Quick Hits: Texans vs. Colts (Thursday Night Football Edition)

With sole ownership of the AFC South Division lead on the line, your Houston Texans roll into Thursday Night Football with a short turnaround. Here’s all the stats you’ll want to number-crunch leading up to kickoff:

NFL PR:

Week 12 of the NFL’s 100th season kicks off on Thursday, November 21 (8:20 PM ET, FOX/NFL Network/Amazon Prime) as the Indianapolis Colts travel to Houston to take on the Texans with the AFC South division lead on the line. Thursday’s game marks the 36th regular-season meeting between the two clubs, with the Colts holding the all-time series advantage, 27-8. Indianapolis has won the past two matchups, including a 30-23 win over Houston in Week 7. The Colts enter Thursday night coming off a home victory in Week 11, while the Texans have won their past two at home.

• Texans head coach Bill O’Brien is 4-7 versus the Indianapolis Colts.
• Colts head coach Frank Reich is 2-1 versus the Houston Texans, including the 21-7 dismantling in last year’s Wild Card Game.
• The Texans are averaging 24.5 points scored per game, giving up 23.2 points per game.
• The Colts are averaging 22.7 points scored per game, giving up 20.6 points per game.
• Houston is gaining 380.2 yards per game while giving up 374.4.
• Indianapolis is gaining 343.8 yards per game while allowing 325.6.
• Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson has completed 230 passes on 331 attempts for 2601 yards, 18 touchdowns and 6 picks for a rating of 103.3.
• Colts signal caller Jacoby Brissett has completed 168 passes on 260 attempts for 1797 yards, 15 touchdowns, 4 interceptions and a 97.5 rating.
• Houston’s leading rusher Carlos Hyde has 158 carries, amassing 769 yards at 4.9 yards per carry with 4 touchdowns.
• Indy’s leading rusher Marlon Mack has 192 carries for 862 yards, a 4.5 yard per carry average and 4 scores.
• All-Pro wideout DeAndre Hopkins has 75 catches for 745 yards, a 9.9 yard per catch average and 4 scores.
• “Texans Killer” T.Y. Hilton has only 32 catches for 360 yards, an 11.3 yard per catch average and 5 touchdowns.
• Whitney Mercilus is still Houston’s sack leader with 5.5,a number that hasn’t changed since his half sack against the Colts on October 20th.
• Justin Houston is the Colts sack leader with 8 so far.
• Tashaun Gipson leads all Texans with 2 interceptions.
• Darius Leonard leads the Colts with 2 as well.
• Houston is currently +1 in the turnover differential, while Indy is -3.
• Deshaun Watson has 19 touchdowns (16 pass, 3 rush) vs. 2 picks for 121 rating in 6 career primetime games. He has 95+ rating in 2 of 3 career games vs. Ind. Aims for his 3rd in row at home with 3+ TD passes & 115+ rating.
• Jacoby Brissett passed for 326 yards & 4 touchdowns and 0 picks for career-high 126.7 rating in Week 7 meeting. Has 95+ rating in 2 of his past 3 vs. division. Is 4-0 with 8 TDs (7 pass, 1 rush) vs. 0 INTs for 107.2 rating in 4 starts vs. Houston.
• Carlos Hyde had 65 rush yards & rush TD last week. Has 90+ scrimmage yards in 2 of his past 3 vs. division.
• Duke Johnson had 56 scrimmage yards (34 rush, 22 rec.) in Week 7 meeting. Since 2015, is 1 of 2 RBs (JAMES WHITE) with 250+ catches (259) & 10+ rec. TDs (10)
• Jonathan Williams had career-high 147 scrimmage yards (116 rush, 31 rec.), his 1st career game with 100+ rush yards last week.
• DeAndre Hopkins had 7 catches for 80 yards last week, becoming the 2nd-youngest player to reach 600 catches in NFL history behind future Hall of Famer Larry Fitzgerald. Hopkins had 9 catches for 106 rec. yards & TD catch in Week 7 meeting. Has 397 rec. yards (99.3 per game) & 4 TD catches in his past 4 vs. Indy. Nuk aims for his 5th in row vs. Indy with TD catch.

• Kenny Stills had 105 yards in Week 7 meeting.
• Darren Fells is tied for league lead among tight ends with 6 TD catches in 2019. His aiming for his 3rd in row at home with 2+ TDs.
• T.Y. Hilton had 74 yards & TD catch in Week 7 meeting vs Houston. Has 933 rec. yards (133.3 per game) & 7 TD catches in 7 career games at Houston Aims for his 3rd in row at Houston with 175+ rec. yards.
• Zach Pascal had 106 yards & 2 TD catches in Week 7 meeting. He aims for his 4th in row vs. Houston with TD catch.
• Eric Ebron had 70 yards & TD catch in last meeting. Aims for his 5th in row vs. H-Town with TD catch (incl. postseason).
• Zach Cunningham had team-high 10 tackles last week, his 9th career game with 10+ tackles.
• Benardrick McKinney had 8 tackles & TFL in Week 11. Had 2 TFL in Week 7 meeting.
• Brennan Scarlett had 7 tackles & sack last week. Aims for his 3rd in row with sack.
• Justin Reid (likely out w/concussion) has 8+ tackles in 2 of his past 3 at home.
• Brandon Dunn had INT vs. Indy in AFC-Wildcard on 1/5/19.
• Darius Leonard had 10 tackles & 1 pick in Week 7 meeting. Aims for his 4th in row vs. Houston with 10+ tackles.
• Justin Houston had sack in Week 11. Aims for his 7th in row with sack.
• Kenny Moore had team-high 9 tackles, sack & PD last week. Had sack, 2 PD & INT vs. H-Town in AFC Wildcard on 1/5/19. Aims for his 3rd in row vs. Houston with sack (incl. postseason).
• Rock Ya-Sin had 6 tackles, TFL & 1st-career INT last week.

What stats will jump out the most about this game?