What we learned about the Colts in Week 12

What did we learn about the Colts in Week 12?

The Indianapolis Colts (6-5) had to turn around on a short week for a road game against the Houston Texans (7-4) on Thursday night and came away with a disappointing 20-17 loss.

The loss knocked the Colts down a peg in the AFC South standings. Indy went from holding the tiebreaker and the top spot in the division to holding the second spot. Regardless of what happens with the Titans game, the Colts will hold the second spot entering Week 13.

Here are four things we learned about the Colts in Week 12:

Passing offense is being left for dead

There truly isn’t one specific play or group that has led to the fall of the Colts’ passing offense over the last month. It falls on Jacoby Brissett not taking chances. It falls on the wide receiver room being unable to create separation. It falls on Frank Reich for sticking with the run too much at times.

Against a suspect secondary in the Texans, the Colts couldn’t get anything going. Whether it was Brissett failing to force a ball into a tight window or the amount of first and second down runs the Colts ran, the passing offense had no rhythm.

Whatever the case may be, the Colts must figure out how to get the passing game going down the stretch.

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5 takeaways from Colts’ 20-17 loss vs. Texans

Takeaways from the Colts’ 20-17 loss.

Few things say it’s a big game more than when it’s in prime time, your opponent is your most hated rival, and there is not only a chance to secure an outright lead in your division but any other advantages in the playoff implications that come up at season’s end.

The Indianapolis Colts had all of that at stake and then some before falling short against the Houston Texans, 20-17. Thursday night’s affair once again came down to the last minute, and this time the Texans (7-4) outlasted the Colts (6-5) and ended their three-game losing streak against Indy.

Here are five takeaways:

Watson finally gains an edge on the Colts defense

Entering Thursday night, quarterback Deshaun Watson was struggling against the Colts. Across the board, the Clemson product was seeing negatives that included a decline in his overall numbers, being pressured at a higher rate and losing three consecutive games against them.

Although the Colts had their moments against Watson on Thursday night, it wasn’t the same as before. The MVP candidate produced greater success in Week 12 as his athleticism and timely throws resulted in 298 passing yards, two passing touchdowns and just one sack surrendered.

Minus the successful blitzes by the Colts defense, they couldn’t get close enough to actually pressure Watson while also limiting his effectiveness as a runner.

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Colts lose to Texans: The good, the bad and the ugly

The good, the bad and the ugly from Week 12.

The Indianapolis Colts (6-5) suffered a 20-17 loss during the Thursday night primetime matchup against the Houston Texans (7-4) at NRG Stadium.

With the loss, the Colts are now in second place behind the Texans in the AFC South. There is still plenty of football left to play this season, but the Colts have a tough stretch ahead of them in order to make a playoff run.

Here is the good, the bad and the ugly from the Week 12 loss:

The Good

CB Kenny Moore: Outside of allowing a 51-yard catch, Moore was all over the place on Thursday night. He wound up with an interception and nearly sacked Deshaun Watson on a blitz.

Rushing attack: The Colts certainly had their ground game going on Thursday night. It was a slow start, but they finished with 175 rushing yards on 4.5 yards per carry. Jonathan Williams went over 100 yards for the second straight week.

The Bad

Big plays: On both sides of the ball, the Colts couldn’t prevent big plays nor could they produce them on their own. The Texans had nine plays of at least 20 yards.

Playcalling: There were some baffling moments, especially late in the fourth quarter where the Colts continued to stick with the run without giving Jacoby Brissett much of a chance to make a big play.

Blown coverage: There was some miscommunication on several plays—one of which led to a 35-yard touchdown to DeAndre Hopkins.

The Ugly

QB Jacoby Brissett: It was the fourth time Brissett failed to throw a touchdown pass and he finished with just 129 passing yards while going 16 of 25.

Wide receivers: It was a dismal showing from the Colts wide receviers, who combined for just four receptions for 30 yards.

Vertical passing game: This is both on Brissett and the wide receivers failing to get separation. The Colts took nearly no shots down the field throughout the game, and it led to another outing of the offense being non-explosive.

Colts’ snap counts from 20-17 loss against Texans

Snap counts from the Week 12 loss.

The Indianapolis Colts (6-5) dropped their Thursday night matchup against the Houston Texans (7-4) at NRG Stadium.

In what was a rough outing for the passing game, the Colts managed just 129 yards out of Jacoby Brissett while the rushing attack gained 175 yards. The commitment to the run was surprising at times, especially late in the fourth quarter when the Colts had a chance to tie the game.

Here are the offensive snap counts from the Week 12 loss:

With Marlon Mack out a few more weeks, Jonathan Williams got the start against the Texans. Many believed Jordan Wilkins would see some work, but head coach Frank Reich revealed they were using him only in emergency situations.

T.Y. Hilton was on a pitch count as he returns from his calf injury, playing just 37% of the snaps.

Here’s a look at the defensive and special teams snap counts:

Cornerbacks Kenny Moore and Pierre Desir along with linebacker Darius Leonard and safety Malik Hooker were to defenders to play 100% of the snaps. Rookie cornerback Marvell Tell saw an increase in snaps with fellow rookie Rock Ya-Sin inactive due to an ankle injury.

