Texans Week One Preview: Meeting An Old Foe

Will the Texans come away with a win in their home opener against the Colts?

When Green Day said “Wake me up when September ends”, they obviously forgot about the fact that September brings the gift of Texans football. As we look towards week one, let’s get to know one of the Texan’s old foes from the North: the Indianapolis Colts.

Hinting at History

When you look at the history of these two teams, there’s a lot that can be said. For the overall series, the matchup leans heavily against the Houston Texans. The total standing for the history of this matchup is 32-9, with the Colts having won four straight games. Many of these matchups have scarred the minds of Texan fans, with my earliest involving how often we had to watch highlights of T.Y. Hilton during the 2010s.

Last year, the tone of the series hardly changed. Between the two matchups, the Texans lost with a combined score of 3-62. Ouch. Davis Mills started in both games and had a tough time with any offensive rhythm. Additionally, the defense fared no better–namely by allowing Jonathan Taylor to run up a Madden-like statline.

However, the Texans have a silver lining to look for in week one. The Colts have lost their last eight openers. Adding that “curse” to newly-acquired quarterback, Matt Ryan, still adjusting to the system, and it seems that the Colts have a chance to continue their streak of dropping season openers.

Expert Opinions

To help give a more even look at the Texans’ weeks throughout the season, we’ve started partnering with other writers from our site and rival team sites. So don’t just take my word for it, but take a peek below at some of the opinions circling the street prior to week one.

Louie Stewart (Texans Insider Contributing Writer): 27-24 Colts

The Texans and Colts rivalry is one of my favorite things in sports, although the last few years have been a little more one-sided than I would like. While last year’s final scores were abysmal, I don’t expect a repeat of that caliber with an improved Texan roster. Expect a high-tempo game with lots of emphasis on big plays. And while I see the Texans putting up a valiant fight, the inexperience of several key rookies ultimately leads to a narrow loss.

Guest Prediction

Meghan Hall (Indy Intercept Contributing Writer): 20-17 Texans

The last decade has not been very kind to the Colts in Week One games. The team is 1-9 in the last ten years and are shockingly 0-4 under Head Coach Frank Reich. It doesn’t matter who the starting Quarterback is or who is on the roster; the wins simply don’t come. Despite outscoring the Texans 61-3 in their last two meetings, their inability to win Week One games cripples the team and adds to the investable slow starts that have also plagued Reich’s tenure. Additionally, the new look offense is very young with not a lot of proven production at the Wide Receiver and Tight End positions. Expect the Texans to win a close one: 20-17.

Texans Insider Predictions

Shay Desai (Texans Insider Managing Editor)

Final Score Prediction: 20-17 Texans Defensive Focus Area: Win first down (allow minimal gains) Offensive Focus Area: START FAST Player to Watch: S Jalen Pitre

This game will be closer than a lot of people think and I believe the Texans can sneak out with a home victory. That being said, it is, of course going to take stopping All-Pro running back Jonathan Taylor defensively. The team can accomplish this by minimizing the Colts’ gains on 1st down and forcing them into passing situations on 2nd and 3rd. Look for rookie safety, Jalen Pitre, to fly around the field and blow up some run plays like in preseason. Offensively, I expect the Texans to start slow with the first team still getting used to each other. The simple solution? Don’t do that! Pep Hamilton should use the creativity early and put up points on the first drive.

Max O’Donnell (Texans Insider Contributing Writer) Final Score Prediction: 24-23 Texans Defensive Focus Area: Generating pressure on Matt Ryan Offensive Focus: Having a reliable run game Player to Watch: S Jalen Pitre

17 Games Later

At the end of the season, it will be easy to look back and think that we should have anticipated something specific from each game. But looking on to the season, we are left with the optimism that management and coaching has put this team in a position to succeed. Do the Texans start 1-0 or 0-1? With three of our four predictions favoring the Texans on Sunday, this is a game that you won’t want to miss.

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