The 10-4 Houston Texans take on the 1-13 Indianapolis Colts on Thursday night in what looks to be a mismatch, although based on last week’s results – you never know.
Last weekend, the then-winless Colts defeated a 7-7 Titans team, winning 27-13. The Colts dominated on the ground, racking up 205 rushing yards behind Donald Brown’s 16 carries for 161 yards, including an 80-yard touchdown run that sealed the victory in the fourth quarter. The Colts also scored on a 32-yard interception return for a TD by Jacob Lahey, as the Colts won the turnover battle 3-1.
Also last weekend, the Texans were dominated by the 5-9 Carolina Panthers 28-13. T.J. Yates threw 2 interceptions and Arian Foster lost a fumble, as the Texans lost the turnover battle 3-0. Rookie Yates played solid in his first 3 appearances, all Texans wins, in which he threw 3 TDs and 1 INT, but last weekend it was no TDs and 2 INTs.
The Colts are officially on a 1-game winning streak, and the Texans are on a 1-game losing streak coming into the game.
But having said all of that, this game still looks like a mismatch. The Colts lost 13 in a row this season coming into the game, and the Texans had won 7 in a row prior to last weekend.
The Texans have the second best rushing attack in the league, averaging 152 yards per game behind Arian Foster and Ben Tate, who have combined for almost 2,000 yards (1,912 going into this week). Yates is a rookie, but has played well except for last weekend’s game and their excellent rushing attack takes a lot of pressure off of Yates.
The Texans also have the second best defense in the league in yardage allowed, and the third best in points allowed. The Texans are allowing 16.9 points per game, and the Colts are allowing over 28 (30th in the league). Houston’s offense is 8th in the league (scoring 24.5 points per game) compared with Indy’s 28th ranked offense.
And all things said and done, the Texans are fighting for a playoff spot and the Colts are fighting for the number one draft pick.