Quincy Wilson, who was active for the first time in a month, only saw two snaps on special teams.

Studs and duds from Colts’ 20-17 loss to Texans

Who stood out in Week 12?

The Indianapolis Colts (6-5) fell short on Thursday night losing to the Houston Texans (7-4) at NRG Stadium by a score of 20-17.

It was an ugly battle throughout, and there wasn’t much to be excited about from the Colts’ point of view, especially when it comes to the offensive side of the ball.

While the defense only gave up 20 points, they did allow some uncharacteristically long plays to the Texans. Some Colts were solid while others had a poor performance.

Here are the studs and duds from the divisional loss in Week 12:

STUD: CB Kenny Moore

Yes, Moore was beaten by Texans wide receiver Will Fuller on a 51-yard bomb in the fourth quarter. But outside of that, the third-year cornerback continued his strong play.

Moore added another interception to his totals on the season—his second—and made an impact at the line of scrimmage. He continued to be used as a nickel blitzer as well. The Colts secondary struggled mightily in this game and while Moore did have a big play allowed, he also made an impact elsewhere.

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Colts vs. Texans: Live updates from Week 12

Live updates from Week 12.

The Indianapolis Colts (6-4) are set to visit the Houston Texans (6-4) on Thursday night at NRG Stadium for what is a crucial divisional matchup for both teams.

As Indy holds the top spot in the division despite the tied records—thanks to the Week 7 win—the victor of his physical matchup will be in sole possession of first place in the AFC South.

The Colts will see the return of wide receiver T.Y. Hilton from a calf injury that has kept him off the field since Week 9. They will be without running back Marlon Mack, who is expected to miss the next few weeks due to a fractured hand.

We have the live updates here from the Colts media squad and reporters following the game:

https://twitter.com/TheColtsWire/lists/indianapolis-colts

Colts vs Texans: 3 keys for the offense in Week 12

Keys for the offense in Week 12.

Hopefully, Indianapolis Colts fans get more beautiful touchdown celebrations like this often on Thursday night when they travel to face the Houston Texans.

Last week, the Colts offense took off and was able to get back to running the football. Indianapolis racked up 264 rushing yards on the day, and that’s after losing running back Marlon Mack early in the second half with a hand injury.

Week 7 against the Texans was a strong showing from the Colts’ passing offense. Jacoby Brissett had his best game of the season throwing for 326 yards and four touchdowns. Things are a little bit different this time around.

Let’s take a look at three keys for the offense in this pivotal AFC South matchup:

1. Establish the run

It’s the mantra of the Indianapolis offense: “Run the damn ball.” On the season the Colts have the number four ranked rush offense, averaging 141 yards per game. The last few weeks though, the run offense hasn’t been there. But last week they got back to what they do best.

Against a lowly-ranked Jacksonville Jaguars run defense the Colts were able to run for 264 yards and average 7.3 yards per carry. Good news for Indianapolis, the Houston run defense isn’t any better than the one they saw last Sunday against Jacksonville.

Every since star defensive player J.J. Watt was put on season-ending injured reserve, the Texans run defense has been putrid to say the least. Since the Watt injury, the Texans are allowing 6.61 yards per carry, that’s 31st in the NFL, 32nd is the Jaguars.

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Colts vs. Texans: Week 12 staff picks and predictions

Colts Wire staff gives their Week 12 takes.

The Indianapolis Colts (6-4) and Houston Texans (6-4) are set for a vital matchup Thursday night at NRG Stadium.

The Week 12 bout will decide who holds sole possession of first place in the AFC South. The Colts currently hold the top spot because of their tiebreaking win in Week 7.

Here is how the Colts Wire staff sees the game unfolding:

Kevin Hickey (@KevinHickey11): Colts 24, Texans 22

I have been going back and forth with this game all week. It was very concerning to see the injury report on Monday but as the week progressed, it isn’t too bad all things considered.

This divisional matchup has serious implications now and down the stretch. The Colts should be getting T.Y. Hilton and Pierre Desir back—even if they are dealing with some other injuries in the secondary. The potential return of Hilton gives the Colts the advantage to win the game.

I don’t expect Jacoby Brissett to fire off 326 yards and four touchdowns again like he did in Week 7, but he should be in line for a big day. The Texans secondary is banged up in a bad way, and the absence of J.J. Watt has opened a massive hole in their run defense.

This is going to be an ugly, physical game that will be won in the trenches. Seeing as the Colts have the advantage there, they come away with an upset win on the road.

Arden Franklyn (@ArdenSportsTalk): Colts 26, Texans 20

In recent games, the Colts and Texans have played some good matchups together and I expect it to continue on Thursday night. As for why I’m expecting the Colts to win, it’s just a matter of confidence.

With their starting quarterback returning to the fold, T.Y. Hilton possibly returning (and causing another nightmare for the Texans) and the fact they’ve beaten the Texans three consecutive times since last season, the Colts definitely know they can beat this team in any way possible.

