NFL Thursday Night Showcase: Houston Texans vs Indianapolis Colts

The crowd will be live, the energy will be electric and the now one-win Colts are have got it rolling again. Well, the last part isn’t so true, but the Colts will be looking forward to keeping the momentum gained from the Titans game. The Texans, on the other hand, will be looking to get some momentum back from the unexplainable loss last week.

Last weekend, Colts QB Dan Orlovsky, made his first start since playing for the 0-16 Detroit Lions team a few years back. He wasn’t spectacular, but what he did do was manage the game. He made some throws when he needed to, but his main goal was to just keep his team in the game with smart decisions and key throws. In this game, Orlovsky has to do more, but he’s going to have to get some help from his running game. Joseph Addai, Donald Brown and crew must show up and take some pressure off him. Expect the Texans defense to show multiple looks at the Colt offense. The mixups of defenses will certainly give the Colts some things to think about offensively. A key matchup will be the Colts offensive line vs the Texans defensive line.

Rookie QB T.J. Yates has been a revelation for the Texans. He has done better than most thought he would as the third starting QB for Houston this season.. Yates has had an innate ability to make great plays in pressure situations. Well, this week, the Texans and their mentality will be tested. Will the Texans come out with no energy and no desire to be there Sunday? Or do we get the same scratch and claw mentality that they have had all year? Other than that question, I expect Texans RB Arian Foster to have his way with the Colts defense. Despite what we saw from the Colts defensively last week, don’t expect the Colts to stop Foster.

The Colts will come out fired up. But what happens when that energy wears off? I think we will see the same old Colts we’ve been watching this year. With that, expect the Colts to not be able to move the ball. The thing is, the Texans may have problems moving the ball if last weekend was an indication. This game should be nip-and-tuck for a little bit, but in the end, the Texans will win this game.
Prediction: Houston 27, Indianapolis 16

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The Everyday Mailbag-11/1/11

There was plenty of good football this weekend in the college and professional ranks. And with those games, some questions have arised! Without further adieu, here are the questions the Sports World wants to know!

Q: If you have the second pick in the NFL draft, who do you pick?
-Jeremy W., Winnipeg, Canada

A: Depends on what is needed with that pick. It looks like the Dolphins and the Colts are on a collision course to go get Andrew Luck. Whichever team gets him, expect the next team to take either an offensive lineman or a defender. As far as prospects for that pic, there’s plenty of those, but no one has really stands out as the second pick in the draft right now for me.

Q: Do you think Buckeyes can break into Top 25 by years end?
-Bobby C., