The Indianapolis Colts (9-4) are set to host the Houston Texans (4-9) at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday for a divisional matchup in Week 15.
Before the rematch gets underway, we caught up with Mark Lane, managing editor over at Texans Wire, to get the scoop on Indy’s opponent for the Week 15 bout.
Here’s our Behind Enemy Lines with Texans Wire:
1. As the offseason draws near, what’s the biggest need for the Texans to address—outside of finding a new head coach?
Mark Lane: They need to figure out what they are doing with some heavy contracts such as those for DE J.J. Watt, OLB Whitney Mercilus, and RB David Johnson. These guys haven’t provided the contributions they would have hoped in 2020, and some could be near the end of their productivity in the league. The fact is 2021 is going to be a soft rebuild because of the lack of draft picks and relative lack of salary cap space. So, the Texans need to take 2021 to try to clear the books and get ready to build around Deshaun Watson in 2022.
2. Speaking of, what kind of coach would most benefit the Texans to turn things around in a relatively quick manner?
ML: I hate to say it because it makes me seem like just some kind of parrot that hasn’t done his homework, but I’d say Robert Saleh, the defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers. He has been in this organization before. He knows what the expectations are. The McNair family obviously knows who he is. He is also a defensive minded coach that wouldn’t interfere with the good thing Watson and offensive coordinator Tim Kelly have going on. I would also submit Matt Eberflus for the same reasons. I know for a fact he was already running the defensive meetings in Dallas in 2012 in defensive coordinator Rob Ryan’s final year there, and Eberflus was just the linebackers coach. Eberflus is a highly respected coach with good work ethic and has an eye for reality. Preferably, I’d like Saleh though, only because of his familiarity with the Texans.
3. With Justin Reid out, who will have to step up in the secondary?
ML: A.J. Moore is an undrafted free agent from the same rookie year as Reid, 2018. Eric Murray will have to step up more. Lonnie Johnson is a second-year defensive back who has been moving between cornerback and safety. They are already without cornerbacks Gareon Conley and Bradley Roby, so, the secondary was already porous to begin with.
4. Are there any other pass rushers the Colts should be concerned about outside of J.J. Watt?
ML: DE Charles Omenihu, a second-year edge rusher from Texas, has been finding his groove as of late. He could have a big game. OLB Jacob Martin is one of the pickups from the Jadeveon Clowney trade last preseason, and he has actually produced more sacks than Clowney in that span (6.5) and also drew interest from his old team, the Seattle Seahawks, at the trade deadline this season as he had generated the most sacks of anyone on the NFC West club in that same span. The Texans’ pass rush has always been this: Watt feasts, if he’s double-teamed, others have to get there. Houston’s problem since 2019 has been no one else getting there.
5. Final score, prediction?
ML: The Texans just want to get to January. If the Colts come out strong and post 24 points in the first half and the Texans can’t keep up, Houston will fold. It isn’t so much the lack of heart with the team as it is the hits to the roster right now at cornerback, safety, defensive line, and receiver. I don’t think Keke Coutee goes off this time. Indianapolis gets that 10th win of the year with a 34-20 win over Houston.