Who wins Week 1 game between Texans and Colts?

Who walks away a winner between the Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts? Click here to vote!

The Houston Texans will battle the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, where the reigning AFC South champions look to set a standard in the division for the 2024 campaign. 

These two potential AFC contenders have bad blood after Houston marched into Lucas Oil Stadium in Week 18 last season to secure a 23-19 victory and its first division title in four years. The Colts have gone back and forth on social media and podcasts, making it clear a rivalry has been renewed

The Texans return C.J. Stroud, Will Anderson Jr., Nico Collins and countless talents from last year’s matchup as the headliners in Sunday’s contest. They’ll also have a healthy Tank Dell, who did not play in Week 18’s showdown after dealing with a broken leg. 

Houston also upgraded multiple positions in the offseason via free agency. Four-time Pro Bowl defensive end Danielle Hunter joins the crew after leading the NFL in tackles for losses. Linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair should replace leading tackle Blake Cashman. 

On offense, Houston will now have two new pieces for Stroud’s ‘five-headed monster’ with Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon and All-Pro receiver Stefon Diggs. Diggs, who’s led the NFL over the past four seasons in catches (445), seems to be in lockstep with Stroud as the future No. 1 target. 

The Texans are a 3-point road favorite against the Falcons, per BetMGM. It’s not surprising considering that Anthony Richardson will be making his first start in over eight months after suffering a season-ending shoulder injury in October. 

Will Houston set a standard on the road? Will the Colts become the team people must talk about heading into Week 2? 

Who wins on Sunday?

VOTE!

Colts send message to Texans, ready to reignite ‘bad blood’ between two franchises

Get ready for a rumble in Lucas Oil Stadium come Week 1 between two times who last played for a shot at the postseason.

Who are the Houston Texans’ arch-rivals in the AFC South?

The Jacksonville Jaguars spent most of the 2000s battling with Houston for third place in the division. Last season, their downfall led the the Texans’ triumph en route to a division title.

The Tennessee Titans hightailed it out of H-Town when Bud Adams elected to move the team from the Astrodome to build a new stadium following the 1996 season.

What’s worse is the Houston Oilers logo, branding and color scheme belong to the Adams family, thus adding more fuel to the fire whenever the Titans don that Love-Ya Blue whenever the Texans travel to Nissan Stadium.

But the Indianapolis Colts take first place for bitter foe entering 2024. One play separated the two squads from reaching the postseason last year under first-year coaches Shane Steichen and DeMeco Ryans.

Houston converted. Indianapolis didn’t.

That hatred has lingered at Lucas Oil Stadium for months since the Texans clinched the AFC South for the first time since 2019 and Colts players are ready to light the torch while hopefully giving fans what they pay for.

“I definitely think there’s some bad blood between the two teams,” Colts defensive lineman DeForest Buckner told Fan Duel’s Kay Adams. “C.J. [Stroud]’s been talking a little bit on the offseason. [Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin’s] been talking a little bit in the offseason. … It’s one of those rivalries you gotta look out for.”

The Texans, who finished 11-8 last season following a loss in the AFC Divisional Round to Baltimore, upgraded their roster in the offseason to push them into Super Bowl contention. They added Pro Bowlers Danielle Hunter, Stefon Diggs and Joe Mixon, plus brought in roleplayers like Azeez Al-Shaair and Denico Autry.

The Colts elected to run it back with basically the same 9-8 squad, though former first-round pick Anthony Richardson will enter the mix. He put on a showcase the first four weeks of the season before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury.

Texans fans might think they have the better quarterback, but Richardson kickstarted a victory in Week 2 over Houston with a pair of rushing touchdowns in the first quarter before leaving with a concussion.

The AFC South belongs to Houston for the moment, though three teams have claimed the title since 2018. Indianapolis, which last won the division in 2014, looks to end its 10-year drought with a win over the Texans in Week 1.

Por Bowl running back Jonathan Taylor mentioned that Colts players felt disrespected when Houston clinched the division in Week 18. He plans on returning the favor come Sept. 8.

“Someone is coming into Lucas Oil Stadium and they’re tryna wipe their paws, wipe their feet right on top of us,” Taylor said. “We can’t let that happen.”