The Indianapolis Colts came away with a key victory over the Houston Texans in Week 13. It was a must-win game for Indianapolis as they are in a tight playoff race in the AFC.
Indianapolis improved to 7-6 on the season with their 31-0 win over the Texans. While they haven't been talked about a ton, the Colts are making a real push to the postseason. They are not a team that even the top teams in the AFC would want to go about against in the playoffs.
That being said, here are three Colts takeaways from their dominant Week 13 win over the Texans.
Indianapolis Colts Week 13 Takeaways vs. Houston Texans
3. Colts have a playoff-style team
Frank Reich's team plays playoff-style football throughout the season. They rely on their potent rushing attack and elite defense, which teams often do in the playoffs. Jonathan Taylor has emerged as one of the best running backs in football due to his elite skill set.
"That's why we've been able to win so many games because of their mindset and their way of being able to take away the ball."
Jonathan Taylor shouts out the defense after today's @Colts win.
🎤 @AJRoss_TV pic.twitter.com/07IWAF776m
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) December 5, 2021
Taylor is playing so well that he has entered himself into the MVP conversation. Against the Texans, he rushed for 143 yards and two touchdowns on 32 carries. His combination of power and speed wears down defenses, making him harder to stop as the game goes on.
In total this season, Taylor has rushed for 1,348 yards and 16 touchdowns. This incredible production has helped lead the Colts offensively.
With that said, there is o doubt the Colts have a great shot at making it to the postseason.
2. Colts will win the AFC South
The Colts are getting in rhythm at the right time while their division rival Tennessee Titans are falling. The Titans have lost multiple star players to injuries and have dropped their last two games.
While Taylor has been a major catalyst in the Colts' success, their defense has been just as important. Against the Texans, they forced two turnovers, including a fumble recovery and interception. Their pass rush was ferocious as Indianapolis had four sacks and 11 quarterback hits.
The Colts' defense has caused problems for opposing offenses all season. Their talent at all three levels of the defense makes it hard for teams to gameplan against. With their strong defense and improving offense, Indianapolis has a great shot at winning out. They have a tough schedule, but they are firing on all cylinders and a win streak could spell problems for Tennessee.
1. The Carson Wentz trade was worth it
While there were many takeaways from this game, the most important one is that the trade for Carson Wentz was worth it. The run game and defense remain the key factors for Indianapolis, but the play from Wentz will make the difference.
Against Houston, Wentz threw for 158 yards along with one touchdown and zero interception. While these numbers may not seem great, he was an efficient passer as he completed 16 of 22 passes. If Wentz can play turnover-free football, he won't need to go out and put up insane numbers.
Carson Wentz picks up the first on a great effort#Colts#ForTheShoe#Texans#INDvsHOU
📺 via CBS pic.twitter.com/OMwEsE5Pfn— Chris Shepherd (@NFLscheme) December 5, 2021
With a great rushing attack behind him, Wentz just needs to continue being an efficient passer to help the Colts make the playoffs. However, if he is able to step up and have a few great games, it could help them go on a deep postseason run. It's often forgotten that Wentz was an MVP candidate back in 2017 before he suffered a devastating injury.
While the numbers aren't at the same level as back then, Wentz has had a great season with the Colts. He has thrown for 2,948 yards, with 22 touchdowns and only five interceptions.
The Colts are in a great position as the season enters the final stretch. They have a team that is set up well for a playoff atmosphere and could make a surprising deep playoff run. Teams in the AFC should take notice and watch out for the Colts.