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Texans @ Colts

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By ALAN FERGUSON

STATS Writer
(AP) -- The Indianapolis Colts are on the verge of another AFC South title after winning three straight games, though they've committed an unsettling number of turnovers in that stretch.

 

The Colts will try to cut down on the miscues Sunday and clinch the division while remaining unbeaten at home against the Houston Texans, who might not have star receiver Andre Johnson available.

 

Indianapolis (9-4) can capture its second straight AFC South crown with a victory, which would be its ninth title in the 13 seasons the division has been in existence. The Colts took another step toward doing so with a 25-24 victory at Cleveland on Sunday.

 

Indianapolis rallied from a 14-point deficit in the third quarter with Andrew Luck providing the go-ahead touchdown with his 1-yard pass to T.Y. Hilton with 32 seconds remaining.

 

The Colts, though, also matched a season high for turnovers with two interceptions and two fumbles.

 

In the past three weeks, Indianapolis has lost seven of 13 fumbles and had three passes picked off. The team has a minus-4 turnover margin, and only Kansas City (minus-5) and Philadelphia (minus-6) have worse marks among clubs with winning records.

 

"We've got to get it cleaned up," coach Chuck Pagano said. "You credit the opponent for stripping the ball and making plays, but it's still no excuse. ... We've got to get it cleaned up, period."

 

The Colts have won two straight and five of six at home. They'll seek a 10th win in 12 games overall as they face a team they've dominated.

 

Indianapolis has taken four in a row and 21 of 25 matchups with Houston (7-6), and is 12-0 all-time at home in the series. The Colts can become the fourth team in NFL history to win their first 13 home games against an opponent and will have the second-longest active streak against a team with a victory Sunday.

 

"We're well aware that we have not won there," Texans coach Bill O'Brien said.

 

O'Brien's team will try to keep their faint division hopes alive by securing their first three-game win streak since 2012. Houston is also one game behind the AFC wild-card leaders, but is among eight teams in contention for those two spots and one of five clubs with 7-6 records.

 

"Everybody knows that this is our shot," quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick said. "You know what will happen if we lose a game, so every game is even more important than the last one. This one was huge for us and now we can look ahead to the next one, which will also be very big."

 

The Texans might have not have Johnson on the field after he suffered a concussion in a 27-13 victory at Jacksonville on Sunday. He has a team-leading 69 receptions for 737 yards and two TDs for Houston, winner of three straight road games.

 

Houston has also lost No. 1 overall draft pick Jadeveon Clowney for the year after he underwent microfracture surgery on his right knee Tuesday. The procedure was the second this season for the outside linebacker, as he had arthroscopic surgery on the same knee after being injured in Week 1.

 

The Colts have an ailing player of their own, but star receiver Reggie Wayne has managed to play through a torn left triceps. Wayne, though, has just eight receptions for 46 yards in the past three games, and he finished with one catch for five yards last Sunday, snapping an NFL-record string of 82 games with three or more receptions.

 

Hilton has picked up the slack and had 10 receptions - one shy of matching a personal best - for 150 yards and two scores against the Browns. He had a career-high 223 yards on nine catches in a 33-28 victory in Houston on Oct. 9.

 

J.J. Watt returned a Luck fumble for a touchdown and recorded two sacks in that game. He has a league high-tying 12 1/2 sacks in the past eight contests, including a combined five in the back-to-back wins.

 

Luck threw for 370 yards and three scores Oct. 9 and needs 70 yards to top his career high of 4,374, set during his 2012 rookie season. His 36 TDs are a career best by 13.

 

Source: Hosted.Stats.com

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No Andre, Garrett Graham, or Mercilus... Let's just call it like it is, and say that winless streak in Indy will continue for the Texans.

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I think this game is gonna decide whether I can lock up at least $100 in my money league or whether I have to play next week for a shot at the money. My opponent has Luck, I've got Hilton.

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Friendship is Fitzmagic... Going all in on the hype train.

 

:Texans: 30

:Colts: 24

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Friendship is Fitzmagic... Going all in on the hype train.

 

:Texans: 30

:Colts: 24

I know you're being sarcastic here, but deep down inside I believe you're a closet Texans fan.

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The only Texans players I like are meatheads, assholes, or both. So maybe?

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Reggie Wayne (triceps) is active for Sunday's game against the Texans, as expected.

There's been no sign from the Colts that this is a "ceremonial" start as Wayne breaks the franchise record for games played. It's certainly a concern for the volume of boom-or-bust upside WR3 Donte Moncrief.
The Colts inactives: OL Joe Reitz, G Hugh Thornton, CB Jalil Brown LB Henoc Muamba, C A.Q. Shipley, OL Andrew McDonald and LB Jerry Hughes.

 

 

 

 

Andre Johnson (concussion) is inactive for Sunday's Week 15 game against the Texans.

Johnson was not able to clear the concussion protocol after sustaining his brain injury just seven days ago. The Texans will have to rely extremely heavily on DeAndre Hopkins in the pass game, as DeVier Posey and Keshawn Martin will be filling in for Johnson.
The rest of the Texans inactives: TE Garrett Graham, LB Whitney Mercilus, G Xavier Su’a-Filo, QB Thad Lewis, CB Andre Hal and DB Josh Aubrey.

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Couldn't watch the game, because I'm stuck at work. Heard Fitzpatrick got injured early AND Savage got injured at the end of the game.

 

Thad Lewis could very well be the Texans starter next week against the Ravens...

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