Who are the Houston Texans’ arch-rivals in the AFC South?
The Jacksonville Jaguars spent most of the 2000s battling with Houston for third place in the division. Last season, their downfall led the the Texans’ triumph en route to a division title.
The Tennessee Titans hightailed it out of H-Town when Bud Adams elected to move the team from the Astrodome to build a new stadium following the 1996 season.
What’s worse is the Houston Oilers logo, branding and color scheme belong to the Adams family, thus adding more fuel to the fire whenever the Titans don that Love-Ya Blue whenever the Texans travel to Nissan Stadium.
But the Indianapolis Colts take first place for bitter foe entering 2024. One play separated the two squads from reaching the postseason last year under first-year coaches Shane Steichen and DeMeco Ryans.
Houston converted. Indianapolis didn’t.
Safe to say… the BLOOD is VERY BAD between the Colts and Texans 😤😈🗣️
AFC SOUTH SHOWDOWN 🔜 WEEK 1🍿👀@Colts @HoustonTexans @DeForestBuckner @JayT23 @GVOaant pic.twitter.com/IbRa5ZddNC
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) August 13, 2024
That hatred has lingered at Lucas Oil Stadium for months since the Texans clinched the AFC South for the first time since 2019 and Colts players are ready to light the torch while hopefully giving fans what they pay for.
“I definitely think there’s some bad blood between the two teams,” Colts defensive lineman DeForest Buckner told Fan Duel’s Kay Adams. “C.J. [Stroud]’s been talking a little bit on the offseason. [Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin’s] been talking a little bit in the offseason. … It’s one of those rivalries you gotta look out for.”
The Texans, who finished 11-8 last season following a loss in the AFC Divisional Round to Baltimore, upgraded their roster in the offseason to push them into Super Bowl contention. They added Pro Bowlers Danielle Hunter, Stefon Diggs and Joe Mixon, plus brought in roleplayers like Azeez Al-Shaair and Denico Autry.
The Colts elected to run it back with basically the same 9-8 squad, though former first-round pick Anthony Richardson will enter the mix. He put on a showcase the first four weeks of the season before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury.
Texans fans might think they have the better quarterback, but Richardson kickstarted a victory in Week 2 over Houston with a pair of rushing touchdowns in the first quarter before leaving with a concussion.
ITS ON SIGHT WEEK 1…
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