On Sunday, the Indianapolis Colts will return to action after having a bye last weekend. The last time we saw this AFC South competitor, they went on to stun the football world by defeating the previously undefeated Kansas City Chiefs in Week 5. Now, the Colts are back home and ready to face another divisional rival in the Houston Texans.
While the history between both teams has always been there, it has certainly heated up in recent years. Outside a couple of seasons, the Colts and Texans have normally competed for the divisional title until the very end and each game was bigger than the last. In fact, the last time, these divisional rivals faced each other, the Colts defeated Texans in the wild card round in the 2018 playoffs.
Here are three key matchups to watch in the Colts’ Week 7 bout against the Texans.
QB Jacoby Brissett vs. QB Deshaun Watson
Any time there’s a matchup between two teams that have talented quarterbacks, football fans and media alike will attempt to pit the two against each other. And while it’s sometimes false, this Sunday’s matchup between Jacoby Brissett and Deshaun Watson is one to closely watch but not for obvious reasons.
Both quarterbacks possess different playing styles and responsibilities, so it will be interesting to see which one has to do the most to win or be refrained from messing up. For example, Brissett has been fulfilling a variety of roles, between being a quarterback who successfully manages the game (Week 5 against the Chiefs) or someone who takes over the game (Week 3 against the Falcons).
On the other hand, Watson isn’t in that situation. Near the halfway point of this season, it has become crystal clear the Clemson product is heavily relied on for producing the Texans’ success, and it’s why he’s a legitimate MVP candidate.
WR DeAndre Hopkins vs. Colts’ secondary
For a player of Hopkins’ stature, he is more than likely to win his fair share of battles against opposing teams. This is just a fact. But last year, the Colts were one of the few teams who not only contained the All-Pro wide receiver but did so multiple times throughout.
Hopkins and the Colts faced each other three times in 2018, and if this was boxing, the Texans’ superstar absolutely won Round One. While facing his divisional rival in Week 4, Hopkins produced 10 catches for 169 receiving yards and one touchdown in an overtime win. But things quickly changed in the final two rounds.
Because of the excellent job in coverage by the likes of Pierre Desir and Kenny Moore II, Hopkins would be held to nine catches, 63 receiving yards, and one touchdown, and the Texans would lose both games to the Colts. Yet, as we enter Sunday’s game, Hopkins could be looking at a great chance to get revenge as the Colts’ secondary is ravaged with injuries and will already be without Moore.
WR T.Y. Hilton vs. Texans’ secondary
It really wouldn’t be a complete story about the Colts and Texans if I didn’t mention T.Y. Hilton’s success against them. That’s not to be disrespectful to the Texans, but it’s true. In recent years, the biggest storyline attached to this specific AFC South matchup has been the multi-time Pro Bowl wideout’s dominance over his rival.
Just last season alone, Hilton produced 18 catches and 399 receiving yards against the Texans and that’s despite suffering or dealing with injuries in all three encounters. But on Sunday, the two sides will face each other but with some noticeable differences.
The man who is better known as “Ghost” hasn’t been gaining many yards these days, but he’s racking up on receiving touchdowns. In fact, Hilton’s current total of four is tied for sixth amongst all receiving targets across the league and projects to conclude at 13 by season’s end.
As for the Texans, their middle of the pack pass defense that’s ranked 18th is coming off an impressive second-half performance against the reigning MVP Patrick Mahomes in Week 6. The Texans held Mahomes to just 41 passing yards after halftime in their 31-24 victory last Sunday.
