Indianapolis Colts look to avenge week-one loss against the Houston Texans
The Houston Texans travel to Indianapolis on Monday, 1 November, to take on the Colts in a crucial AFC South Division match-up with first place potentially on the line.
Previous meetings and recent games
In the season opener, Texans running back Arian Foster had a breakout performance running for 231 yards (a Texans record) and three touchdowns as Houston upset the favored Colts by a score of 34-24.
Since then the Colts have gotten back on track winning 4 of their last five games. Both of their losses, however, have come against divisional opponents which could hurt them down the road, and which makes a win on Monday so important. The Colts most recently
beat the Washington Redskins 27-24 two weeks ago, as both they and the Texans are coming off their bye week.
The Texans have proved they are for real as they look to make a serious run for a play-off berth this season. They beat the Kansas City Chiefs 35-31 two weeks ago.
How they match up
Always at the center of attention is Colts quarterback, and future Hall of Famer, Peyton Manning. Manning is currently the NFL's top rated quarterback, and is putting up the kind of numbers which should have him challenging for a fifth MVP award.
Manning has unfortunately had to deal with the loss of some of his favorite targets. Tight end Dallas Clark is out for the season, and receiver Austin Collie is also likely out of the lineup. But Manning has indicated that he sees the revolving receiver
situation as an opportunity and not a setback, "I really look forward to seeing where we are in this game," he said. "We'll get better each game with some of the new guys that are going to be playing in different spots. It's an exciting opportunity for these
guys."
Texans quarterback Matt Schaub doesn't have the same sort of clout that Manning has, but he's posted some solid numbers. He's improved every season and he's picked up right where he left off after a career year last season.
Andre Johnson, in his eighth year with the team has been a mainstay on the Texans always-improving offence. He leads the team, once again, in receptions and receiving yards.
On defence, the Colts have Robert Mathis and Dwight Freeney to apply pressure on the quarterback, while they will have to contend with Mario Williams on the other end.
What to expect
In week one the Texans demonstrated to the NFL how to dissect the Colts. The answer: run the football.
Expect Colts coach Jim Caldwell to have devised a plan to stop Arian Foster from victimizing the Colts defence the way he did back on 12 September.
If the Colts can at least manage the Texans' ground game, the real test will then be whether the new receiving personnel can step into the very big shoes left by Clark and Collie.
Depending on what the Tennessee Titans do against the San Diego Chargers, both teams could be salivating at the prospect of moving into sole possession of first place in the division.
The Colts will be determined not to let history repeat itself and Manning will be able to find gaps and dissect the Houston secondary.
Colts win 35-31.
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