INDIANAPOLIS – Quarterback uncertainty will dominate the headlines this week with the Colts and Texans meeting on Thursday night.
The questions in Indianapolis regard the health of Andrew Luck's throwing shoulder.
Down in Houston, it's which direction do the Texans want to turn to after both Brian Hoyer and Ryan Mallett have already been benched this season.
The veteran Hoyer was named the starter during Training Camp and the Colts are familiar with him after they saw him play for Cleveland last season.
Hoyer's stint as the Texans new starter did not last long though.
Following a Week One outing where Hoyer was 18-of-34 for 236 yards, one touchdown and one interception, the quarterback was benched in favor of Mallett.
Texans head coach Bill O'Brien worked with Mallett in New England but elected to go with the more consistent Hoyer to start 2015.
In Sunday's loss to Atlanta, Hoyer entered for Mallett and led the Texans on three second-half touchdown drives, but the game had already been decided in Houston losing 48-21 to the Falcons.
Mallett has started three games for Houston this season before being removed last Sunday. In his three starts this season, Mallett has a quarterback rating of 65.4 and has thrown three touchdowns and three interceptions.
Texans head coach Bill O'Brien did announce on Monday that Mallett will be the starter come Thursday night.
Houston is 1-3 after four weeks, with their lone win coming in Week Three over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (19-9).
Arian Foster, the Texans all-time leading rusher, made his 2015 debut last week and finished with 10 rushing yards on eight carries. Foster's role is expected to grow going forward.
A strong front seven has the Texans defense in the top half of several league rankings.
Reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt leads the Texans with 4.0 sacks on the year.
With a win on Thursday, the Colts would set an NFL record with 16 straight divisional wins.
The Colts have won their last eight Thursday night matchups (five of those by less than a touchdown).
*2015 Record: *1-3, tied for 3rd in the AFC South
*Head Coach: *Bill O'Brien, 2nd season as Texans head coach and 2nd season as NFL head coach (10-10 overall in the regular season).
*2015 NFL Rankings: *Offense – Overall, 7th (384.3); Rushing, 21st (99.8); Passing, 6th (284.5) Defense – Overall, 11th (344.0); Rushing, 22nd (115.3); Passing, 11th (228.8).
2015 Leading Passer: Ryan Mallett (71-of-137 comp., 720 yards, 51.8 pct., 3 TDs, 3 INTs).
*2015 Leading Rusher: *Alfred Blue (51 carries, 204 yards, 1 TD).
2015 Leading Receiver: *DeAndre Hopkins (69 receptions, 737 yards, 2 TDs).2015 Leading Sacker:* J.J. Watt (4.0).
2015 Turnover Breakdown: Minus 6 (31st in the NFL).
2015 NFL Draft Results: The Texans addressed the defensive side of the ball with their first two picks in 2015. Cornerback Kevin Johnson (1-16) and linebacker Benardrick McKinney (2-43) have started a combined three games through the first four weeks. Wide receiver Jalen Strong was taken in the third-round and thought to be a bit of a replacement for Andre Johnson. Strong doesn't have a catch through the first quarter of the season as he's been a healthy inactive.
*2014 Review: *Under first-year head coach Bill O'Brien, the Texans improved from a two-win campaign in 2013 to nine victories last year. The Texans battled back from a 4-5 start to go 5-2 following their Week 10 bye week. They missed the playoffs by just one game, finishing two games behind the Colts in the AFC South. The search for a quarterback was still on though for the Texans with Ryan Fitzpatrick, Ryan Mallett and Case Keenum all seeing action.
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.
2015 Pro Bowl Selections: OT-Duane Brown, RB-Arian Foster, DE-J.J. Watt
