Official Texans @ Colts Game Thread, 12/11/2016

[Arky]

It's week 14 and the 6-6 Texans take to the road for the 2nd week in a row to play the 6-6 Indianapolis Colts. The Colts are coming off a road victory defeating the NY Jets on MNF 41-10. Colt QB Andrew Luck seems to be getting hotter every week - he has passed for 3105 yards, 64% completion, 23 TDs, 8 INTs and has a rating of 98.3. He (54/272, 5.0 avg) and Frank Gore (198/749, 3.8 avg) are the two main ball carriers although Robert Turbin (28/89, 3.2 avg) might see some carries. In the passing game, TY Hilton has already broke 1,000 yards receiving on the year (1,088) and is Luck's #1 target. After him, there is a whole slew of receivers (Moncrief, Doyle, Dorsett, Allen, Gore, Swoope, Rogers, Ferguson, Turbin) that Luck can target. On the other side of the ball, the Colt defense could use some work ranking 28th in yards/gm, 28th in passing yds/gm, 20th in rushing yds/gm and 25th in pts allowed/gm (25.9).

The Texans have a three game losing streak going and will see their playoff chances take a big hit with a loss. With a win, they could defeat the Colts three times in a row and will have swept both meetings on the year - both would be franchise firsts.

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TV = CBS (channel 11 local), noon CST, Sunday, Dec 11, 2016

Announcers = Kevin Harlan, Rich Gannon (pretty much all of Texas and Indiana will be watching)

The line = Colts by 5.5 to 7

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Other Sunday viewing in the Houston area:

FOX (early) - Washington @ Philadelphia, Kevin Burkhardt, John Lynch

FOX (late) - New Orleans @ Tampa Bay, Thom Brennaman, Charles Davis, Chris Spielman

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Prime time:

TNF = Oakland @ Kansas City (NBC; NFLN)

SNF = Dallas @ NY Giants (NBC)

MNF = Baltimore @ New England (ESPN)

[HPF Bob]

If the Texans go 9-7, the Colts or Titans would have to run the table at 10-6 to win the division.

If the Texans go 8-8, the Colts or Titans would have to go 9-7 to win the division.

If the Texans go 7-9, they have no business being in the playoffs but they still might go if the Colts or Titans can do no better.

The next division win gives the Texans the tiebreaker for the division. After that, all they have to do is tie for the division lead to be the #4 seed.

Of course, Jill Stein could sue for a recount.

[Arky]

Good article by Bob on the front page:

Down the Stretch They Come.

[Arky]

Texan's game of the year?

Pendergast breaks it down: NFL Week 14: Texans-Colts — Four Things To Watch For

............ and a quarterback that the entire town quietly wishes would sustain a minor injury that is not so horrific that you feel bad for wishing it, but just debilitating enough to elevate Tom Savage. (Stubbing a toe in the shower, cutting the throwing hand opening a video game, something along those lines... nothing that requires surgery, a cast, a sling, or rehab.) ........

[chuck]

That's another thing that we haven't really discussed at any length this year, maybe because we're inured to it - the special teams are terrible. Statistically their play is as bad as the quarterback has been. To me this is a clear indictment of the team's total incompetence in putting together a roster.

[Arky]

Since rookie receiver Braxton Miller is also inactive, the Texans will have three receivers active in DeAndre Hopkins, Will Fuller and Keith Mumphery.


Here are the rest of the Texans inactives:

TEXANS INACTIVES

RB Tyler Ervin
CB Johnathan Joseph
WR Braxton Miller
QB Tom Savage
OLB John Simon
OL Josh Walker
DE Ufomba Kamalu