First quarter
15:00 — Houston calls tails. It’s heads. Indianapolis defers. Texans football.
12:30 — QB Deshaun Watson actually stumbles and sacks himself on a third-and-2 from the Houston 43-yard line.
5:55 — RB Jonathan Taylor rushes for a 5-yard touchdown. Extra point is good. Colts 7-0
Pregame
WHEN: 12:00 p.m. CT
WHERE: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana
FORECAST: Partly cloudy, 41 degrees, 8 mph winds (indoors)
FOLLOW: @therealmarklane, @thetexanswire
LISTEN: Sports Radio 610 [KILT-AM] and 100.3 The Bull [KLOL]
WATCH: CBS (Greg Gumbel & Rich Gannon)
BLUE: San Francisco-Dallas
RED: New England-Miami
YELLOW: Jacksonville-Baltimore
BROWN: Detroit-Tennessee
GREEN: Houston-Indianapolis
10. Deshaun Watson’s rank for yards after the catch
Watson has benefited from 1,591 yards after the catch, the 10th-most in the NFL. With Keke Coutee active and Brandin Cooks possibly able to play, the Texans will need to benefit from more yards after the catch to keep up with Indianapolis.
9. Houston’s rank for points per game allowed
The Texans give up 27.6 points per game, the ninth-most in the NFL. In the Week 13 showdown, the Texans actually held the Colts to 26 points, and Houston was two yards away from winning the game with 1:22 to go. The Texans can hold the Colts down and find a pathway to victory.
8. Houston’s takeaways
The Texans’ eight turnovers are the fewest in the NFL. No one else has single-digit takeaways at this point in the season. Houston has to add to their takeaway total, and get points off those turnovers, if they hope to upset the Colts.
7. Deshaun Watson’s rank for time in the pocket
Watson has the seventh-longest time in the pocket on average at 2.5 seconds. No matter who the receivers are, if Watson can have enough time to survey the field, he can find the open target.
6. Houston’s rank for red zone trips
The Texans have 22 red zone trips, tied with the Philadelphia Eagles for the sixth-fewest in the NFL. The average is 1.7 trips per game. Houston will have to get in at least twice and cash in with touchdowns just to have a chance against Indianapolis.
5. J.J. Watt’s sack total
Houston’s face of the franchise has generated 5.0 sacks, and no doubt he is headed for his fewest sacks through a full 16-game season. However, he is always a threat to have a big game. If he can be disruptive in some way, it should give the Texans a chance.
4. Kenny Moore’s interceptions
Moore produced an interception in the Week 13 encounter, and he has four interceptions on the season, tied for the fourth-most in the NFL. Moore can’t be a factor in the rematch if Houston hopes to steal a win.
3. The Colts’ rank for yards per carry surrendered
Indianapolis gives up 3.8 yards per carry, the third-lowest in the NFL. Houston probably won’t have much success running the football, even with running back David Johnson returning to the lineup. It means Sunday afternoon will be the Deshaun Watson show.
2. Deshaun Watson’s rank for passing yards
The two-time Pro Bowler generated 3,761 yards through the first 13 games, the second-most in the league. If Houston wants to beat the Colts, they will need a stellar performance from Watson because he is all they have.
1. Zach Cunningham’s rank for combined tackles
Houston’s leading tackler has tallied 127 combined tackles through 13 games in 2020, leading the entire NFL. Cunningham will have to be the enforcer and keep Colts running backs from getting to the second level. If Houston could get a splash play or takeaway from Cunningham, that would also go a long way.