Indianapolis Colts vs. Houston Texans: 3 Bold predictions for Week 14

The Houston Texans take their nine-game winning streak into Week 14 and a crucial matchup against the AFC South rival Indianapolis Colts.

Back in Week 4 of the 2018 NFL season, the Houston Texans were searching for answers as they entered a matchup against the Indianapolis Colts. They were 0-3 at that point, but they found the answers they were looking for as they pulled out an overtime win over their AFC South rivals. That set them on track and they haven’t looked back since, winning nine-straight games since.

Now the rematch between these two teams is set for Sunday afternoon in Week 14. The Colts are in the thick of the AFC Wild Card race right now, but desperately need a win after a disappointing showing against the Jacksonville Jaguars last week, getting blanked in a 6-0 defeat. To keep their postseason chances alive, Andrew Luck and Co. need to bounce back in a major way.

That won’t be easy, of course, as Deshaun Watson and the Texans are one of the NFL’s hottest teams. However, considering that the first matchup between these two foes went to overtime, Indianapolis can clearly compete with this team. Thus, this should be one of Week 14’s most entertaining matchups.

With that, let’s make some bold predictions for Sunday’s matchup between the Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans.

3. Andrew Luck bounces back, throws for 500+ yards

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In the first matchup between these two teams, Luck absolutely went off against this Texans defense. The Colts offensive line did a solid job in protection as the quarterback was sacked only four times and he took advantage, throwing for 464 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions. Even with how well Houston’s defense is playing, Luck will better that in Week 14.

Though they were dominated last week by Jacksonville, I expect the Colts offensive line to bounce back this week with a strong effort against the likes of JJ Watt and Jadeveon Clowney. With that, Luck is again going to have time to go to work against a Texans secondary that, though improved since earlier in the year, still has plenty of holes. In the end, Luck will have 500 yards passing and big day at the office.

2. DeAndre Hopkins tops 200 yards receiving

Luck and the Colts won’t be the only ones putting up some huge offensive numbers, though. In the Texans’ overtime victory in Week 4, Deshaun Watson was good, but not great. However, DeAndre Hopkins was indeed great as he had one of his best games of the season, posting 10 receptions on 12 targets for 169 yards and a touchdown on the day.

Though the Colts defense as a whole has been far better than many would’ve expected coming into this season, their secondary is quite clearly the weakest link of that unit. They don’t have any consistent playmakers in that group, and surely don’t have anyone that can put the clamps on Nuk. As such, Hopkins is going to go berserk once again, this time eclipsing the 200-yard plateau for the Houston offense.

1. Colts end the Texans’ winning ways

Coming into the first matchup with the Colts, the Texans sat at 0-3 on the season, but the overtime triumph over Indianapolis completely changed the course of their 2018 season. Houston hasn’t lost since, entering this Week 14 matchup with a 9-3 record for the year. Much like the first game changed the fortunes for the Texans, though, I believe that will again be the case in this matchup, only in the opposite manner.

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After the loss to Jacksonville last week, the Colts should be hungry in this one as their playoff chances largely hinge on the outcome of this matchup. Considering that and how tough that they played the Texans the first time around, I believe that Luck and the Indianapolis offense will carry them to a much-need victory, one that will snap the impressive nine-game winning streak of Houston.

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