The Indianapolis Colts left Arrowhead Stadium with an upset win over the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday night large in part due to the efforts of veteran defensive end Justin Houston.
Visiting the team he led for eight seasons to begin his career, it was a homecoming of sorts for Houston. He knows who great the Chiefs offense is, and he understands what this type of win means for the defense.
“It was big, not just for me, but for the team. I know how we played last year. We didn’t play well. But, to come out here and win, in this tough environment, it says a lot about this team,” Houston said following the game. “I just hope we continue to build off this situation. I know we’ve got a great team and I know we can do great things. We’ve just got to stay focused and not beat ourselves.”
The entire pass rush was clicking throughout the night. They were getting pressure from the edge and the interior. Houston himself was winning his battles on a consistent basis, finding his way into the backfield on multiple occasions.
Houston finished with a sack and two tackles for loss—one of which was a clutch fourth-down stop late in the fourth quarter to end a drive for the Chiefs.
Being back home playing against the Chiefs was likely an odd feeling for Houston, but he’s proud to show off the new uniform.
“It’s like your old girlfriend. If you get a new girlfriend, you want to show her off,” Houston said. “To come here and get a win, it means a lot to me – and to the team as well.”
The Colts will be entering the bye week with a winning record after an improbable win—thanks in large part to the efforts of Houston in his homecoming matchup.
