By admin 
The Indianapolis Colts have lost five straight games to the Houston Texans, and Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium might be their best shot in a while to end that run. The problem is how much has already gone wrong in Indianapolis.
Read more Tennis Star Marketa Vondrousova Grabs Attention With Rare Swimsuit Photo
Both AFC South rivals come in winless, so one of them walks out facing a 0-3 hole with 14 games left. The Colts have dropped nine straight games dating back to last season, and receiver Josh Downs called this one mandatory. Here are three reasons to worry and two reasons the Colts could finally get in the win column.
Three causes for concern for the Colts
A defense that can’t stop the bleeding
The Colts rank last in the NFL in yards allowed per game, yards per play and points per game. Indianapolis has missed 28 tackles through two games, second-most in the league, and owns an NFL-worst minus-16 explosive-play differential, according to ESPN’s Stephen Holder. That’s rough for a secondary that was supposed to carry this defense. Shane Steichen knows where the fix starts.
“We’ve got to tackle better. I think we had a ton of missed tackles last week, last couple weeks, and those are leading to explosive plays, especially in the run game,” the Colts head coach said this week.
No Alec Pierce, and thin depth behind him
Pierce landed on injured reserve after aggravating his surgically repaired left heel in the overtime loss to Kansas City. Ashton Dulin is also out with an ankle injury. The Colts signed Darius Slayton this week, and 18 of his 22 career touchdown catches have gone for 20-plus yards. Asking a new arrival to replace Daniel Jones’ top deep threat after a few practices is a tall order.
Houston’s pass rush can take over
The Texans’ defense has had its own issues, allowing 28 points per game. But Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter can wreck a game plan in a hurry, especially if the Colts fall behind. Jones wasn’t sacked against the Chiefs, and he knows the key is staying out of obvious passing downs.
Read more Pregame Injury Update on Gators WR Eric Singleton Jr.
“They’re really good when they can pin their ears back and rush. I think yeah, staying ahead of the chains, staying on schedule, being able to run the ball – and I think we did that well last week, and continue to try to emphasize that,” Jones said.
Two reasons for hope against the Texans
Houston’s offense stalled without Nico Collins
Collins has been ruled out again with a hamstring injury, and the Texans looked lost without him last week. Houston scored just six points against Cincinnati, and C.J. Stroud went 8 of 20 for 102 yards against man coverage, per ESPN’s DJ Bien-Aime. David Montgomery and Woody Marks combined for 18 rushing yards on 14 carries. That’s an opening for a defense that badly needs a get-right game.
The Colts can put up points
For all the losing, scoring hasn’t been the issue. The Colts are the first team to score 50-plus points and start 0-2 since the 2023 Chargers, according to ESPN Research, and they took Kansas City to overtime at Arrowhead before falling 33-30. If Jones keeps getting clean pockets, the Colts should be able to move the ball against a Texans defense allowing 6.1 yards per play, 27th in the NFL.
Houston comes in as a 2.5-point road favorite, and ESPN’s Football Power Index gives the Texans only a 52.8% chance to win. For a Colts team that has spent two weeks finding ways to lose, a coin flip at home is worth taking.
Read more ‘I Want to Play’-Viktor Gyokeres Airs Arsenal Frustration
Copyright 2026 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
This story was originally published September 26, 2026 at 11:30 AM.