Week 12: vs. Indianapolis Colts
This game will be just four days after the Houston Texans face the Indianapolis Colts, and to be honest, this isn’t the type of opponent the Texans needs right after playing a tough Baltimore Ravens team.
The Texans struggle nearly every time they play the Colts, with their overall record against the Colts being 8-28 according to The Football Database. Since December 2015, the Texans are 4-5 against the Colts, and in the past four meetings (2018-19) the Texans are 1-3, including a playoff loss, and a loss to Indianapolis on Oct. 20, 2019 by a 30-23 score.
Now for the Texans to win this game, and to show they are true players on short rest in the AFC South they must stop the passing game of the Colts, because if T.Y. Hilton is healthy, and Jacoby Brissett is healthy as he can be as he’s battling injuries, the Texans have to be ready to play.
Earlier this season, the Texans allowed 14 points in the third quarter against the Colts, and now without having J.J. Watt on the defensive line, a good amount of their pass rush is not there. The Texans can’t settle for field goals in this game like they did in the first meeting, and it would be very helpful if they don’t allow four touchdown passes by Brissett either. Brissett in the first meeting also threw no interceptions.
Also earlier this season, the rushing game was nonexistent against Indy as Hyde led with 35 yards rushing, but on the other side Houston’s defense held Marlon Mack to 44 yards on 18 rushes.
This will be a Thursday night game, and this time the Texans offensive line is playing better than it was earlier in the season, as Watson was sacked three times in the first meeting. This is a winnable game for the Texans, and one quite honestly they can’t afford to lose.