'That Moxie!' DeMeco Ryans Praises Gardner Minshew Before Houston Texans' Week 18 Clash

Houston Texans coach DeMeco Ryans gave credit to Indianapolis Colts quarterback Gardner Minshew, who like Houston, is far exceeding early-season expectations.

The two teams widely projected to finish at the bottom of the AFC South, somehow, are still alive. Two first-year head coaches with rookie quarterbacks and an extra dosage of adversity have managed to join the Jacksonville Jaguars atop the division at 9-7.

After a triumphant return in Week 17, the Houston Texans will have quarterback C.J. Stroud under center for a do-or-die regular-season finale. The Indianapolis Colts, who host Houston on Saturday, are less fortunate. Anthony Richardson’s season-ending injury has left the Colts without an elite physical talent at quarterback.

And yet, here they are. Led by backup quarterback Gardner Minshew and the chaos that seems to follow him, Indianapolis is equally viable for a spot in the AFC playoffs.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Gardner Minshew (10) talks with Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) after the game at NRG Stadium / Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

The Colts beat the Texans in Week 2 when Richardson went down for the first time. Stroud threw for 384 yards and two scores, but it was Minshew, in relief, who came away victorious, 31-20.

View them as fodder for a first-round playoff winner or a feisty team getting a little too lucky. Or give Minshew and the Colts the credit they deserve. Houston head coach DeMeco Ryans did just that on Monday.

“His movement in the pocket sets him apart and makes plays—scramble plays, explosive plays downfield,” Ryans said. “He has that moxie, that playmaker ability, guys rallying around him.”

Of the 32 quarterbacks with the most plays this season, Minshew ranks 20th in expected points added per play, 24th in success rate, and 28th in completion percentage over expected. It’s been a wild ride, as seemingly every Minshew start is, but it’s been enough.

He’s thrown for 3,164 yards, 15 touchdowns, and nine interceptions. Stellar would be a stretch, but disastrous would, too. This Colts team is average across the board. Through good fortune and coaching, they’re a win away from mid-January football.

That in itself is a testament to the job Minshew has done.

“They’re in this position because of him,” Ryans concluded.

Does Stroud Have 'Recipe for Playoff Success'? 1 Game To Find Out

It’s taken 17 weeks to decide which of these teams is superior, and that hasn’t been enough. With a one-point spread in Indianapolis’ favor, the margins are nearly impossible to shrink. Stroud has the edge at the game’s most important position, but Minshew’s seven wins have proven sometimes that doesn’t matter.

The football world is in store for some good football this weekend. Saturday’s nightcap may be the most chaotic of it all.