to make plays, CJ and Nico stole the show.”
The Texans enjoyed the better start, as Stroud connected with Collins for a 75-yard touchdown on the team’s first offensive play of the game to set the tone early, before Andrew Beck’s touchdown in the second quarter stretched their lead and Houston went into the break up 14-6.
However, a 49-yard touchdown run by Colts star Jonathan Taylor – who finished with 188 yards on 30 carries – and a subsequent two-point conversion early in the third quarter tied the game, lacing it with even more tension given that both the Texans and the Colts needed a win to secure a playoff spot.
Both teams exchanged field goals, before Stroud and the Texans overcame several penalties and loss of yardage on a drive that culminated in a Devin Singletary touchdown to take the lead with 6:20 remaining in the game. However, a missed extra point left the door open for an Indianapolis comeback as the scoreline sat at 23-17 in favor of Houston.
On the ensuing drive, the Colts marched down the field to the Texans’ 15-yard line, and needing one more yard on a fourth-and-1, Colts third string running back Tyler Goodson dropped a wide open pass for the turnover on downs.
“We all have plays that we want back. Just because it’s the last one makes it that much more significant,” Colts quarterback Gardner Minshew said afterwards, according to ESPN. “I told him (Goodson) I’d throw that ball every time. I trust him.”
Stroud finishes the season with over 4,000+ passing yards, becoming the fifth rookie in NFL history to accomplish the feat.
The Texans can still win the AFC South and earn a first-round home game for the first round of the playoffs if the Jacksonville Jaguars lose on Sunday to the Tennessee Titans.
For the Colts, defeat marked the end of their playoff hopes, and they finish the season on 9-8 after suffering three losses in the last five weeks.
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Indianapolis, IN
New bridge over 96th Street adds to Nickel Plate Trail connections
FISHERS, Ind. (WISH) — The Nickel Plate Trail pedestrian bridge over 96th Street is officially open.
It was being touted Friday as a major milestone for central Indiana’s growing trail system. The street is the Fishers-Indianapolis border.
Leaders called the project a critical connection point for the Nickel Plate Trail. The new bridge helps move the nearly 17-mile trail closer to its goal of connecting multiple counties through one continuous path.
The bridge also came with a 1.3-mile trail extension. A $4.5 million grant from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources made the bridge possible.
Dale Brier, deputy director of Indiana Department of Natural Resources, talked about the state’s Next Level Trails grant program. “Currently, we have 89 trail projects that that were funded with that money. Fifty-nine of those are complete. We’ve got 12 under construction. As of this opening, we have 167 miles of trail that have now been opened with that grant money.”
People who frequently take the trail for their daily exercises say they’re excited the bridge is finally open.
Alan Errichiello of the Fishers Running Club said, “Extending this down south into Indianapolis is a big game changer for us. It’ll add a lot of miles that we can easily get into.”
Resident Tracy Mundell said, “Trying to get to the other side was nearly impossible, so I think most people didn’t even attempt it. It’s going to be great, we can get over to the other side, and I’m anxious to see what’s over there.”
The final portion of the project, called the Clear Path project, remains under construction.
Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness, a Republican, said, “We need to double-down on that investment, and we know time and time again here in the city of Fishers that trail systems, the ability to get up and get out and get active, is such an important part in our culture of health, that an investment like this is critical.”
Once complete, local leaders say the goal is to provide a more safe and connected routes between Noblesville, Fishers, Indianapolis and other surrounding cities.
Resident Steve Mundell said, “It’s lovely. It’ll be real convenient to get across too.”
Indianapolis, IN
Good and bad from Colts’ 2026 NFLPA report card grades
What grades did the Indianapolis Colts earn on the 2026 NFLPA report cards?
The NFLPA is no longer able to make their annual report cards public. However, ESPN’s Kayln Kahler was able to obtain a copy of the reports following the 2025 NFL season, and the Indianapolis Colts were again around the middle of the pack.
In these report cards, players rate numerous aspects of the organizations they play for, from ownership to the training facilities and everything in between. According to Kahler, 1,759 players contributed to these grades.
So, where did the Colts end up this year relative to the rest of the NFL this year?
Overall, the Colts ranked 17th. Below is a breakdown of each individual grade they received.
- Treatment of Families: B
- Home Game Field: D
- Food/Dining Area: B
- Nutritionist/Dietician: A-
- Locker Room: C+
- Training Room: B
- Training Staff: B+
- Weight Room: B
- Strength Coaches: A
- Position Coaches: B
- Offensive Coordinator: B
- Defensive Coordinator: B+
- Special Teams Coordinator: B+
- Team Travel: B-
- Head Coach: A-
- General Manager: A
- Team Ownership: A
Of note, although the Colts haven’t been to the postseason in five years, Shane Steichen and Chris Ballard both received high marks.
Carlie Irsay Gordon, Kalen Jackson, and Casey Foyt earned an A in their first year as the primary owners.
The field at Lucas Oil Stadium received a very low mark, earning a D, while the locker room was given a C+. Those were the two lowest grades the Colts received.
Compared to the 2025 rankings, the Colts moved up two spots this year, after coming in at 19th last year.
The biggest jumps the Colts experienced came in the Food/Dining grade, which went from a C to a B. The Team travel grade also jumped from a D+ to a B-.
Indianapolis, IN
Indianapolis police search for 3 people after shooting, stolen vehicle crash
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — After a shooting, Indianapolis police were searching for three people who fled on foot following the pursuit of a stolen vehicle and its crash on Thursday afternoon.
No information was provided in the notification about the three people being sought. News 8 reached out to IMPD by email to find out details about the three people. Anyone with information regarding the incident or the people who fled the crash was asked to contact the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.
The stolen vehicle was linked to a Thursday shooting, prompting the lockdown of a nearby child care center, IMPD said in a media notification. No information was provided about where the shooting happened, what may have led to it, or whether anyone was hurt.
IMPD, however, said the stolen vehicle and crash were not related to a shooting reported at 12:35 p.m. Thursday at a gas station and restaurant at West 38th and Meridian streets.
IMPD officers found the stolen vehicle around 12:45 p.m. Thursday near East 38th Street and Post Road. When a detective attempted a traffic stop, the vehicle fled westbound before crashing a short time later near Whenner Drive, the notification said. It did not say what type of vehicle was abandoned in the crash.
Three people from the crashed vehicle fled southwest on foot. IMPD established a perimeter with assistance from the Indiana State Police, the Lawrence Police Department and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office — using specialized resources, including a state police helicopter, a special weapons and tactics team, and the IMPD’s police dogs — but did not find the three people.
IMPD said a firearm was found in the crashed vehicle, and a man detained at the crash scene was later released once investigators determined he was not directly involved in the incident.
Police have since lifted the lockdown on the child care center.
IMPD’s public information office can be reached at 317-327-3424.
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