Key Match-ups Revisited: Colts @Texans Week 12

Jacoby Brissett Vs. Romeo Crennel

Crennel (Texans DC) is a guy that specializes in taking away your biggest strength and forcing you to beat him using other methods. Look no further than the past two games against him. In the wild-card round, the Colts’ strength was the passing game, and the Colts beat the Texans by pounding the ball all day long. In the first matchup this season, where the running game became the calling card of the offense, Jacoby Brissett threw for 4 TDs and over 300 yards. This time, it all went differently. Jacoby had his worst game of the season in perhaps the most important game in the play-off race, and the Colts offense could not get it going with the passing game entirely missing.

Pierre Desir & Marvell Tell Vs. DeAndre Hopkins & Will Fuller

The Colts came into this matchup extremely shorthanded in the secondary, playing without corner Rock Ya-Sin and safety Khari Willis, and with Desir clearly not at 100% yet. The Texans’ duo of very talented receivers took full advantage of this, catching a combined 13 passes for 234 yards and 2 scores. This was not an easy matchup, but Desir has struggled a lot with Hopkins this season. Perhaps he is not the DeAndre deactivator we thought he was.

Colts receivers Vs. Texans secondary

Now, before you say anything about how the Colts receivers group is torn apart by injuries (which it is), keep in mind the Texans were without 2 of their top 3 cornerbacks (Roby and Johnson Jr. and without their best safety (Reid). The Colts receivers got little to no separation, and when they did make a break or managed to get open, Brissett had already checked the ball down. Ugly, ugly game for the passing attack.

T.Y Hilton Vs. Johnathan Joseph

This one deserves a special mention. T.Y Hilton, also known as NRG Stadium’s owner (and with good reason), was active for the first time in a few weeks after suffering a calf injury in practice. Now, obviously, I did not expect Hilton to post the numbers he is used to while playing against the Texans, but I did not expect him to get shut down like that. Joseph had the upper hand on him all game long. Let’s just hope that if the Colts meet them again in the playoffs T.Y will be at 100%.

Colts Special Teams Vs. Mistakes

For the first time in quite a while, the special teams unit enjoyed a mistake-free game. Adamn Vinatieri was perfect on his 3 kicks, Rigoberto Sanchez had one hell of a game punting the ball, averaging over 47 yards and getting 3 of his 5 kicks inside the 20-yard line, and the return team did not fumble a single ball. Finally, an overall excellent performance by Bubba Ventrone’s unit.