Colts head coach Shane Steichen declined to elaborate on his decisions regarding the two-point conversion and fourth-down plays against the Texans.
INDIANAPOLIS — Colts coach Shane Steichen was tight-lipped about his reasoning behind two crucial decisions during the team’s 29-27 season-opening loss to the Texans on Sunday.
However, Steichen’s approach was notably aggressive. Indianapolis attempted to convert a fourth-and-short on their opening drive, went for a two-point conversion to tie the game at 15 early in the third quarter, and made another fourth-down attempt while trailing by two scores late in the game.
Ultimately, Steichen’s choices did not significantly impact the final result.
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.”
