Official Texans @ Colts Game Thread, 9/30/2018

[Arky]

The 0-3 Texans head out on the road one more time to take on the 1-2 Colts in a Sunday noon game on CBS. The Texans are 2-14 all-time in Indianapolis. The Texans are 0-8 ATS in their last eight regular season games. Fivethirtyeight (https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2018-nfl-predictions/) has the Texans with just a 4% chance of making the playoffs.

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TV = CBS (channel 11 local), noon CST Sunday, Sept 30, 2018

Announcers (http://506sports.com/nfl.php?yr=2018&wk=4) = Spero Dedes, Adam Archuleta

The line (http://www.madduxsports.com/nfl-odds.php) = Colts by 1 to 2

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Other Sunday viewing in the Houston area:

CBS (late) = New Orleans @ NY Giants, Jim Nantz, Tony Romo

FOX (late) = Cleveland @ Oakland, Kenny Albert, Ronde Barber

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TNF = Minnesota @ LA Rams (FOX/NFLN)

SNF = Baltimore @ Pittsburgh (NBC)

MNF = Kansas City @ Denver (ESPN)

[Arky]

Sean Pendergast - NFL Week 4: Texans-Colts — Four Things To Watch For (https://www.houstonpress.com/news/texans-travel-to-only-seeking-first-2018-win-10890147):

3. Luck in a ten yard box
Andrew Luck is not vintage Andrew Luck right now, not even close. If you watched the Colts play the Eagles last weekend, you saw a noodle armed QB that looks a lot like Peyton Manning did in his final season, getting by on guile, guts, and brains. Luck is 31st in the NFL with 5.84 yards per attempt, and any ball he throws longer than ten yards downfield has a noticeable amount of air underneath it. The Texans cannot let Luck chip away underneath like they let Eli Manning do last week. The good news is that the Colts don't have intermediate threats anywhere in the neighborhood of Odell Beckham and Sterling Shepard, nor a running back remotely close to Saquon Barkley.

2. Offensive line
Rewatching Texans games is a downright depressing process right now, not only because they're losing games, but when you watch this offense, you feel like (a) there is no solution to get the offensive line to even play mediocre (mediocre would be a massive upgrade right about now) and (b) there's a chance you might see Deshaun Watson die on the field this season. As impossible as it may seem, the offensive line is worse than it was in 2017. Somehow, some way, they have to find a way to give Watson time to throw — when he has time, he is deadly — and not make the likes of Jabaal Sheard look like an All Pro. (NOTE: Sheard had 5.5 sacks last season. THREE of them came against the Texans.)


1. Encore, Watt
J.J. Watt looked like he was back to his old self the first two games, but the stats on the box score weren't there to back it up. Last Sunday, they were. Watt made the Giants pay for starting a first-timer at right tackle (some dude named "Wheeler"), with eight tackles, three sacks, and three tackles for loss. For now, it looks like the it's 2014 all over again, where the weight of the world defensively is on Watt's shoulders. Sunday, he will be, once again, going against an offensive line versus whom he should feast....

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PFF HOU Texans
@PFF_Texans
J.J. Watt has an overall grade of 91.0 and a pass-rushing grade of 90.0. Both grades rank 3rd among DE's.

This weekend, he'll matchup with Denzelle Good, who earned a grade of 44.6 (76th) and a pass-blocking grade of 23.4 (74th) against the Eagles.

Watch out for Watt 👀 #Texans

10:17 AM - Sep 27, 2018
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SPREAD: Texans +1.5
PREDICTION: Colts 20, Texans 17

More at link....

[Arky]

Video: Texans vs. Colts (https://www.sportsbookreview.com/picks/nfl/v/texans-vs-colts-the-audible-clips-nfl-betting-picks/54517/). A couple of guys discussing the matchup from a betting perspective. TRT = 6:24

[Arky]

Colts take the opening kickoff right on down the field for a TD - 4-yard pass to Pascal for the score. Luck goes 5/5 for 68 yards.

