The Indianapolis Colts are in need of a remedy following their deflating loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week. It was a game in which they were in firm control in the first half. They had shut Tom Brady and Buccaneers offense down and led 24-14 at halftime.
Then the 2nd half happened. The Colts inexplicably went away from Jonathan Taylor and the run game, and watched as Brady engineered another comeback. But it was once again a sign that the Colts can play with the best teams in the league.
For more insight on the Colts' Week 13 matchup against the Texans, listen below:
They have shown it all year, barely losing to the Rams, Ravens and the Titans twice. Now you can add the Bucs as another good team they played with, but ultimately lost against. Thankfully for the Colts, they get the Houston Texans this week.
They hammered the Texans 31-3 back in Week 6. In theory, this game should not look too different from that one.
Here are 4 bold predictions for Sunday's Colts vs Texans matchup.
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Colts Week 13 Predictions vs Texans
4. The Texans will hang around longer than expected
Typically, in division games, if there is one team that is good and the other team that is not, you will get one blow out and one closer game. We already got the blow out. This one should be closer, for at least a half.
Houston's defense is better than most realize. They are 5th in the NFL with 20 takeaways. They get one of their better players back this week. Safety Justin Reid missed last week's game after being forced to sit for disciplinary reasons.
The Texans do not have enough offensive talent to hang all game, but for a half, at home, they will keep the Colts' attention.
3. Michael Pittman Jr. will get back on track
Colts breakout wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. has been quiet lately. He has not scored a touchdown since Week 9 vs the Jets and has not topped 100 yards receiving since Week 7 vs the 49ers.
Both of those streaks might end Sunday. I expect the Texans to load up the box in the first half, trying to slow down Jonathan Taylor. When that happens, it won't take long for Colts head coach Frank Reich to make the in-game adjustments. Pittman Jr. will see a lot of one on one coverage on the outside. He should feast.
Pittman Jr. has become Carson Wentz's top target, and when he is targeted, he catches the ball.
Michael Pittman Jr. receiving
🎯 67 targets
🎯 1 drop pic.twitter.com/Nv0JnWijtF— PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF_Fantasy) November 13, 2021
He has not garnered the attention that other second year breakout receivers are; namely, Vikings' Justin Jefferson and Cowboys' CeeDee Lamb. Don't get me wrong, I am not saying Pittman is as good as either receiver. Quite the contrary. But I do believe he has been over looked and this might just be the beginning of his breakout.
2. Jonathan Taylor will rush for 100 yards in the 2nd half
While I expect the Colts to be in a tighter game at half, it's only a matter of time before they wear down the defensive front of the Texans. Houston's rush defense is among the worst in the league.
Everyone and their mama knows that Reich for some reason went away from Taylor last week. So, it logically makes sense for David Culley to expect a heavy dose of Taylor early. If you throw enough bodies in the box to start a game, you can slow almost any running game down. The problem is that it usually comes at the expense of your secondary.
But as this game progresses, Houston's defense will be getting more and more tired. They should be on the field for the majority of the game after all. That should lead to something like what we saw vs the Jets.
Jonathan Taylor is DESTROYING the Jets @barstoolindy pic.twitter.com/19hIoOlIHw
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) November 5, 2021
Taylor will help salt the game away with a big 2nd half, increasing his NFL rushing lead.
1. The Colts defense will get a pick six late in the game
Texans quarterback Tyrod Taylor is typically very careful with the ball. But as the team falls further and further behind, he will naturally start pressing. He has never been the most accurate quarterback, just simply a decent game manager.
But it will be hard to manage as the game gets away from them. The Colts lead the NFL in takeaways with 27, and have one of the better playmakers in their secondary in Xavier Rhodes. The defense will help put the game to bed.
With the win, the Colts will be sitting at 7-6 heading into their bye week. On the back side of it, they will face the New England Patriots and the Arizona Cardinals. That's two of the best teams in the league.
The Colts have shown they can play with the big boys, just ask Buffalo. They will get two more chances to prove they can do it again.
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