The rivalry:
The Texans have lost 23 of the 29 games and are 1-13 in Indianapolis, where they have been beaten by at least 12 points seven times. But they did finally prevail there last Dec. 20 behind Brandon Weeden, rallying with 10 unanswered fourthquarter points for a 16-10 victory. The 23 defeats are eight more than the Texans have totaled against any other team and are seven more than they have suffered collectively facing any of the NFL’s seven other divisions.
The coaches: The Texans’ Bill O’Brien is 24-20 and trying to avoid the first four-game losing streak in his three seasons. O’ Brien lost his first three meetings against the Colts’ Chuck Pagano, who’s 47-29 in his five seasons, but O’Brien has prevailed in the past two. Pagano won two AFC South titles (2013- 14) before O’Brien claimed his first last season.
How they compare: Offensively, the Texans are 28th in yards gained (5th rushing, 30th passing) and also 28th in points scored. The Colts are 14th in yards gained (25th rushing, 11th passing) and 7th in points scored. Defensively, the Texans are 5th in yards allowed (19th rushing, 5th passing) and 13th in points allowed. The Colts are 28th in yards allowed (20th rushing, 28th passing) and 25th in points allowed.
Plot line: The Colts are coming off their most impressive win of the season, a 41-10 pounding of the lackluster New York Jets on the road, and Andrew Luck appears 100 percent recovered from the concussion he suffered Nov. 20 against Tennessee. The Texans are reeling from three consecutive losses and are still trying to find their legs offensively. The defense has been excellent at times – but not in fourth quarters, surrendering five touchdowns in the final 15 minutes of the three defeats.
Trending: The Texans have won eight in a row against AFC South opponents. The Colts have turned the ball over eight times in their past five games after losing only six in their first seven. The Texans have forced turnovers in each of their past four games but only five total.
Go figure: With his 79 yards against the Jets, the Colts’ Frank Gore overtook the Dallas Cowboys’ Tony Dorsett for eighth place among the NFL’s all-time rushing leaders. Gore has gained 12,789 in his 12 seasons.
Worth pondering: When the 28thranked offense faces the 28th-ranked defense, something has to give, right?