NFL Week 11: Houston Texans vs. Indianapolis Colts

Sage Rosenfels & the Houston Texans look for redemption against the Colts in a key AFC South game in Indianapolis.

Texans vs. Colts Overview:
The Houston Texans led the Indianapolis Colts 27-10 with less than seven minutes to play in Week 5 of the NFL season. Houston Texans QB Sage Rosenfels committed several turnovers and let the Indianapolis Colts score 21 points in just over two minutes. The Houston Texans had their division foes on the ropes but could not finish them off. While fans with Houston Texans tickets left the game feeling disappointed to say the least, Sage Rosenfels and the Houston Texans get another shot at it in NFL Week 11 of the NFL season. Houston Texans tickets should deliver an exciting rematch that Houston Texans fans won’t want to miss.

Houston Texans Offense:
Quarterback Sage Rosenfels gets the start due to an injury to Matt Schaub. Sage Rosenfels had a great record as a starter last year and is one of the best backups in the NFL. He has the top WR in the football in Andre Johnson to throw to. Andre Johnson must step up as the leader of the Houston Texans offense with Matt Schaub out. Rookie RB Steve Slaton is the running back fans with Houston Texans tickets have been waiting for, and he must have a big game running the ball to slow down the Indianapolis Colts pass rush and open up the throwing lanes.

Houston Texans Defense:
The Houston Texans drafted DE Mario Williams to stop Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts, and fans with Houston Texans tickets know that Super Mario’s pass rush is necessary to short circuit the Colts’ impressive offense. S Eugene Wilson is the leader of the Houston Texans secondary, and the return of CB Dunta Robinson has really helped the underachieving unit. MLB DeMeco Ryans is the heart of the Houston Texans defense, and he has to be a general on the field to make adjustments against the changing Indianapolis Colts offense. CB Jacques Reeves has stepped up his game and answered some of the criticism from fans with Houston Texans tickets.

Indianapolis Colts Offense:
The Indianapolis Colts and Peyton Manning have been synonymous for a decade, and the future Hall of Fame player seems to be bouncing back well from injury. The trio of Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne, and Anthony Gonzales is the main weapon of Peyton Manning, but TE Dallas Clark is a true wildcard and a nightmare for linebackers and safeties. RBs Joseph Addai and Dominick Rhodes provide a steady ground attack, and both can catch well out of the backfield. The Indianapolis Colts offensive line has solidified after facing tough opponents the past few weeks.

Indianapolis Colts Defense:
The return of headhunting S Bob Sanders has given the Tampa-2 defense of the Indianapolis Colts a drastic shot in the arm of toughness. The presence of Bob Sanders in the secondary inspires fear in RBs, WRs, and TEs that go over the middle. The defensive line of the Indianapolis Colts is built around speed, and bookend DEs Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis are a true pass rushing force. MLB Gary Brackett is a sideline-to-sideline linebacker who is in on almost every tackle. The Tampa-2 system protects mediocre CBs like Keiwan Ratliff and Tim Jennings.

Houston Texans Keys to Victory:
The running game is the best counter to the Tampa-2 defense so it will be up to RBs Steve Slaton and Ahman Green. Steve Slaton is the future of the Houston Texans, and his ability to outrun entire defenses is key, but the inside thumping of Ahman Green will slow down the defense. No one on the Indianapolis Colts defense can match up with Andre Johnson so Sage Rosenfels must keep his eyes out for him deep at all times. TE Owen Daniels has become target in the middle of the field, and he has to navigate the seams in the zones.

Usually the Houston Texans must focus on shutting down the running game, but the Indianapolis Colts have not really tried to establish their ground game this season. This will enable Mario Williams to focus strictly on rushing Peyton Manning. Another pass rusher needs to step up to help out Mario Williams and DT Frank Okam could be that next lineman. MLB DeMeco Ryans has to be Dallas Clark’s shadow all game long. FS Eugene Wilson has had success against Peyton Manning in the past, and his presence deep will help Dunta Robinson and Jacques Reeves.

Indianapolis Colts Keys to Victory:
The Houston Texans have been awful against the run all season so this game presents a great opportunity for the Indianapolis Colts to establish their running game. Peyton Manning has to be protected, and the run can help keep Mario Williams from going after the QB like a heat-seeking missile. None of the Houston Texans CBs can go one on one with any of the Indianapolis Colts WRs, so Peyton Manning should have plenty of targets to hit if he gets the time. Peyton Manning has to look off FS Eugene Wilson on deep balls to prevent turnovers.

The Indianapolis Colts need to get after QB Sage Rosenfels early to rattle him and get the turnover faucet opened all the way. The Houston Texans will try and get the football to Steve Slaton often to keep the ball out of Sage Rosenfels’ hands so clogging the running lanes will be key. Bob Sanders can make any runner give up on the run with a few solid hits, and he has to lay the wood to the rookie and veteran Ahman Green alike. Houston Texans KR/PR Jacoby Jones must be stopped on special teams to force Sage Rosenfels into long drives.

Texans vs. Colts Outlook:
Fans with Houston Texans tickets have been waiting for revenge against the Indianapolis Colts ever since Sage Rosenfels gave away the game earlier in the year. The duo of Steve Slaton and Mario Williams was rocking the Indianapolis Colts on both sides of the ball before Sage Rosenfels and the “Rosencopter” incident changed the game. The Houston Texans have the tools to beat the Indianapolis Colts and now have a great deep safety in Eugene Wilson and a returning CB Dunta Robinson to cut into the passing game.

If this comes down to a duel between quarterbacks, then the Houston Texans will lose easily to the Indianapolis Colts. The Houston Texans have to make it a ball control game and let Steve Slaton be the heart of the offense. The pressure is on head coach Gary Kubiak, and fans with Houston Texans tickets are all looking on at this matchup as a make-or-break game for the Houston Texans season. If the Indianapolis Colts can pressure Sage Rosenfels, then Peyton Manning and his team will cruise to victory. Sage Rosenfels has the added pressure of earning redemption in the minds of fans with Houston Texans tickets.