Indianapolis @ Houston preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 30, 2018 ) Houston 37, Indianapolis 34

The Houston Texans can take another big step toward clinching the AFC South when they host the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. A 10th straight win for the Texans would eliminate the Colts from contention in the division and leave only the Tennessee Titans, who won Thursday against Jacksonville to get within 2 1/2 games, as a contender for the top spot.

Despite its dominant winning streak, which includes last Sunday's 29-13 win over the Cleveland Browns, Houston is not punching any postseason tickets just yet. "I just wanna win on Sunday," defensive end J.J. Watt told reporters. "It's the one-day-at-a-time mentality. I think when you start to look ahead, or you start to get overly excited about accomplishments ... you take things one day at a time." The Colts averaged 34.6 points during a five-game winning streak before being blanked 6-0 at Jacksonville last Sunday. Houston used a field goal with no time on the clock in overtime to top Indianapolis 34-31 earlier in the year.

TV: 1 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Texans -4.5. O/U: 50

ABOUT THE COLTS (6-6): Andrew Luck threw for at least three touchdowns in eight straight games before the shutout loss to the Jaguars, despite 52 pass attempts. "I didn't feel very sharp," Luck told reporters. "I didn't feel like I was putting the ball in the places to really give guys a chance to catch them." That effort could be even more difficult this Sunday if T.Y. Hilton (shoulder) and tight end Eric Ebron (back) -- the team's top two receiving threats -- are unable to go.

ABOUT THE TEXANS (9-3): Houston was 0-3 before its visit to Indianapolis and turned around its season with the see-saw victory that week, with Deshaun Watson accounting for 375 passing yards, 41 rushing yards and three total touchdowns. "That was one game where we went through all types of phases and situations that kind of put us through this nine-game win-streak," Watson told the media. "Yeah, it was the start of everything." Opponents are averaging 15.9 points over the past eight games, with Watt recording 6.5 sacks in that span.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Texans WR DeAndre Hopkins had 10 catches for 169 yards and a TD in the first meeting.

2. Luck has eight of his 12 interceptions on the road.

3. Indianapolis has won four of the last five meetings in Houston.

PREDICTION: Texans 30, Colts 23