Stampede Blue
Just a few short weeks ago the Indianapolis Colts were riding high and the Houston Texans were being left for dead by many. After losing two out of three and watching the Texans surge, this week’s matchup just got a lot more interesting. The Jaguars refuse to go away, and the Texans are catching up. The Colts need to win this one to maintain their lead in the AFC South and keep this season from completely going off the rails. A welcomed return to Lucas Oil could be the remedy after being gone for over a month. FanDuel Sportsbook sees the Colts as the favorites with a 3.5-point spread advantage.
The money line comes in at -200 with the over/under at 44.5.
The Colts went into Arrowhead to face the Chiefs and had a great opportunity to leave with a major win. Up 20-9 in the fourth, the Colts offense completely shut down. Getting a first down proved impossible as the Colts chose to not use the workhorse that had gotten them to this point. The abandonment of Jonathan Taylor proved costly as the Chiefs got the ball back late in the fourth and forced overtime. The Colts received the first possession of overtime, but the same inefficient offense carried over. A three and out was deadly as the Chiefs marched down the field and kicked a field goal to win.
The Texans played Thursday night and got the best of Josh Allen and the Bills. No C.J. Stroud? No problem when you have the Texans’ defense. Eight sacks and three turnovers were enough for the Texans to pull off the upset. After falling behind early, the Texans fought back to take the lead at halftime. The game could have ended there as neither team was able to do much in the second half with a total of six points scored. This unlikely win now puts Houston in a great spot to make a playoff push as they are in a logjam with one game separating six teams.
Yes, this one got a lot more important for both teams. The Colts are looking to find their way back after a few rough outings. Unfortunately, the Texans might not be the team they were looking for. That front could make for a long day for Daniel Jones and this offense. Whatever has ailed them, the Colts need to figure it out quickly. There are no breaks or time left to play around.
