The Tantalizing Ten: Texans Road Edition
Intro: Each week, we will take a look at 10 players that will have a big impact in the game. Who are the "Tantalizing Ten" when the Colts (2-3) head to Houston (3-2) with the AFC South lead on the line this week?
Is it time for Vontae Davis to follow one receiver around for a game? It won't happen on every snap this weekend, but Davis shadowing DeAndre Hopkins could happen at times. Such a maneuver is possible with Houston not shying away from outwardly expressing the need to pepper DeAndre Hopkins with more targets. In last year's meeting at Houston, Hopkins had a career-high 11 catches.
For the second straight "road" game, Andrew Luck will have plenty of familiarity with the environment around him. Luck, who went to high school about 20 minutes from NRG Stadium, missed both meetings last year with the Texans. On Sunday night, Luck will encounter the league's top ranked passing defense.
It's Jadeveon Clowney, the 2014 No. 1 overall pick, leading the NFL with eight tackles for loss this season. Yes, J.J. Watt is sidelined and that's a massive loss for the Texans. But Clowney is starting to demand similar attention that usually was assigned for Watt.
Is the future also the present at right tackle? Joe Haeg started at right tackle last week, despite Joe Reitz being healthy. Haeg, a fifth-round pick out of North Dakota State, is part of a line that must offer more protection in front of Andrew Luck. Luck has been sacked 20 times in five weeks, the second most in the NFL.
While Robert Mathis remains sackless through the first five weeks of 2016, the Colts need for someone/some group to provide more pressure in the defensive front. With injuries once again hitting the cornerback position for Indy, the front has to pull its weight in trying to disrupt the timing of Brock Osweiler and his pass catching bunch.
The Colts have seen first hand DeAndre Hopkins at his best. Houston head coach Bill O'Brien did not hold back earlier this week in sharing the importance of getting Hopkins more involved. Opposite Hopkins, the Texans did draft Notre Dame's Will Fuller (and all his speed) in Round One.
Is there any Colt happier to see the Texans on the schedule? In four career road games versus the Texans, Hilton has 24 catches for 510 yards and five touchdowns. Houston does possess the top pass defense in the NFL this season, but it's a secondary group dealing with several injuries going into Week Six.
Frank Gore's best day in a Colts' uniform came last year in Houston. With Matt Hasselbeck sicker than sick, the Colts got what they needed from Gore---22 carries for 98 yards on a short week. Gore has had some really nice outings the past few weeks and is right on pace for a 1,000-yard season this year.
The splash of the offseason in the AFC South came with Brock Osweiler coming to Houston to solve their long search for a franchise quarterback. Osweiler has thrown seven interceptions in five games and his inconsistency is a big reason why Houston's offense ranks near the bottom of the league in several categories.
In the first game since Sio Moore's departure, we saw D'Qwell Jackson work alongside mostly Josh McNary, until a stinger injury took McNary off the field. Jackson and the defense will have to deal with speedy running back Lamar Miller this weekend. Indy's run defense has struggled the past couple of weeks.
