Indianapolis @ Houston preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 20, 2019 ) Houston 23, Indianapolis 30

First place in the AFC South will be on the line when the Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans square off for the second time in six weeks. The Colts snapped a two-game skid with a lopsided 33-13 victory over Jacksonville on Sunday and will be seeking their sixth win in the last seven meetings when they visit the Texans on Thursday night.

Indianapolis rebounded from a stunning home loss to lowly Miami by rolling up a season-high point total while limiting an opponent to 16 points or fewer for the third time in four weeks. "Our defense right now is legit," Colts coach Frank Reich said. "In my mind, I think it's playing like one of the best in the league." Houston's defense could not slow Indy's passing game in a 30-23 setback in Week 7 and was carved up by Lamar Jackson and Co. in last week's 41-7 shellacking at Baltimore that halted a two-game winning streak. "It's definitely good that we've got that quick turnaround," Texans linebacker Zach Cunningham said. "You really have no choice but to look on to the next game."

TV: 8:20 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Texans -3.5. O/U: 45.5

ABOUT THE COLTS (6-4): Leading rusher Marlon Mack went over 100 yards before fracturing his hand but Jonathan Williams, who had one yard on the season, stepped in and gained 116 on 13 carries as Indianapolis churned out 264 yards on the ground -- its highest total since 2004. Jacoby Brissett, playing with a knee injury that forced him to sit out the previous game, threw for only 148 yards and a score last week but tossed a season-high four touchdown passes and had 326 yards passing in last month's matchup. Wideout T.Y. Hilton, who has torched the Texans throughout his career, is hopeful of returning after sitting out three games due to a calf strain.

ABOUT THE TEXANS (6-4): Deshaun Watson threw for five touchdowns and zero interceptions in back-to-back wins over Jacksonville and Oakland but he had a dismal effort in Baltimore, absorbing a season high-tying six sacks, committing a pair of turnovers and throwing for only 169 yards. DeAndre Hopkins, second in the NFL with 75 receptions, has at least seven catches in his last six games and reeled in nine for 106 yards and a touchdown in the first matchup. Running back Carlos Hyde has been a solid addition to the backfield with 769 yards and four touchdowns, although he was limited to 35 yards in Indianapolis, while Houston's defense allows 272.4 yards passing.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Watson has eight touchdowns and zero picks in his last two home games.

2. Colts WR Zach Pascal had season highs with six catches, 106 yards and two TDs in last month's meeting.

3. Hopkins has 34 catches for 434 yards and four touchdowns in his last five games versus Indianapolis.

PREDICTION: Colts 26, Texans 23