By admin 
The Houston Texans have turned Sunday’s road game against the Indianapolis Colts into an early referendum on their offense. A loss would drop Houston to 0-3, and Locked On Texans host John Hickman argued it should trigger immediate scrutiny of offensive coordinator Nick Caley’s play-calling, the roster construction around quarterback C.J. Stroud, and the organization’s larger direction.
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Hickman, the host of Locked On Texans, framed the Colts matchup as a test Caley cannot allow to be dictated by Indianapolis. He said Houston must build a game plan around the opponent’s vulnerabilities rather than repeat an approach that has left the offense searching for consistency through two games.
Stroud has completed 56 of 93 passes for 627 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions through two games. Hickman’s point was not that Stroud has failed to produce; it was that the offense has not consistently created favorable early-down situations or put its quarterback in position to dictate terms.
The host cited Houston’s heavy use of 11 personnel, limited play-action rate and infrequent multi-tight end looks as evidence that the offseason additions have not meaningfully changed the unit’s structure. His prescription for Sunday: Involve tight ends early, create lighter boxes for the running game, and use play-action to attack the middle of the field.
Caley is in his second season as Houston’s offensive coordinator. Hickman said another inefficient showing would broaden the questions beyond the play-caller, particularly if the Texans again struggle to run efficiently or create separation in the passing game.
Hickman also warned that Houston cannot treat Indianapolis as an automatic cure for its problems. He acknowledged the Colts have struggled defensively but argued the Texans do not have the roster advantage to simply overwhelm an opponent. The result, in his view, will depend on whether Houston finally tailors its plan to the players it has — beginning with Stroud — instead of asking the personnel to fit a rigid system.
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The stakes extend beyond one September result because the Texans have already opened with losses to Buffalo and Cincinnati.
A win would not erase Houston’s first two weeks, but it would give Caley and the offense proof that they can adjust their approach around Stroud’s strengths. A loss would make the Texans’ concerns harder to dismiss as early-season noise.
Texans News and Notes
– Hickman said Houston’s defense showed improvement on early downs against the Bengals, but he remains concerned about explosive passes and coverage communication. He pointed to repeated breakdowns downfield as a problem that must be corrected against Indianapolis.
– Hickman set four yards per carry as a meaningful benchmark for Houston’s ground game against the Colts. If the Texans cannot establish efficient rushing production against a defense he characterized as vulnerable, he said scrutiny would shift toward the offensive line operation as well as the game plan.
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This story was originally published September 24, 2026 at 8:25 PM.