On the third-to-last weekend of the NFL season, the battle for AFC South supremacy will be between two sub.-500 teams that are slated to start T.J. Yates and either Matt Hasselbeck or Charlie Whitehurst at quarterback. On paper, Sunday's affair between the Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts is perhaps the most important game of the weekend. But in reality, it may be one of the ugliest.
Texans vs. Colts 2015 live stream: Time, TV schedule and how to watch online
This matchup might be the ugliest game for divisional supremacy that you’ve ever seen.
The Colts are coming off a dreadful 51-16 defeat to the Jacksonville Jaguars and are currently riding a two-game losing streak. Indy has dropped both contests by a combined 70 points.
The 40-year-old Hasselbeck owns a quarterback rating of 69.1 during this stretch and failed to throw a touchdown pass last week. He suffered a rib injury and was in a sling Monday, but head coach Chuck Pagano told reporters that he expects the veteran to make the start against Houston.
Hasselbeck has already started six games this season due to Andrew Luck's injury-riddled campaign, including a 27-20 win over the Texans in Week 5. Luck has missed six games in total, including four straight with a lacerated kidney and partially torn abdominal muscle. Hasselbeck has completed 62.1 percent of his passes for 1,444 yards and eight touchdown passes with four interceptions starting in place of Luck. Whitehurst took over for Hasselbeck after he exited last week's game, but only completed 2 of 8 passes with an interception. He started the year with the Tennessee Titans, but was released from his contract.
On the other sideline, Houston will be without starting quarterback Brian Hoyer for the second time this season due to a concussion. Hoyer was concussed in the second half of the Texans' 27-6 loss to the New England Patriots on Sunday Night Football.
The Texans were undefeated throughout the month of November, but have dropped two straight games to kick off December. Sunday’s loss against the Patriots was a particularly anemic effort, as the Texans only recorded seven first downs all night.
With backup Yates under center, it doesn't seem as if the Texans will be in a position to light up the scoreboard this week, either. However, the Texans' biggest win of the year came with Yates at quarterback when they defeated the then-unbeaten Cincinnati Bengals on Monday Night Football on Nov. 16. Yates relieved an injured Hoyer during that tilt, connecting with DeAndre Hopkins for Houston's only touchdown pass.
The Patriots shut out Hopkins Sunday, holding him to just three receptions and 52 yards. Third-year cornerback Logan Ryan blanketed him all night with safety help over the top.
Hopkins torched the Colts the first time these two teams played in Week 5, amassing a career-high 11 catches and a season-best 169 yards. Indianapolis’ defense ranks 29th overall.
Houston is the superior team on the defensive side of the football, especially if J.J. Watt can get going again after breaking his hand. Watt had a quiet night against New England, but he's still tied for second in the league with 13.5 sacks on the season.
The winner of Sunday’s contest will have the inside track to capture the division crown and host a home game in the playoffs. Some say that’s an example of parity, but truth be told, the AFC South is the epitome of mediocrity.
How to Watch
When: 1 p.m. ET
Where: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis
TV: CBS
Commentators: Greg Gumbel, Trent Green
Online: NFL Game Pass
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