The Indianapolis Colts (3-2) are back home following the bye to host the Houston Texans (4-2) for a Week 7 divisional matchup at Lucas Oil Stadium.
As the midway point in the season approaches, the race for the AFC South will begin to take shape. The argument could be made that it already has and that the two teams to watch are the ones playing against each other on Sunday.
Regardless, here are the NUMBER biggest storylines to watch in the Week 7 matchup at Lucas Oil Stadium:
The race for the top spot in the division has only just begun, but this is a crucial matchup for both teams. As the Colts come off the bye week, the Texans took advantage of an upset in Kansas City—giving them a half-game lead over Indy.
However, if the Colts grab the win at home on Sunday, they will be the ones leading the division by a half-game and with a very favorable schedule awaiting them.
There is still a long way to go before the AFC South throne is decided and it very well could come down to the final week. But this matchup will wind up being crucial down the stretch.
T.Y. Hilton’s history against the Texans
For many players—regardless of the sport—there is just one team they have constant success against throughout their careers. For Andrew Luck, it was the Tennessee Titans. For the Ghost himself, it’s the Texans.
Hilton’s success against the Texans has been unprecedented. Whether you look at his entire career numbers or just what he’s done lately, the 29-year-old simply continues to put up a gaudy line.
Hilton has essentially played a full season’s worth of games against the Texans. Just admire what it would be like if he got to play the Texans every single week:
- 76 receptions
- 1,445 receiving yards
- Nine receiving touchdowns
- 19.0 yards per reception
This doesn’t guarantee success on Sunday, but it will certainly be in the minds of a banged-up Texans secondary.
Both teams coming off a big upset
In Week 5, the Colts rolled into Arrowhead Stadium with nearly nothing to lose. They were 10-point road underdogs in a primetime game that everyone (including us) believed would be a win for the Chiefs. Instead, Indy gave them a fight and walked into the bye week with a 19-13 win.
The Texans faced a similar story in Week 6, but they weren’t considered as big of underdogs. Still, they also walked away with an upset victory, 31-24, on the back of quarterback Deshaun Watson.
Both teams are riding high off of their upset wins to show that they are both playoff contenders in AFC, and they now get to face off with each other in a crucial divisional matchup.
Two very different offenses
The Colts and Texans have both found success to open the season, but they have done so in very different ways on the offensive side of the ball. The Colts have leaned more towards a run-first game plan behind their stout offensive line and electric running back in Marlon Mack.
The Texans have leaned more towards the pass with the arm of Deshaun Watson and the elite playmaking ability of DeAndre Hopkins and Will Fuller.
It will be an interesting matchup to see how both of these offenses work while trying to maximize their efficiency on every drive.
