NFL
The Houston Texans travel north to Indianapolis for a Sunday afternoon showdown against the Indianapolis Colts. There is no team more in need of a win than the Texans. The Colts are stewing over a missed opportunity at the end of last week’s game.
Houston Texans
At 0-3, the Houston Texans are in desperation mode. With a 2.9 percent chance for a winning season, head coach Bill O’Brien’s hot seat will be really hot if the Texans fail to return home victorious. Houston is nearly healthy. Running back Lamar Miller has been one of the league’s best this season which has O’Brien scratching his head about red zone offense. This week it doesn’t get any easier as Houston faces defensive tackle Margus Hunt and linebacker Darius Leonard.
“Hunt is 6-8, a really, really disruptive guy on the inside. Probably the best field goal block guy in the league, which may not sound like a lot to you guys, but that’s very, very difficult to protect. Darius Leonard, we had in the Senior Bowl. South Carolina State, great guy, athletic guy, doing a really good job for them as a young linebacker.”
Hunt had four tackles (three for a loss), a sack, forced a fumble and a fumble recovery all in Sunday’s loss. He will be a handful for the Texans’ O-line.
The offensive line will make or break the Texans season this week. Quarterback Deshaun Watson has already been sacked ten times this season. This season only two teams have graded out worse at the offensive line position through three weeks of play. Houston has the second worst pass blocking line in the NFL. Things better improve on Sunday or Houston will be 0-4.
Indianapolis Colts
The good news for the Colts is they have Andrew Luck back. The bad news is the Indy offensive line is not much better than the Houston Texans. J.J. Watt and company should have a field day. Well, that’s what everyone thought last week, and it translated into Eli Manning having his best day ever at NRG Stadium. The look on Luck’s face at the end of last Sunday’s loss tells you all you need to know about the heart and character of this team.
The Colts have so much more though if Luck gets any time to throw. The Colts have allowed 31 pressures through three games. If tackle Anthony Castonzo makes it back, that will be an upgrade for the line and Luck’s protection. Luck has been sacked just five times this season however he has not faced the likes of J.J. Watt, JD Clowney, Whitney Mercilus and D.J. Reader.
The Final Whistle
If the Colts are to win they will need two things. First, they will need to keep Luck upright and protected. Second, they will need the run game to reappear. It looks like Marlon Mack may be back and that may put the run game back in business especially in the redzone. Indy only managed one touchdown in five red zone appearances last week.
If the Texans are to win, it will have to Deshaun Watson playing like the Deshaun Watson of last year. The offensive line will need to step up and give him some time to throw. He will have to be the creative playmaker in the red zone who is putting up touchdowns and not settling for interceptions and field goals. The only chance Houston has of winning at the Lucas Oil Stadium is if Bill O’Brien is not calling plays.
Indy wins it 31-17.
Photo Credit
Featured Image courtesy of Shutterbug459
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