INDIANAPOLIS – It's about as close to a playoff game as a team can have in Week 14 of the regular season.
That's what faces the Colts (6-6) this Sunday afternoon, with the Houston Texans (6-6) coming to Lucas Oil Stadium.
Such a matchup is at stake because of the Texans having dropped three straight games, losing control of the AFC South.
Houston's defense has continued to play steady without J.J. Watt.
It's the offense that has this team at .500 for the first time all season.
Quarterback Brock Osweiler has a passer rating of just 74.2 this season, which ranks 31st in the NFL.
The inconsistent play of Osweiler is a major reason why the Texans are 28th in points scored this season.
A major injury to watch this week for the Texans is defensive end Jadeveon Clowney. The 2014 No. 1 overall pick did not travel to the team's loss against Green Bay last week because of a wrist/elbow injury.
Houston comes into Week 14 having played five straight one-possession games.
Last year, the Texans won a similar "winner take all" type game in December against the Colts.
The Week 15 win for the Texans in 2015, with both teams playing their backup quarterbacks, all but locked up the AFC South for Houston.
It was the Texans' first win ever in Indianapolis (the Colts had won the first 13 meetings in Indy).
The Texans come into Sunday having won eight straight AFC South games. Their last divisional loss came against the Colts in October 2015.
This is the sixth straight year the Texans and Colts have met in Indianapolis during the final month of the season.2016 Record: *6-6, tied for 1st in the AFC South.Head Coach: Bill O'Brien, 3rd season as Texans head coach and 3rd season as NFL head coach (24-17 overall in the regular season).2016 NFL Rankings: Offense – Overall, 28th (316.1); Rushing, 5th (121.2); Passing, 30th (194.9). Defense – Overall, 6th (316.1); Rushing, 19th (107.7); Passing, 5th (208.4).2016 Leading Passer:* Brock Osweiler (260-of-435 comp., 2,509 yards, 59.8 pct., 14 TDs, 13 INTs, 74.2 rating).2016 Leading Rusher: *Lamar Miller (225 carries, 903 yards, 3 TDs).2016 Leading Receiver: DeAndre Hopkins (58 receptions, 668 yards, 4 TDs)2016 Leading Sacker:* Whitney Mercilus (5.5).2016 Turnover Breakdown: Minus 9 (tied for 28th in the NFL).2016 NFL Draft Results: The most recent draft haul for the Texans had an Indiana flavor to it. In Round One, Houston got some speed for new quarterback Brock Osweiler. Notre Dame's Will Fuller was the choice and he is Houston's fourth-leading receiver through 12 games. In the second round, the Texans selected center Nick Martin (Indianapolis native). Martin was expected to start from Day One, but an ankle injury sent him to injured reserve.2015 Review: *Things looked pretty bleak for the Texans after a 1-4 start last season. Houston then won 8 of their last 11 games, making the playoffs for the first time since 2012. In the Chuck Pagano era, the Texans have won the division two times (2012, 2015), with the Colts winning the AFC South the other two years. The Texans lost 30-0 in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs last year, leading to a serious personnel turnover on the offensive side of the ball.Last time in Playoffs:* 2015 season. Lost in the Wild Card Round of the Playoffs, 30-0, to the Kansas City Chiefs.Last time in Super Bowl: *Never.Super Bowl Championships: Never.2016 Pro Bowl Selections:* WR-DeAndre Hopkins, DE-J.J. Watt, LS-Jon Weeks.
