Colts coach Shane Steichen wouldn't explain two-point, fourth-down decisions vs Texans

INDIANAPOLIS — Colts coach Shane Steichen did not offer much of a window into his thinking on two key decisions in the team’s season-opening 29-27 loss to the rival Texans on Sunday.

But the Colts head coach leaned aggressive.

Indianapolis attempted to pick up a fourth-and-short on its first drive of the season, attempted a two-point conversion in an effort to tie the game at 15 early in the third quarter and went for it on fourth down while trailing by two scores late in the game.

Steichen’s decisions largely did not end up playing a critical role in the outcome.

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Indianapolis starting quarterback Anthony Richardson misfired on the early fourth down, then paid off the fourth-down decision late in the game by bowling through a Texans tackler for a touchdown to pull the Colts within two with 2:14 left in the game.

Steichen could have opted to kick the field goal in that situation, cutting the lead to 29-23 with the knowledge that the Colts would have to get the touchdown if they were able to get the football back.

“I just went for it right there,” Steichen said. “Went for it right there, and obviously, we scored on that one, fourth down, instead of kicking the field goal.”

The Colts head coach could argue that Indianapolis was already close to the end zone — Richardson only had to score from 3 yards away — and he couldn’t guarantee the team would have enough time for a potential game-winning drive.

Ultimately, the Indianapolis defense failed to get the ball back, rendering Steichen’s decision a moot point.

The same could be said of Steichen’s two-point conversion attempt earlier in the game. Indianapolis trailed 15-13 after Jonathan Taylor’s 5-yard touchdown run, and rather than kick the extra point, Steichen called a gadget play, a reverse to Taylor that came up short when the Texans sniffed out the design and stopped the running back short of the goal line.

“We just went for the one right there,” Steichen said.

The decision did not end up mattering much. Indianapolis and Houston each scored two touchdowns the rest of the way; the Colts needed that two-point conversion to force a tie anyway.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Colts coach Shane Steichen wouldn't explain two-point, fourth-down decisions vs Texans