Saturday night’s win-and-in matchup between the 9-7 Houston Texans and 9-7 Indianapolis Colts is a rematch of a division tilt that took place all the way back in Week 2.
In that contest, Anthony Richardson started for Indy, rushing for two touchdowns before exiting early due to a concussion. Quarterback Gardner Minshew took over and led Indy to victory — he would take over for good three weeks later after Richardson suffered a season-ending shoulder injury. Texans rookie sensation C.J. Stroud was just beginning to turn heads, tossing for 384 yards with two TDs and zero INTs against the Colts. And Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans’ defense was in the nascent stages of finding itself.
Ryans stated that he doesn’t even recognize the teams that played in September as he prepared for Saturday night’s game.
“On Monday, the coach expressed on the team’s official transcript that both teams have undergone significant changes. He perceives this as a fresh start, not placing much importance on the first game of the year. He feels disconnected from the team he sees when he watches the second game, as it feels like a distant past to him. He acknowledged that both teams have new players and anticipates a fresh start,” the coach said.
Both teams have been significantly affected by injuries. Houston has faced a series of problems, with Stroud missing two games because of a concussion, although he returned in Week 17. Following Richardson’s season-ending injury, Minshew took over and was commended by Ryans before the rematch.
“Ryans praised Gardner for his exceptional performance throughout the season. He highlighted Gardner’s precision, agility in the pocket and ability to make plays. The quarterback’s ability to create explosive downfield plays has been instrumental in leading his team. Not only does Gardner possess a unique playmaker quality that is evident on the tape, but he has also seemingly earned the support of his team due to the plays he can make. Ryans emphasized Gardner’s commendable performance throughout the year as a key factor in the team’s current standing, attributing their position to his strong quarterbacking.”
When Minshew starts and has no giveaways, the Colts are 4-0. However, in games with 1 or more turnovers, they are 3-5.
The winner of Saturday night’s tilt will secure a playoff spot. The victor will also leap into the division crown if Jacksonville loses at Tennessee on Sunday. The loser Saturday would be eliminated from postseason play (a tie could keep either in play depending on other results).
“Ryan expressed our enthusiasm about the chance this game gives us to secure a place in the playoffs. He emphasized that the timing of the game, whether it’s prime time or not, is irrelevant to us. The main focus is to play well, stick to our style of football, execute our strategies effectively, and play a clean game,” he said.
Next Gen Stats currently pegs the Colts as having a 54% playoff probability with the Texans at 46%.
