Here is how the ColtsRoundtable staff sees the Week 3 matchup between the Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans unfolding.
The Indianapolis Colts look to dust themselves off on Sunday after an 0-2 start to the season, as they welcome the fellow victory-less Houston Texans to town.
The Texans have become a perennial playoff team in recent years, led by a dominant defense, but they've fallen far short of expectations to start 2026. Sunday won't be much easier as they face the struggling Colts while dealing with a bevy of injuries.
Which team will be leaving Lucas Oil Stadium with their first win of the season?
Here is how the ColtsRoundtable staff sees Sunday's game unfolding.
Jake Arthur (@JakeArthurNFL): Texans 26, Colts 24
"The Colts have struggled so badly on defense that it's difficult to give them the benefit of the doubt until they prove capable of a reasonable performance. They've surrendered over 500 yards each to the Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs, and while CJ Stroud isn't Lamar Jackson or Patrick Mahomes, he does have a 5-1 career record against the Colts. I'm normally confident in the Colts' offense, but they're facing monsters this week in Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter, and a proactive, opportunistic secondary. I think this'll be a close game throughout, and Nico Collins' absence will be incredibly beneficial for the Colts' defense, but the Colts have their own issues to work through with Alec Pierce being out and Tyler Warren yet to break containment in 2026."
Zach Hicks (@ZachHicks2): Colts 22, Texans 20
"Two playoff hopefuls limp into this game with their seasons on the brink after 0-2 starts. On offense, the Colts should have some success using Josh Downs to move the sticks and utilizing Jonathan Taylor running up the middle, but generating explosives will be tough against this vaunted Texans' defense. On the other side of the field, it's weakness against weakness, as the Texans without Collins are a shell of their typical selves. It's hard to project how that matchup goes, as it could be a get-back game for a Texans team that wants to run the ball, or it could be a game for the Colts' defense to finally stop the bleeding. Overall, I expect this to be a back-and-forth bout that won't be decided until the final minutes. As Carlie Irsay-Gordon always says, I have the Colts finding a way in this close one."
The Colts host the Texans at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. ET on CBS.
