The Houston Texans and the Indianapolis Colts conclude their season series on Thursday night to start Week 12.
The Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts finish up their season series on Thursday night at NRG Stadium, and the facts conclude with a look at the NFL on FOX and NFL Network broadcast team as well as a few defensive stats.
The facts continue as the Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts face off in Week 12. Next we take a look at Frank Reich and referee Ron Torbert.
The Houston Texans and the Indianapolis Colts kickoff Week 12 in the NFL with a Thursday night encounter that completes their season series at NRG Stadium. Next, we take a look at Colts coach Frank Reich along with an examination of referee Ron Torbert.
51. Reich is 1/8 coaches in Colts history to post a 6-4 record.
52. Reich is 8-2 in the AFC South, including playoffs with a 4-1 record on the road.
53. Reich is 3-1 against the Texans, including playoffs. Here is how that compares to the rest of the AFC South:
Titans: 3-0
Texans: 3-1
Jaguars: 2-1
54. Reich is 4-2 in November with an 0-1 record on the road.
55. Reich is 0-1 in Thursday night games with an 0-1 record on the road.
56. Reich is 1/2 in completing a series sweep with a 1/2 rate on the road.
57. Reich is 2/6 on challenges in 2019 with a 4/11 record for his career.
58. Reich is 1/4 challenging plays related to pass interference.
59. The Colts have had the second-fewest penalties in the NFL with 56.
60. The Colts have the eighth-highest red zone conversion rate at 63.2%.
61. The Colts have the seventh-highest fourth down conversion rate in the NFL at 66.7%. They are also tied for the fifth-highest in the NFL at going for it with 15 attempts.
The Houston Texans and the Indianapolis Colts finish up their season series in Week 12. Here are facts for QB Jacoby Brissett and coach Bill O’Brien.
The Houston Texans and the Indianapolis Colts conclude their season series Thursday night at NRG Stadium to start off Week 12 in the NFL. The facts continue with a look at Colts quarterback Jacoby Brissett and Texans coach Bill O’Brien.
26. Brissett is 1/7 quarterbacks to have started at least nine games this year and not thrown an interception.
27. Brissett’s 37 passes on run-pass options are the fifth-most in the NFL.
28. Brissett has been a part of 41 run-pass options, the fifth-most in the NFL.
29. Brissett has had to scramble 22 times this season, the sixth-most in the league.
30. Brissett is tied with Kirk Cousins and Jared Goff for the most time in the pocket at 2.7 seconds.
31. Brissett is tied with Baker Mayfield and Derek Carr for the 10th-most passes thrown away with 13.
32. Brissett is tied with Carson Wentz and Andy Dalton for the fifth-most passes batted at the line of scrimmage with 10.
33. Brissett, along with Deshaun Watson, are part of eight quarterbacks this season who have at least two fourth quarterback comebacks and two game-winning drives.
34. Among quarterbacks with at least nine starts, Brissett’s 15 sacks are the third-lowest in the NFL.
35. Brissett’s 6.9 yards per pass attempt is tied for the 10th-lowest in the NFL.
36. Though Brissett’s touchdowns are tied for the 13th-fewest in the NFL, his touchdown percentage is tied for the sixth-highest in the league at 5.8%.
37. Brissett is tied for the fifth-fewest interceptions among quarterbacks with at least nine starts with four picks.
38. Brissett’s 90.6 passer rating on third down is the 11th-lowest in the NFL among quarterbacks with a least 90 third down passes.
39. Brissett is tied with Jimmy Garoppolo for the sixth-most third down conversions rushing for a quarterback with seven.
The Houston Texans and the Indianapolis Colts finish their season series in Week 12. Colts Wire answered questions to preview the matchup.
The Houston Texans and the Indianapolis Colts hook up for a Thursday night encounter at NRG Stadium to kickoff Week 12 in the NFL. To get ready for the AFC South rematch, Kevin Hickey, managing editor of the Colts Wire, took time to answer some questions.
texans wire: what is the colts’ strategy on preparing during a short week?
Kevin Hickey: Their first objective is to get healthy. They haven’t practiced yet this week but during Monday’s walkthrough, they had 11 players listed as did not participate. That number has gone down since then, but they have to get healthy first. Because it is a divisional game, there aren’t a ton of new installs that need to be emphasized. They already know what works against the Texans so it may just be going over a few more wrinkles in the game plan to keep them guessing.
TW: HOW WILL THE COLTS GET THEIR RUN GAME GOING WITHOUT MARLON MACK?
