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The 7-4 Indianapolis Colts will travel to NRG Stadium in Week 13 to take on the 4-7 Houston Texans in a battle between two AFC South teams.
The Colts are coming off a blowout loss at home against the Tennessee Titans. Indianapolis lost by a final score of 46-26 and is now in second place in the AFC South. The Colts are currently in seventh place in the AFC. If the playoffs started today, they would be the final Wild Card team in the conference.
The Texans, meanwhile, defeated the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving Day, 41-25. Houston, despite winning its last two games, will likely miss the playoffs. They are in 12th place in the AFC.
With the Colts and Texans set to play soon, let's take a look at four bold predictions for the game from an Indianapolis point of view.
1. Philip Rivers throws two touchdowns, two interceptions
In his first season with the Colts following a decorated career with the Chargers, Philip Rivers has been decent. The eight-time Pro Bowler has thrown 16 touchdowns and nine interceptions while completing 67.3 percent of his passes. Rivers has racked up 2,978 yards through the air.
Against the Texans, we have Rivers throwing two touchdowns and two interceptions. The Colts' gunslinger has been picked off three times over his last four games against the Baltimore Ravens, Titans and Packers. Indianapolis has faced Tennessee twice during that span, going 1-1.
In five career games against the Texans, Rivers is 3-2. He's thrown 16 touchdowns and only been picked off three times. Houston's defense is giving up 27.0 points per game on the season and has just three picks as a unit.
Since Rivers is still dealing with his toe injury, though, we have him overcompensating a little bit and tossing two interceptions.
2. T.Y. Hilton catches a touchdown pass
One of the biggest surprises of the season is that Colts wideout T.Y. Hilton only has one touchdown in 10 games. While the speedster has 33 receptions for 408 yards, Hilton's only touchdown grab came last week against the Titans.
The good news for Hilton's fantasy owners is that he has a history of going off against the Texans. In 16 games versus Houston, Hilton has 85 receptions for 1,537 yards and 10 touchdowns. With that being said, we have the 31-year-old scoring his second touchdown of the season in Week 13 versus the Texans. It could also be a long touchdown catch since Houston's defense has given up a lot of bombs this season.
For the Colts to rise in the AFC standings, they are going to need Hilton to make big plays on offense to close out the season. Look for Rivers to throw Hilton's way more as 2020 comes down to a close since the Colts are in desperate need of some large chunk plays on offense.
3. Colts limit Texans to under 23 points
Led by star quarterback Deshaun Watson, the Texans are averaging 24.4 points per game, which is 17th in the NFL. The Colts, meanwhile, are giving up 23.0 points a contest, ninth in the league.
Since Watson is going to be without wide receiver Will Fuller–who got suspended for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing substances–the Colts' defense should be able to have their way against Houston's offense in Week 13, especially since the team got embarrassed by the Titans last week and was likely challenged by the coaches in practice.
The Colts have 12 interceptions on the season, with four players tied for the team lead with two. We have Indianapolis' defense holding Watson and Houston to under 23 points in this contest.
In four career games against the Colts, Watson is 2-2 with six touchdown passes and four interceptions. One of the best players in the NFL, Watson has been so-so versus Indianapolis.
4. Colts defeat Texans, improve to 8-4
The Colts are under immense pressure to defeat the Texans since the Las Vegas Raiders (6-5) are right behind them in the AFC playoff standings. Since the team is coming off a loss to the Titans, we have Indianapolis rebounding in Week 13 by defeating the Texans to improve to 8-4 on the season.
The Colts haven't lost two games in a row this season, something head coach Frank Reich takes a lot of pride in. Even though the Texans have played better football under Romeo Crennel, Indianapolis has a better offense and defense, which should carry them to victory on the road.
Other than playing the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 16, the Colts have a favorable schedule to close out the season. Assuming they beat the Texans in Week 13, Indianapolis should be favored against the Raiders in Week 14, the Texans (again) in Week 15 and the lowly Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 17.
Things are set up for the Colts to make the playoffs. It's just up to the team now to care of business.
