Indianapolis Colts vs Houston Texans Sunday Night Football Preview, TV & Live Stream Schedule, Scores
The Houston Texans (2-5), a preseason Super Bowl favorite, did not expect their season to go this way, currently on a five-game losing streak as they host the AFC South division leaders the Indianapolis Colts (5-2) on Sunday Night Football.
QB Matt Schaub has been benched in favor of Case Keenum, who started against Kansas City last week and will remain the starter after Schaub struggled throughout the season, throwing for eight touchdowns to nine interceptions in six games, four of those picks returned for touchdowns.
Keenum, a fan-favorite out of the University of Houston, threw went 15-for-25 for 271 yards last week and a touchdown in the 17-16 loss to Kansas City.
"I've got to make decisions I think are best for the football team right now," said Texans head coach Gary Kubiak. "The decision I made was based on what I saw take place with Case and him taking advantage of an opportunity. I want to see him move forward."
Keenum may have to find a way to snap the Texans losing streak without RBs Arian Foster (hamstring) and Ben Tate (rib) who are listed as questionable with injuries. LB Brian Cushing will not play on Sunday, after suffering a fractured fibula and a torn lateral collateral ligament on his left knee, and will be out for the season.
The Colts, coming off a bye week, defeated the Denver Broncos, handing them their first lose of the year and have a three-game lead over the Texans in the AFC South. WR Darrius Heyward-Bey and T.Y. Hilton, along with TE Coby Fleener, have stepped up after Reggie Wayne went down for the year with a torn ACL in his right knee.
The Texan offense faces a deceivingly good defense despite Houston's poor record, with the Texans ranked first in total defense, allowing 267.7 yards per game, only 145.6 yards pass per game.
"They've got game-wreckers all over the place," said Indianapolis coach, Chuck Pagano. "They've got a front seven that is as good as anybody in football. They've got probably the best defensive player in football in J.J. Watt."
You can catch the Indianapolis Colts - Houston Texans Sunday Night Football broadcast 8:30 p.m. Sunday night on NBC.
In other Sunday Week 9 NFL action:
New Orleans Saints (6-1) at New York Jets (4-4)
Jets head coach Rex Ryan will go up against his brother, Saints defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, for the second year in a row. The Saints hired Rob Ryan after he was let go by the Dallas Cowboys, in hopes of improving a defense that has finished last in yards allowed last season, giving up 7,402 yards total. Since Rob Ryan was hired, the defense has allowed 17.1 points per game and is ranked fourth in the NFL with a plus-eight turnover differential, 12th best in yards allowed, and leads the NFC with 3.4 sacks per game.
Brother Rex has had a surprising season with Jets, sitting on a .500 record after many expected them to struggle starting the season with a quarterback controversy between Geno Smith and Mark Sanchez. Rookie QB Smith has show signs of promise - compiling a 93.7 passer rating with seven TDs in the Jets four wins, but has been inconsistent, as well, throwing for 13 interceptions and sacked 28 times in eight starts.
TV: 1:00 p.m. on Fox
Philadelphia Eagles (3-5) at Oakland Raiders (3-4)
The Eagles will start Nick Foles at quarterback after Michael Vick went down with an injury last week. Foles was cleared to practice this week after suffering a concussion against the Cowboys, missing last week's game against the Giants, forcing rookie QB Matt Barkley to step in under center and throwing for 158 yards with an interception and a fumble.
The Raiders do not have issues at quarterback with Terrelle Pryor rushing for 106 yards rushing, including a 93-yard touchdown run, in the 21-18 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, despite throwing just for 88 yards and two interceptions. The Raiders led the AFC in rushing thanks to Pryor and RB Darren McFadden, who are averaging 138.9 yards per game but rank last in passing with 176.0 yards per game.
TV: 4:05 p.m. on Fox
Baltimore Ravens (3-4) at Cleveland Browns (3-5)
The defending Super Bowl champions have looked like anything but champions, losing their last three games in row and looking to turn it around against division rival Cleveland, who has gone through a quarterback carousel the entire season. The Ravens are coming off a bye week following back-to-back loses to the Green Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers by a combined five points. Flacco has struggled completing 59.5 percent of his passes with eight touchdowns and eight interceptions, as has RB Ray Rice, who has yet to surpass 75 total yards or 45 rushing yards in 2013.
Cleveland is coming off a tough loss to the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs, with back-up QB Jason Campbell starting last week, throwing for 293 yards and two touchdowns in his first start of the year. But the Browns were held to 57 yards rushing, ranking 26th in the league in that department averaging 82.6 rushing yards per game. Browns RB Willis McGahee was held to 104 yards on 30 carries during Cleveland's three-game losing streak.
TV: 4:25 p.m. on CBS
Pittsburgh Steelers (2-5) at New England Patriots (6-2)
The Patriots have reached a bit of a rough patch, splitting the last four games, with Brady completing 52.3 percent of his passes for 810 yards and two touchdowns, four interceptions and 61.6 quarterback rating. The Patriots lost to the Jets 30-27 two weeks ago, who are now only two games in front of New York to lead the AFC East division, and had rally back against the Miami Dolphins last week, needing to score 17 points in the third quarter for the 27-17 come-from-behind victory. Brady will be without RT Sebastian Vollmer, who is done for year after suffering a right leg injury, and will be replaced by Marcus Cannon.
Lucky for the Patriots, the Steelers have just 10 sacks in the year, second-to-last in the league, but ranks fourth in the NFL in defense, allowing 302.9 yards per game, including just 181.0 passing yards per game. Pittsburgh is trying to bounce back from a 21-18 loss to the Oakland Raiders, who held them to 35 rushing yards the entire game. QB Ben Roethlisberger had his worst performance this season completing 29-of-45 passes for 275 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions for a season-low 70.1 rating.
TV: 4:25 p.m. on CBS
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