Tonight at 8:25 p.m. on NBC's Sunday Night Football, the Indianapolis Colts (5-2) will travel to Reliant Stadium, Houston to battle the Texans (2-5) as they try to save their season with a win over the AFC South's leading team. Live stream the game free here; Colts fans can listen to the game on 1070 The Fan, while Texans fans can hear the action on 100.3 The Bull.
Despite the vast gap in wins and losses, Indianapolis is treating this game as an opportunity to topple the AFC South champions.
"There's a saying -- to be the champ, you got to beat the champ. They're the champ," end/linebacker Robert Mathis said. "In order to get it back, we've just got to go down there and handle our business. I've been a part of some division championship teams. They're focused and they want it, it's just a matter of taking care of business. Make no mistake about it, we're not looking at their record because they are the two-time AFC South champions and we respect them as such."
Complicating matters for Indy is the loss of No. 1 wide receiver Reggie Wayne for the rest of the season with a torn ACL. Andrew Luck still has T.Y. Hilton and Darrius Heyward-Bey at his disposal, but the loss of Wayne's playmaking and leadership is tremendous.
In addition, they're facing a defense that has teeth. "They've got game-wreckers all over the place. They've got a front seven that is as good as anybody in football. They've got probably the best defensive player in football in J.J. Watt," coach Chuck Pagano said.
The Texans lost one of those "game-wreckers," though, when Brian Cushing was lost for the year. "We had to adjust to that last year," coach Gary Kubiak said. "We'll have to do that again. J.J. is already a leader, but I think it's going to call for some other guys to be vocal. I think (middle linebacker) Joe Mays has got more confidence in what he's doing."
Colts Injury Report:
| Darrius Heyward-Bey | WR | Hamstring | Did Not Participate In Practice | Questionable |
| Josh Gordy | CB | Groin | Did Not Participate In Practice | Out |
| Bjoern Werner | DE | Foot | Full Participation in Practice | Probable |
| Delano Howell | S | Neck | Did Not Participate In Practice | Out |
| Cam Johnson | LB | Knee | Did Not Participate In Practice | Questionable |
| Samson Satele | C | Knee | Full Participation in Practice | Probable |
| Gregory Toler | CB | Groin | Did Not Participate In Practice | Out |
Texans Injury Report:
| Keshawn Martin | WR | Shoulder | Full Participation in Practice | Probable |
| Darryl Sharpton | LB | Foot | Limited Participation in Practice | Probable |
| Ben Tate | RB | Ribs | Limited Participation in Practice | Probable |
| Shiloh Keo | S | Achilles | Full Participation in Practice | Probable |
| Wade Smith | G | Knee | Limited Participation in Practice | Probable |
| Duane Brown | T | Toe | Full Participation in Practice | Probable |
| Brandon Brooks | G | Toe | Full Participation in Practice | Probable |
| Eddie Pleasant | S | Toe | Full Participation in Practice | Probable |
| Earl Mitchell | DT | Knee | Full Participation in Practice | Probable |
| Brice McCain | CB | Knee | Full Participation in Practice | Probable |
| DeVier Posey | WR | Calf | Full Participation in Practice | Probable |
| Arian Foster | RB | Hamstring | Full Participation in Practice | Questionable |
| Matt Schaub | QB | Ankle | Full Participation in Practice | Probable |
| Derek Newton | T | Knee | Full Participation in Practice | Probable |
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