Colts vs. Texans wild card weekend: Game predictions

This is it. The game is tomorrow, and it’s win or go home for both teams. So who wins the rubber match between the Colts and the Texans?

The Colts and the Texans meet for the third and final time this season tomorrow afternoon. The winner moves on to Kansas City to face the Chiefs, while the loser gets started on next season. Of all the wild card games this weekend, this one could be the best.

Both teams have scored the exact same amount of points in their two meetings so far. Each team has been able to win by 3 points in a meeting. In the last meeting though, the Colts won in Houston to break their 9 game winning streak.

The Colts are clearly comfortable playing in Houston. They have played well there in most years. T.Y. Hilton is certainly comfortable there, amassing almost 1000 yards receiving in his career while playing in NRG Stadium. Expect another big game from him tomorrow.

Andrew Luck is going to have his work cut out for him. He goes up against an excellent Houston front seven, and they can put pressure on him. It is going to be up to him to avoid bad decisions with a man in his face. He has the propensity to have at least one stupid throw a game. That can’t happen.

Defensively, the Colts need to contain Deshaun Watson in the pocket. They can’t let him scramble around and make plays with his legs. He holds on to the ball too long, so they should be able to get to him and force some sacks. They’re going to need to if they want to win.

Game Prediction: Colts 27 Texans 20

I just don’t see the Texans stopping the Colts offense. No one has stopped them in the past couple of months except themselves. I can’t see that stopping anytime soon. Meanwhile, expect the defense to play well enough to corral the Houston offense.

If the Colts win this game, they face a monster test next week. But they will have to focus all of their energy on Houston tomorrow.