While the new year is the time for people to determine their resolutions and assess their goals for the next 12 months, it is also an opportunity to look back at the areas of growth one had the previous year.
In the case of the Colts, those 2023 lessons will be especially important as they prepare for this Saturday’s pivotal game against the Houston Texans.
If they win this game, they will be back in the playoffs for the first time since 2020. Then, if the Jacksonville Jaguars lose to the Tennessee Titans on Sunday afternoon, the Colts will clinch their first AFC South title since 2014.
If they lose, their season is over.
Though the Colts have already proven that they can beat the Texans, doing so in Week 2 with a convincing 31-20 outing, that game was 107 days ago.
In that time, both teams have grown from young upstarts led by first-year head coaches to legitimate playoff contenders.
“Yeah, they’re [Houston] completely different,” head coach Steichen said. “Obviously, I mentioned this early on in the season – you kind of find out about who you are in the middle of the season. Teams change, teams kind of find their identity on who they are. Houston is playing really good football right now and it’s going to be a heck of a challenge for us come Saturday night.”
After starting the season 0-2, the Texans have gone 9-5 in their next 14 games. Quarterback C.J. Stroud has established himself as one of the top rookies in the NFL and is ninth in the league with 3,844 passing yards.
Defensively, they boast one of the best young cores in the NFL. Their edge-rushing duo of Jonathan Greenard and Will Anderson Jr. have combined for 19.5 sacks. Second-year cornerback Derek Stingley Jr.’s five interceptions are tied for the fourth most of any player.
As for the Colts, they’ve been on an impressive stretch as well. After losing three straight games and sitting at 3-5 in Week 8, they have won six of their next nine…
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