Dec 16, 2012; Houston, TX, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) sets up to take a snap against the Houston Texans during the first quarter at Reliant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Campbell-USA TODAY Sports
The Houston Texans and the Indianapolis Colts have been facing each other since the Texans entered the league in 2002, and this current AFC South rivalry has been one-sided with the Colts leading the way.
During this rivalry, the Texans had to battle the likes of Peyton Manning, Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne and now Andrew Luck, to name just a few, as the Colts hold an 18-4 all-time series advantage against the Texans who’ll host the first of two games this season between the two teams this weekend on Sunday Night Football on NBC.
In recent memory, from the 2010-12 seasons, the two teams have split the series 3-3 in the past six meetings with the Texans winning the last three meetings they’ve hosted and losing three in Indianapolis.
Oct 20, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) celebrates with teammates Coby Fleener (80) and T.Y. Hilton (13) after scoring a touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts during the second half at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Maybe it is a good thing the Texans are hosting the game this weekend, because they are currently on a five-game losing streak for the ’13 season, not winning a game since Week 2 against the Tennessee Titans in overtime.
I’d say it is about time the Texans win a game, and this could be the opportunity, if history has anything to say about it.
If the won-loss pattern sticks, it is technically the Texans’ turn to win in this series, as the Texans won the first meeting of the season each of the past three years.
Currently, the Texans are 2-5 coming off their bye week, with the aforementioned five-game skid. They are starting a quarterback in Case Keenum for just the second time this season and his career.
Houston will be facing a team in the Colts that have defeated teams like the San Francisco 49ers and the Denver Broncos this season, as they are 5-2 overall and in first place in the AFC South.
Looking back at this rivalry, the Colts won every meeting from the ’02 season through the first meeting of ’06 (a total of nine games) before the Texans won for the first time on Dec. 24, 2006 by a 27-24 score in Houston. Houston didn’t win again until the ’10 season.
Sunday will be interesting to see if history repeats itself if the Texans can keep the current pattern of this series going, because if not, the Texans’ ’13 season will be all but that … history.