After a rough two-game home stretch, the Houston Texans will face the Indianapolis Colts on the road at noon Sunday. Both teams are 0-2 and in desperate need of a win.
And both teams will be without their best receivers as Nico Collins for the Texans and Alec Pierce for the Colts are out with injuries.
Our staff makes our predictions for Week 3:
Jonathan M. Alexander
The Colts statistically have the worst pass defense and the second-worst run defense in the NFL through two games, which should provide the Texans an opportunity to get back on track offensively. David Montgomery and Woody Marks will combine to run for more than 100 yards, C.J. Stroud will have ample time in the pocket, and the Texans’ defense will hold off the Colts’ last-minute effort to win the game .
Jonathan Taylor has done his share of damage against the Texans but it hasn’t matter much lately. Houston has won five in a row over the Colts and will again because the Texans are too good to be 0-3 again.
The Texans have not resembled a Super Bowl contender through two games, but one thing they know how to do is beat the Colts. DeMeco Ryans’ team has won five straight against Indianapolis, all by one-score margins. They’ll find a way to eke this one out despite no Nico Collins. It helps that deep threat Alec Pierce, a thorn in Houston’s side for years, is out.
The defense takes another step forward to where it wants to while and the offense finally finds the end zone again. It all adds up to an unconvincing but important first win.
The Texans’ offense never looks good without Nico Collins, but the Colts might have the worst defense in the league.