NFL.com (Greg Rosenthal): Texans
New prediction, same result: experts siding with the Texans in a tight game. Greg Rosenthal of NFL.com has Houston winning the contest on the basis of Deshaun Watson not playing two bad games in a row, but states the Colts playing them close due to a banged-up secondary.
“Thursday Night Football in mid-November often comes down to which players are available. The banged-up Texans secondary should make life easier for Jacoby Brissett, especially because the Houston pass rush has so little juice, ranking 31st in pass rush win rate when J.J. Watt is not on the field. Indy cornerback Pierre Desir appears to be back, and the Colts have more defensive difference-makers, with Justin Houston and Darius Leonard both coming on strong. So my pick could flip after game day inactives are announced, depending on whether Will Fuller and/or T.Y. Hilton line up for extra vertical fun. For now, I’m leaning Texans because Deshaun Watson isn’t about to play two games in a row that poorly,” said Rosenthal.
Texans 25-24.