KH: It won’t be as easy because of Mack’s ability to break off a big run at anytime. But even when he’s healthy the success of the rushing attack begins with the offensive line. As Quenton Nelson continues to be an elite guard, he needs to lead the way whether they are running zone blocking or power. Jonathan Williams is likely to step in for Mack, and he had 13 carries for 116 yards in relief in Week 11.
tw: who would be the next colts receiver to torch the texans?
KH: That’s a good question. The Colts are still holding out hope for T.Y. Hilton to be ready, but that’s still up in the air. The defacto WR1 role goes to Zach Pascal, who went off for 106 yards and 2 touchdowns in Week 7 against the Texans. The Colts don’t have a deep wide receiver corps right now, but he would be the one to key on in the passing game.
WHAT ARE SOME WEAKNESSES THE TEXANS COULD EXPLOIT?
KH: The right side of the offensive line is certainly a weakness. Right guard Mark Glowinski has regressed incredibly while right tackle Braden Smith hasn’t shown a lot of improvement in Year 2. The Texans need to get their best defender head up from Glowinski or run some stunts on the right side. That has really given them trouble this year. Also, Deshaun Watson will want to attack the seams. The Colts mostly run a two-high zone so getting DeAndre Hopkins in the slot or getting Darren Fells involved in the middle of the field should help.
TW: are there any concerns jacoby brissett could get re-injured?
KH: No. Brissett could have played in Week 10 against the Dolphins but Frank Reich decided against it. Even though he was less than 100% in Week 11, he still looked capable of moving in the pocket and avoiding a rush. His change of direction didn’t look hindered at all.
what is your prediction? do you have a bold prediction?
KH: I still expect this to be a close game. However, being at NRG Stadium and with some very significant injuries, the Texans offense might be too much to overcome while the passing game for the Colts struggles. I’ve got it Texans, 24-20.
Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson tends to play his best football when in prime time. Why is that?
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When the lights get brighter, Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson follows.
In his six prime time appearances, Watson is 4-2, losing to the Kansas City Chiefs (2017) and New Orleans Saints (2019). The third-year quarterback is 119-173 (68.7%) for 1,478 yards, 19 total touchdowns and two interceptions, good for a 121 passer rating, in those six games.
What makes Watson so good in prime time?
“For me, honestly it’s no different. I treat every game the same regardless if it’s primetime or not,” said Watson on Tuesday. “I just go out there and try to I guess play the best football I can each and every Sunday or each and every time we step on the field.”
The simple truth for Watson is that the only difference between prime time and a noon game is the start time. 46 players suit up, 11 play on each side of the ball, both coaches argue with referees, a pigskin is thrown; football, under the bright lights, is the same game.
The Houston Texans and the Indianapolis Colts complete the season series on Thursday to kickoff Week 12. Here are series and Deshaun Watson facts.
The Houston Texans and the Indianapolis Colts finish up their season series Thursday night at NRG Stadium. As we kickoff our 100 facts, we first take a look at some series facts before moving into Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson.
series facts
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
1. The Texans are 6-4 for the second time in franchise history. The last time, 2016, made the playoffs and won the AFC South.
2. Since 1990, when playoff formats were last tinkered with, teams that started 6-5 made the playoffs 59/127 times with 23/59 of those clubs having won the division.
3. Since 1990, when playoff formats were last tinkered with, teams that started 7-4 made the playoffs 94/135 with 39/94 having won the division.
4. The Colts are 6-4 for the 10th time in franchise history. 6/9 of those teams made the playoffs with three of those teams having won the division.
5. The Colts have swept the Texans 10 times in series history. Here is how that compares to the rest of the Texans’ divisional opponents:
Colts: 10
Titans: 5
Jaguars: 4
6. The Texans are 8-28 against the Colts, including playoffs, with a 5-13 record at home. Here is home record compares to the rest of the division:
Jaguars: 13-5
Titans: 10-7
Colts: 5-13
7. The Texans are 5-13 against the Colts at home. Here is the breakdown by naming rights:
Reliant Stadium: 4-9
NRG Stadium: 1-4
8. The Texans are 0-8 in November against the Colts with an 0-3 record at home.
9. The Texans are 30-38 in November with a 15-18 record at home.
10. The Colts are 149-124-3 in November with a 70-64-1 record on the road.
11. The Texans are 97-115 in early afternoon games with a 62-53 record at home.
12. Since 1970, the Colts are 227-206 in early afternoon games with a 112-128 record on the road.
Odds-makers give the Houston Texans the slight advantage against the Indianapolis Colts Thursday night at NRG Stadium for Week 12.
