INDIANAPOLIS – Bill O'Brien has only been the Texans head coach for one season but he knows the history.
As O'Brien ended his postgame victory speech in the Houston locker room on Sunday, the head coach made sure his players knew what was coming the following week.
Houston is coming to Indianapolis in Week 15 and a win has to occur if the Texans want to keep their AFC South hopes alive this season.
"The big one is coming up right now," O'Brien emphatically told his team.
"We've got to put everything we've got into this week. I'm going to say something negative. We haven't ever won there (Indianapolis). We've never won there. Let's change that. Let's change it."
The Texans players heard O'Brien's message loud and clear and are looking to get their first win in the franchise's 12 trips to Indianapolis.
With the divisional crown at stake for the Colts on Sunday, they will see a Texans team riding some momentum into this weekend.
Houston has won four of six games with Ryan Fitzpatrick back under center in the last two.
In wins the last two weeks (Titans/Jaguars), Fitzpatrick is 37-of-52 for 593 yards, six touchdowns and no interceptions.
Running back Arian Foster is once again over 1,000 yards on the season. He's rushed for at least 100 yards in 7 of his 10 games played this year.
One injury to watch this week is the health of perennial Pro Bowl receiver Andre Johnson, who left Sunday's win over the Jaguars due to a concussion.
J.J. Watt continues to terrorize opposing defenses. He ranks third in the NFL with 14.5 sacks and his 33 quarterback hits tell the real story of his constant pressure.
Thanks to Watt, Houston's defense leads the NFL with 29 takeaways.
A win for the Colts on Sunday will give them their second straight division title. A loss for the Colts and they will need a win in Week 17 at Tennessee to clinch the AFC South.
*2014 Record: *7-6, 2nd in the AFC South.
*Head Coach: *Bill O'Brien, 1st season as Texans head coach and 1st season as NFL head coach (7-6 overall in the regular season).
*2014 NFL Rankings: *Offense – Overall, 16th (350.2); Rushing, 4th (137.1); Passing, 24th (213.2) Defense – Overall, 26th (373.0); Rushing, 15th (109.0); Passing, 28th (264.0).
2014 Leading Passer: Ryan Fitzpatrick (194-of-306 comp., 2,453 yards, 63.4 pct., 17 TDs, 8 INTs).
*2014 Leading Rusher: *Arian Foster (204 carries, 1,028 yards, 8 TDs).
*2014 Leading Receiver: *Andre Johnson (69 receptions, 737 yards, 2 TDs).
2014 Leading Sacker: J.J. Watt (14.5)
2014 Turnover Breakdown: Plus 12 (2nd in the NFL).
2014 NFL Draft Results: In a year where the top overall selection was kept pretty quiet leading up to Thursday night of draft week, the Texans chose Jadeveon Clowney with the first pick. Clowney has been placed on injured reserve. Two of the more intriguing picks for the Texans came in later rounds with Pittsburgh quarterback Tom Savage taken in the fourth round. Backup running back Alfred Blue (LSU) was chosen in the sixth round.
*2013 Review: *After back-to-back AFC South division titles, the Texans had a season no one saw coming in 2013. Houston won the first two games of the season before the wheels began to fall off. The Texans dropped their next five and at 2-5 heading into the bye week, Houston would then lose six straight one-possession games beginning with a Sunday night loss to the Colts. After eight seasons as the Texans head coach, Gary Kubiak was fired with three games left in the regular season.
Last time in Playoffs: 2012 season. Lost in the Divisional Round of the Playoffs, 41-28, to the New England Patriots.
*Last time in Super Bowl: *Never.
*Super Bowl Championships: *Never.
2014 Pro Bowl Selections: OT-Duane Brown, WR-Andre Johnson and DE-J.J. Watt.
