The Indianapolis Colts (9-4) will host the Houston Texans (4-9) on Sunday. These AFC South rivals just met two weeks ago on December 6 when The Colt defeated the Texans 26-20 as a 3.5 point favorite. The Texans outgained the Colts 398 to 371 in total yardage for the game, but Indianapolis did not turn the ball over while picking up on two take-a-ways due to a lost fumble and interception thrown by Deshaun Watson.

Game-time Weather: Lucas Oil Field is a retractable-roof stadium. That means that precipitation and wind won’t be a factor, and the temperature will be comfortable for whatever fans are allowed in the venue for this contest.

Houston coming of embarrassment against Bears

The year 2020 has been a wild ride of disappointments for the Houston Texans. After going 10-6 during the 2019 regular season, Houston qualified for the playoffs for the fourth time out of their last five seasons and advanced to the second round of the playoffs before losing to the eventual Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs. There will be no playoffs this season for Houston. After getting off to an 0-4 start, which led to the firing of Bill O’ Brien, who after six seasons had just also been promoted to the role of General Manager during the offseason. The Texans have won four of their last nine games under interim head coach Romeo Crennel.

The Texans were a one-point road favorite last Sunday and were humiliated 36-7 by the Chicago Bears. The week prior, Houston lost at home 26-20 as a 3.5-point dog to the same Colts team they will play Sunday.

As a team, Houston is 23rd in the NFL, averaging 22.7 points and 18th averaging 356.5 yards per game. The Texans are the worst rushing team in the NFL, managing just 86.2 yards per game. The Texans are averaging 270.2 passing yards per game, which are fifth in the league. Quarterback Deshaun Watson has been brilliant, completing 68.9% of his passes with 25 touchdowns and six interceptions.

The Texans have been one of the NFL’s worst-performing teams defensively, ranking 31st with 406.7 yards per game allowed and 25th giving up 27.6 points. Houston’s run defense is second-to-worst, allowing 152.3 yards, and the pass defense is 24th, allowing 254.3 yards per game.

Houston Texans Injury Report:

OUT: WR Randall Cobb, LB Dylan Cole, CB Gareon Conley, NT Brandon Dunn, LB Duke Ejofor, OL Hjalte Froholdt, DT P.J Hall, FB Cullen Gillaspia, QB Josh McCown, LB Benardrick McKinney, DB Micheal Thomas, NT Eddie Vanderdoes

SUSPENDED: WR Will Fuller V, CB Bradley Roby

Questionable: TE P. Brown, CB Phillip Gaines, T Charlie Heck, CB John Reid, LB Brennan Scarlett

Colts going for sweep over Texans

The Colts are tied for first in the AFC South with Tennessee. However, if the season ended today, the Colts would be a wildcard team behind the Titans, who have a 4-1 record with-in the AFC South compared to the Colts, who are 2-2 with-in the division. Indianaoplis has won for its last five games, and two in a row came off of a 44-27 road win as a 2.5 point favorite.

The Colts are led by quarterback Phillip Rivers, who ranks 18th in the NFL with a 64.6 QBR and has thrown for 3,507 yards with 20 touchdowns to nine interceptions. Indianapolis is 5th, averaging 28.6 points per game, and ninth averaging 376.7 yards. The Colts are 15th, averaging 113 rushing yards per game and eighth with 263.7 passing yards.

Defensively, the Colts have allowed 23.1 points per game, which is the 12th in the league. The Colts rank sixth in total defense with 327.1 yards allowed per game. The Colts are fifth against the run and 13th against the pass, holding opponents to 227.9 yards through the air and 99.2 yards on the ground.

Indianapolis Colts Injury Report:

OUT: WR Parris Campbell, G Le’ Raven Clark, LB Jordan Glasgow, S Malik Hooker, RB Marlon Mack, S Rolan Milligan, LB Skai Moore, WR Dezmon Patmon, CB Marvell Tell III, P Rigoberto Sanchez, TE Noah Togial

Questionable: TE Mo-Alie Cox, LB Darius Leonard, CB Xavier Rhodes