Houston should have a chance to get their offense going against an Indianapolis defense that has struggled badly through two games.
The Houston Texans could have an important opportunity to make a statement offensively when they take on the Indianapolis Colts in week 3 of the 2026 NFL season this Sunday.
Through the opening weeks of the season, Indianapolis has struggled to keep opposing offenses out of the end zone and has given up significant yardage in both the passing and running games. If Houston’s offense continues to struggle against a defense that has statistically been one of the league’s worst through two weeks, it could raise legitimate questions about where things stand on that side of the ball.
The Colts currently rank last in the NFL in points allowed per game, surrendering 37 points per contest. They have also struggled significantly against the pass, allowing 337.5 passing yards per game, which is the worst mark in the league.
That said, Indianapolis has not fared much better against the run.
The Colts are allowing 5.4 yards per carry, ranking second-worst in the league, while their 177 rushing yards allowed per game also ranks second-worst. That indicates there could be opportunities for Houston to move the football regardless of how it chooses to attack.
Of course, there is important context behind those numbers.
The Colts have already faced the Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs, two teams capable of putting significant pressure on a defense. Facing high-level offenses can contribute to poor defensive numbers, especially early in the season when a couple of big performances can dramatically affect per-game stats.
That context should be considered when evaluating Indianapolis and the upcoming matchup.
Still, Houston's offense has to take advantage of the opportunity in front of them.
The Texans have aspirations of being one of the leagues to offenses, and opportunities against struggling defenses provide an opportunity to build confidence and establish consistency. If Houston can move the ball efficiently, create explosive plays and finish drives against Indianapolis, they could finally provide evidence that the offense is beginning to find its footing.
Then again, another stagnant performance would be more concerning.
It would be one thing for the Texans to struggle against better teams with playoff level defenses like they did with the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals. But doing so against an Indianapolis unit that has surrendered 37 points per game and ranks near the bottom of the league in both rushing and passing defense would make it more difficult to excuse the offensive issues.
That does not mean one game will determine the trajectory of Houston's offense for the remainder of the season. There is plenty more football to play, and the Colts' defensive ranks come against a relatively challenging early schedule in a small sample size.
But this matchup provides the Texans with a valuable measuring stick.
Houston has a chance to show that the offensive struggles are temporary and that they can capitalize when the matchup is favorable. If the offense cannot generate consistent production against Indianapolis, however, the questions surrounding the Texans could become much broader.