The Houston Texans and the Indianapolis Colts face off for a Thursday night encounter at NRG Stadium to kickoff Week 12 in the NFL. With an abbreviated week of preparation for both teams, the Texans are hoping to come away with a win to neutralize the Colts’ head-to-head tiebreaker and prevent Indianapolis from getting their 11th series sweep.
Odds-makers are giving the Texans the advantage at -3.5, according to BetMGM, and those odds are tied with the 49ers, Titans, and Lions for the fourth-slimmest odds of Week 12. Only the Eagles (-1.5), Raiders (-2.5), and Ravens (-3.0) have closer odds.
The point total for the game is 46.5, which is tied with Oakland-NY Jets, Carolina-New Orleans, Dallas-New England, Green Bay-San Francisco, and Baltimore-LA Rams for the third-highest point total of Week 12. In the Week 7 matchup between the Colts and Texans, both teams combined for 53 points.
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The Houston Texans dropped four spots in the latest USA TODAY NFL power rankings for Week 12.
The Houston Texans dropped four slots in the latest USA TODAY NFL power rankings for Week 12.
After taking it on the chin 41-7 to the Baltimore Ravens Sunday afternoon at M&T Bank Stadium, the former first place squad in the AFC South dropped from No. 8 in the power rankings down to No. 12 overall.
Key three-game homestand opens with visits from division-leading Colts, Patriots. Overmatched in Baltimore, Houston must step up vs. big boys now.
Falling out of the top-10 seems fair. After all, the Ravens held the No. 2 seed, if the AFC playoffs were to start in Week 11, and they are presumably going to win the AFC North and be in the postseason. It was a measuring stick game of sorts, and the Texans didn’t measure up as a 41-yard touchdown run from running back Carlos Hyde was all that prevented Houston from suffering its third ever regular season shutout.
The Indianapolis Colts, the Texans’ opponent on Thursday night to kickoff Week 12, came in at No. 10 overall. Their 33-13 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars was good enough to propel them four spots into the top-10.
The Tennessee Titans rose two spots up to No. 16. The loss to the Colts knocked the Jacksonville Jaguars down two spots to No. 22 overall.
If the Texans are able to come away with a win against the Colts, it probably won’t elevate them too far into the top-10, possibly anywhere from eight to 10 overall.
As pointed out, the Texans have a critical three-game homestand upcoming and their true chance to measure up against the best the conference, and frankly the league, has to offer will be next week against the New England Patriots.
Nonetheless, Week 12’s showdown with the Colts is consequential given Indianapolis beat Houston 30-23 in Week 7 and holds the tiebreaker. A sweep would assuredly give the Colts the AFC South.
The Jags should expect a scrappy Titans team Week 12 after they will be coming off their bye with momentum from their win against the Chiefs.
While their fanbase is still recovering from Sunday’s deflating loss to the Indianapolis Colts, the Jacksonville Jaguars must now let it be nothing more than a moment in the past. Up next for them is a team who may be even more desperate than the Colts were in the Tennessee Titans, who look to be a better team than they were Week 3 when the Jags beat them on “Thursday Night Football.”
All of that said, here are three things to know as the Jags and Titans gear up for their second meeting of 2019:
Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
The Titans have a lot to play for with the No. 9 seed in the AFC
The Titans will come into Sunday’s game with plenty to play for — and quite frankly — more than the Jags. As of Tuesday, they have the ninth seed in the AFC playoff picture with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Oakland Raiders, Houston Texans and Buffalo Bills in their way for a wild-card slot.
The Jags came into Week 12 listed as underdogs for the second consecutive week after their bye.
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Just as they did Week 11, the Jacksonville Jaguars will enter Week 12 as underdogs on the road against the Tennessee Titans. They also will be an underdog by 3.5-points for the second consecutive week, per BetMGM.
The Titans will be coming off their bye week with a 5-5 record, the No. 3 spot in the division and No. 9 seed in the playoff race. Prior to that, they had a huge win against the Kansas City Chiefs Week 10, which could give them the necessary momentum they need to make the playoffs heading forward.
The Jags, on the other hand, had a much more different experience in their last game and were defeated handily by the Indianapolis Colts by a score of 33-13. Sunday marked the return of veteran quarterback Nick Foles, who looked healthy but didn’t have an eventful day outside of the first quarter. He’ll be looking to have a better day against a Titans defense that is ranked No. 22 against the pass and No. 14 against the rush.
The total for Sunday’s game is currently set at 41.5 points. The money line is set at +140 for the Jags, which means a wager of $100 on them would pay out $140.
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