But let’s also acknowledge this: the Texans are probably coming out fired up because of what’s at stake (division lead/not losing the season series) along with avenging their poor performance from last Sunday, so it wouldn’t surprise me if they established an early, double-digit lead.

Yet, should it be enough for a win? Absolutely, not because the Colts won’t allow themselves to fall into a deep hole against the Texans.

John Alfieri (@alfierijohn): Texans 31, Colts 24

I rarely predict losses for the Colts but this week may be just too challenging with injuries piling up on a short week. Houston is coming off of a blowout loss in Baltimore and very rarely do we see a good football team come off a bad loss in worse condition.

The Colts losing Marlon Mack makes this game seem like a mismatch for Indy personnel-wise. Not to mention the Texans kryptonite, T.Y. Hilton, is still questionable with a calf injury. Even if “the Ghost” decides to suit up he will not be 100%.

Jonathan Williams and Nyheim Hines will do their best to establish the ground game but this game will come down to stopping the Texans passing attack and keeping Deshaun Watson in the pocket. The Colts defense has stepped up in recent weeks but this Houston offense is one of the better units the Colts will see all season.

Injuries in the secondary will also play a huge factor with Rock Ya-Sin questionable as well. Hopefully, Kenny Moore and Marvel Tell can step up like they did last week against this talented receiving corps.

I expect Jacoby Brissett to have a huge night with 300 yards passing and a pair of touchdowns but in the end, it will be the Colts playing catchup at NRG Stadium. I hope the Colts prove me wrong in this one. One thing I do believe though, if this game was on Sunday, it would be a completely different result.

Sam Sinclair (@samsinclair96): Colts 31, Texans 24

It should be an entertaining game. The Colts should expect an early punch from the Texans as they’re coming home off an embarrassing loss to the Ravens last Sunday.

I’ll be interested to see how Houston defends Indianapolis’ offense. Last time these two teams met Jacoby Brissett three for over 300 yards and four touchdowns. But the Texans run defense has struggled since J.J. Watt was lost for the season.

The Colts defense must show up and play to the level that they have the last 5-6 games. Watson does have an ankle injury so if guys like Grover Stewart and Denico Autry can get inside pressure early, it will test if Watson can be mobile.

This game is more than likely going to decide who wins the AFC South. The Colts are getting back T.Y. Hilton and Pierre Desir at the right time. I think their returns help the Colts take a firm handle on the AFC South in this Thursday night matchup.

Colts vs. Texans: NFL experts make Week 12 picks

Who are the NFL experts choosing in Week 12?

The Indianapolis Colts (6-4) are underdogs when they travel to take on the Houston Texans (6-4) at NRG Stadium on Thursday night for a Week 12 matchup.

This matchup is huge for both teams. They are currently tied atop the AFC South with the Colts holding the tiebreaker due to their Week 7 win against the Texans at Lucas Oil Stadium.

It should be a physical game, but the experts are mostly siding with the Texans in Week 12:

Expert	Pick	Score (if applicable)
Nate Davis (USA TODAY)	Texans	28-24
Mike Jones (USA TODAY)	Texans	27-25
Jarrett Bell (USA TODAY)	Texans	24-21
Mike Clay (ESPN)	Texans	N/A
Vinnie Iyer (Sporting News)	Texans	24-20
Pete Prisco (CBS Sports)	Texans	28-21
Jared Dubin (CBS Sports)	Texans	N/A
Todd Haislop (Sporting News)	Texans	27-21
NumberFire	Texans	N/A
Pro Football Focus	Texans	N/A
Bleacher Report	Texans	24-21

Colts vs. Texans: 3 keys for the defense in Week 12

Keys for the defense in Week 12.

This is the game of the year for both teams on Thursday Night Football. The Indianapolis Colts defense has been playing very well recently, but they haven’t faced a tough run of quarterbacks like they did at the beginning portions of the season. They will get a massive challenge on Thursday night.

This is the second matchup between the Colts and Houston Texans. They met back in Week 7 in Indianapolis, a game the Colts won 30-23. The defense as a whole didn’t put up amazing numbers, but they held a great red-zone offense in the Texans to 2/5 there and forced two fourth-quarter interceptions.

Let’s take a look at some keys for the Colts defense as they travel to Houston looking for a massive win:

1. Red-zone defense

In the previous matchup, the Colts defense held one of the better red-zone offenses in the NFL to just 2-5 in the red-zone. That was one of the deciding factors in the early-October game back in Week 7. The Colts will have to duplicate that effort in this game.

Interesting stat from the Colts: they didn’t allow a single red-zone snap in the Week 11 game versus the Jaguars. They did, however, give up a long touchdown to receiver DJ Chark that puts a skew in that stat.

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But, if you look over the last three games this Colts defense has only given up touchdowns on 33% of red-zone trips by the opponent. To add context, the Colts have turned the ball over seven times in the previous three games, four of those turnovers were on the opponent’s side of the field, so the defense was put in a bad spot.

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