The Houston Texans come to Indianapolis in Week 3 of 2026, and the biggest clue to how this one could swing came straight from Scott Barzilla of Battle Red Blog: attack the middle.
In a Q&A with Colts writer Chris Shepherd, Barzilla said the best way to stress Houston’s defense is to go right at the interior with Jonathan Taylor. He pointed to the Texans’ edges as the strength of the unit and warned that falling behind the sticks would turn the day into a grind.
That same kind of pressure is exactly what Barzilla thinks the Colts defense needs to put on Houston’s offense. His prescription was simple: shut down the run, force the Texans into a one-dimensional attack, and make C.J.
Stroud win without Nico Collins as a bailout option. If Indianapolis can do that, Barzilla said, pressure and turnovers could follow.
Stroud’s numbers through two games look productive on the surface - nearly 314 passing yards per game - but the completion rate sits at 60.2% and he has only thrown two touchdowns. Barzilla said the main issue has been that Houston has spent so much time playing from behind that it’s become pass-heavy by necessity. The run game hasn’t held up, communication has broken down, and last week’s five drops hurt Stroud’s efficiency.
Asked for one lesser-known player on each side who could matter Sunday night, Barzilla pointed to Calen Bullock or Jalen Pitre on defense as possible turnover candidates. On offense, he mentioned Marlin Klein as someone who could come through with a key catch or two while the receiving corps is undermanned.
As for the outcome, Barzilla expects the Texans’ recent run in the series to continue. Houston has won five straight against Indianapolis, and he called for a sixth, saying the game should be close before a late turnover decides it. He said Taylor is the one Colt who worries him, but he doesn’t see enough on the Indianapolis defense to be truly concerned.
That’s the Texans side of the matchup, and it sets up a game where the trenches and the turnover battle may tell the story.
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