The 4-2 Houston Texans are 1.5-point favorites to defeat the 3-2 Indianapolis Colts in a divisional road game on Sunday. With both teams owning playoff aspirations and needing the coveted AFC South championship banner hanging from their rafters to do so, Sunday’s game should be a close one.
If the Texans want to ensure a victory on Sunday, multiple things need to happen. Deshaun Watson needs to play at a high-level, the run-game must be stout, the offensive line must stay the course and the defense must get off the field.
Houston can do all of those things if these four players step it up on Sunday.
Roderick Johnson – OT
Offensive tackle Roderick Johnson will get the start at right tackle in place of the now-injured Tytus Howard. Due to so, he becomes an obvious member on this list. He must now help the offensive line hit three weeks in a row with no sacks allowed.
Luckily, Johnson has shown a fair bit of promise in 2019. He started Week 2’s win over the Jacksonville Jaguars at right tackle. Though he allowed a sack, he did well in both pass protection and run-blocking. Now, Johnson has to show that the Week 2 game wasn’t a fluke.
D.J. Reader – DT
The Colts love to run the ball. With Marlon Mack running wild behind the NFL’s best offensive line, Indianapolis is fourth in rushing yards per game (142). That statistic plays a crucial role in their 3-2 win-loss record. When the run game is going, the Colts win more often than not.
Luckily, Houston has a little known defensive tackle by the name of D.J. Reader, who is also known to be one of the NFL’s best run-stuffers. Reader against All-Pro guard Quenton Nelson will be must-see TV.
If the Texans win on Sunday, credit a fair amount to Reader. He needs to beat the Colts offensive line consistently, or hold-down double-teams, for the Texans to avoid being run over.
Keke Coutee – WR
In two games against the Colts in 2018, wide receiver Keke Coutee compiled 22 receptions for 219 yards and one touchdown. Though the Texans lost one of those games, he is a key-cog to winning on Sunday.
Coutee can offer quarterback Deshaun Watson with a quick-read to beat blitzes that the Colts will inevitably send. Since his return to the lineup, the second-year former Red Raider has done so at a high-level, showing chemistry with Watson.
Not only will Coutee need to help Watson beat blitzes, but he needs to also divert attention away from DeAndre Hopkins, Will Fuller and Kenny Stills. Luckily, for Houston, Indianapolis’ best nickel corner, Kenny Moore is out. Coutee needs to take advantage of that by forcing the Colts to use linebackers such as Darius Leonard to help cover him.
Whoever guards T.Y. Hilton
Dread it. Run from it. T.Y. Hilton is the Texans killer. In 15 career games played against Houston, the speed merchant wide-out has 81 receptions for 1,530 yards and nine touchdowns. He is averaging 102 yards per game against the Texans. Not ideal.
Whoever covers Hilton — and it may be a group effort — is a catalyst to the Texans’ success on Sunday. Whether it be Johnathan Joseph, Lonnie Johnson, Phillip Gaines, Keion Crossen, Xavier Crawford or one of the five with a safety over-top, somebody has to slow down Hilton.
It’s as simple as that.
