The Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans are playing for first place in the AFC South this Sunday. The Colts will likely attack the Texans through the air first and then try to grind the game out on the ground. For this to work the Colts must keep the Texans impressive young defensive line away from QB Peyton Manning. The Texans already have 6 sacks this season including 2 each for rookie DT Amobi O’Koye and 2nd year DE Mario Williams. The Texans have given up 212.5 yards per game passing and they have had problems with injuries to their safeties so look for TE Dallas Clark (9 rec, 117 yards) and rookie WR Anthony Gonzalez (3 rec, 49 yards). Don’t think for a minute that Peyton Manning won’t be throwing the ball deep to Marvin Harrison (10 rec, 170 yards, TD) and Reggie Wayne (12 rec, 185 yards, 2 TDs).

With the Texans likely without running back Ron Dayne and WR Andre Johnson due to injury the Texans must keep the ball on the ground to keep the ball away from the Colts offense. RB Ahman Green will likely have his biggest workload of the season and he should have success against the Colts defense which is allowing 123.5 yards rushing per game. Without Andre Johnson available for this game look for QB Matt Schaub to spread the football around to a lot of receivers in the short passing game. TE Owen Daniels (6 rec, 72 yards) and FB Vonta Leach (6 rec, 29 yards) will likely be the most targeted receivers in the passing game. That will put pressure on the safeties and outside linebackers of the Colts. WR Kevin Walter (2 rec, 17 yards) and Jacoby Jones (2 rec, 33 yards) must stretch the field a little bit or the Colts will constrict the offense of the Texans by moving more defenders into the box….including Bob Sanders and that would be bad for the Texans’ running game.

PREDICTION: If Andre Johnson weren’t injured I might have picked the Texans to pull an upset here. But, without Johnson I just can’t see the Texans staying with the Colts on the scoreboard. Look for the Colts to win this game by more than a TD.