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Indianapolis Colts vs. Houston Texans Preview
The Indianapolis Colts (4-3) are set to face the Houston Texans (5-2) this Sunday at 1 p.m. EDT, broadcasted by CBS. The current betting odds from BetMGM place the Texans as favorites by six points. When it comes to betting against the spread, the Colts stand out with a record of 6-1, while the Texans are 3-3-1. Historically, the Colts have dominated this matchup, leading the series 33-12-1, although the Texans emerged victorious in their last meeting, edging out the Colts 29-27 on September 8 in Indianapolis.
In their most recent games, the Colts triumphed over the Miami Dolphins 16-10, while the Texans faced a narrow defeat against the Green Bay Packers, losing 24-22. Analysing both teams, the Colts rank 16th in total offense, 14th in rushing, and 17th in passing, with a scoring average placing them at 18th. Conversely, the Texans have a more robust offense, holding the 11th spot overall, 15th in rushing, and 10th in passing, alongside being 14th in scoring.
On the defensive front, the Colts struggle, sitting at 29th overall, 31st in rushing defense, and 23rd in passing defense, despite a scoring defense ranked 12th. The Texans are doing notably better with a 2nd position ranking overall, 8th against the run, and 4th versus the pass, contributing to a scoring defense that ranks 17th. The turnover differential reveals that the Colts are plus-2 and the Texans have a slightly better plus-3 ratio.
A crucial player to keep an eye on for the Colts is running back Jonathan Taylor. After a sprained ankle limited his play in recent weeks, he is seemingly closer to a return, which could significantly enhance quarterback Anthony Richardson’s running game options. Meanwhile, Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud aims to recover from a disappointing performance last week where he only logged 86 passing yards without any touchdowns. Stroud has shown promise at home this season, maintaining an unbeaten record and throwing for an impressive 936 yards.
Another key matchup to focus on is between Houston’s running back Joe Mixon and the Colts’ run defense. Mixon has consistently gained over 100 rushing yards in each game he has completed this season and recently delivered a strong performance with 115 yards and two rushing touchdowns. Indianapolis comes into this game with a concerning run defense, currently ranked 31st in the NFL, allowing an average of 159.9 rushing yards per game.
Regarding injuries, the Colts seem to be regaining some key players as quarterback Richardson and Pro Bowl center Ryan Kelly returned from injury last week. Taylor is anticipated to play this Sunday, and All-Pro defensive tackle DeForest Buckner has resumed practice. Offensive players like Michael Pittman Jr., Josh Downs, and Alec Pierce continue to push through their respective injuries. On the Texans’ side, linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair and safety Jimmie Ward are questionable after recent absences, while linebacker Henry To’oTo’o and cornerback Kamari Lassiter have recently returned to practice but their participation remains uncertain.
Historically, the Texans have fared better in recent matchups, winning three of the last four contests against the Colts, with the last two victories coming by narrow margins. This duel marks the third clash between these franchises in an eight-game stretch. Both quarterbacks, Stroud and Richardson, were picked just two selections apart in the 2023 NFL draft and have developed a friendship since, although they have only faced each other twice so far. Richardson took the win in their initial face-off, while Stroud led his team to victory in their September encounter.
In other noteworthy statistics, this game will see a unique dynamic as Colts defensive backs coach Ron Milus goes against his son, Ryan Milus, a defensive assistant for the Texans. The Colts have found some momentum with four wins in their last five games. Additionally, Indy can level the season series with a win, putting them in a tie for the top spot in the AFC South. On a personal note, Pittman only needs two receiving yards to reach 4,000 in his career, and Taylor requires 78 total yards to surpass Hall of Famer Lenny Moore in the franchise’s all-time list. Meanwhile, Pierce leads the NFL with notable averages in yardage per catch, and several players on both teams are showing impressive stats this season, including Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin, who leads the league in tackles.
For fantasy football enthusiasts, Mixon could be an excellent acquisition this week, particularly given Indianapolis’s struggling run defense. Having accumulated an impressive 217 rushing yards and four total touchdowns in his last two appearances, he presents a solid option for fantasy point production.
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