Colts 7, Texans 0

11:17 left in the 1st qtr.

[Big Texas]

Oline coach needs to be fired...in the middle of this game

[Arky]

A gift! Colts center has a bad snap and the Texans recover the loose ball in the end zone. Clowney on the recovery, I think.

Texans 7, Colts 7

5:19 left in the 1st qtr.

[Big Texas]

First: who is Anthony Fuller...and our QB is not Watkins...

2nd: Misdirection seems to be the offensive strategy

[Arky]

Watson hits Fuller for a 3 yard TD pass.

Texans 14, Colts 7

1:45 left in the 1st qtr.

[Arky]

Watt strip-sacks Luck deep in Colt territory, Texans recover. Watson hits Hopkins for the 5 yard TD.

Texans 21, Colts 7

1:08 left in the half.

[Arky]

Vinatieri adds a 42 yard FG just before the half.

Texans 21, Colts 10

2 seconds left in the half.

[Arky]

Texans have a nice drive to open the second half. Watson scores on a keeper around the left end. Colts bailed the Texans out with a penalty to keep the drive alive.

Texans 28, Colts 10

6:39 left in the 3rd qtr.

[Arky]

Takes the Colts only 1:15 to go length of the field to answer with a 14 yard TD pass to Hines.

Texans 28, Colts 17

5:14 left in the 3rd qtr.

[Arky]

Colts score on a 5 yard pass to Ebron.

Two point attempt failed.

Texans 28, Colts 23

7:41 left in the game.

[Arky]

Fairbairn hits a 40-yard FG.

Texans 31, Colts 23

2:58 left in the game.

[Arky]

Colts score on a 9 yard pass to Hines.

Colts going for 2 to tie the game.......

2 pt pass attempt to Rogers is good.

Texans 31, Colts 31

45 seconds left in regulation.

[Arky]

Colts win the toss and drive down and get a 44-yard FG in OT.

Colts 34, Texans 31

Last chance for the Texans.....

6 minutes left in OT.

[Arky]

Fairbairn hits a 29-yard FG to re-tie the game.

Texans 34, Colts 34

1:50 left in OT.

[barrett]

I was just screaming at my TV. I'm seriously ready to quit being a fan. We're 0-3 and we don't call timeout because we're playing for a tie while 0-3. Gutless, pathetic, embarrassing, pick your adjective.

[chuck]

I was just screaming at my TV. I'm seriously ready to quit being a fan. We're 0-3 and we don't call timeout because we're playing for a tie while 0-3. Gutless, pathetic, embarrassing, pick your adjective.

I think he didn't call a time out because he is a moron and is horrible at in game management.

[barrett]

And Frank Reich lets us off the hook with an all-time bonehead play. Whether we win or not our lack of Timeout no longer matters.

[barrett]

I think he didn't call a time out because he is a moron and is horrible at in game management.

I don't buy that. It wasn't a creative timeout call. It was an obvious one made by idiots who coach football all the time. My 9 year old who has football as his 3rd favorite sport makes that timeout call in John Madden. If you're just dumb you figure it out 10 seconds later and call it late.

[Arky]

Fairbairn hits a 37-yarder as time runs out.

Texans rescue victory from the jaws of victory.

Final score:

Texans 37, Colts 34

[Joshua]

Reich must still feel bad about that Oiler game.

[chuck]

I don't know whether I'd rather BOB be stupid or spineless.

He's probably both I guess.

[barrett]

I don't know whether I'd rather BOB be stupid or spineless.

He's probably both I guess.

Yet somehow not as stupid as Frank Reich. And if Reich was stupid AND spineless the Colts would have tied.

My wife asked why I wasn't happier after they won and I said it was more sobering to find out your coach is that bad then it is encouraging to beat a team who is even dumber than you are.

[Arky]

Early line (http://www.madduxsports.com/nfl-odds.php) has the Texans as a 3 pt favorite over the Cowboys next Sunday......