All News & Analysis

PFF Preview: Texans @ Colts, Week 15

2014-Prev-WK15-HOU@INDAs we all anxiously await the start of the playoffs, Houston Texans (7-6) Head Coach Bill O’Brien is treating this Week 15 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts (9-4) as a “playoff game,” with good reason. With only three regular season games left and the Texans trailing the Colts by two games in the AFC South, the Colts have an opportunity to clinch the division title with a win, while the Texans hope to keep their division title chances alive or a Wild Card berth at the very least.

In 12 attempts the Texans have never won at Lucas Oil Stadium and if they hope to make their 13th trip a success and remain significant down the stretch, they’ll have to keep up with the high scoring offense of the Colts, not catch-up as they attempted to do in their previous Week 6 matchup.

Just two weeks removed from a 238-yard, two-touchdown performance in which he earned the best pass grade of his young career (+7.1), DeAndre Hopkins is capable of making plays and helping the Texans offense keep it close. To go along with his Wide Receiver Rating of 113.0 (tied for 10th best), Hopkins has a Catch Rate of 52.4 (seventh-best), 11 receptions (tied for sixth), and four touchdowns (tied for sixth) on targets of 20+ yards.

Of course, this is the NFL and nothing comes easy, especially when you throw a premier cornerback in the mix. Vontae Davis has played as well as any CB this season, allowing a passer rating of 41.7, second best of any CB who has played at least 25% of the team’s snaps in coverage. His 14.5 Coverage Snaps  played per reception is tied for seventh-best and he has yet to give up a TD while notching three interceptions.

In the event Davis is unable to suit up (concussion) on Sunday, it would make life a lot easier for Hopkins and the Texans’ passing game.

Here are three more notable numbers for each side:

Houston Texans

Ryan Fitzpatrick – When facing pressure, Fitzpatrick has four touchdowns, three interceptions, and a PFF QB Rating of 65.1.

Duane Brown – Brown has four consecutive green pass blocking grades, +5.8 on the year.

Chris Myers – A run block grade of +14.6, Myers has the second best grade among centers.

Indianapolis Colts

Dwayne Allen – Thanks to his run block grade of +6.3, Allen is the second-highest-graded tight end in the league.

Mike C. Adams – Among all safeties, Adams’ coverage grade of +10.2 ranks second.

Cory Redding – Redding (+6.1) is the only member of the Colts' front seven who has a green pass rush grade.

Recently at PFF

All-Star Team of the Week: Week 14
ReFo: Colts @ Browns, Week 14
ReFo: Texans @ Jaguars, Week 14

 

All Featured Tools

Subscriptions

Unlock the 2023 Fantasy Draft Kit, with League Sync, Live Draft Assistant, PFF Grades & Data Platform that powers all 32 Pro Teams

$31 Draft Kit Fee + $8.99/mo
OR
$89.88/yr + FREE Draft Kit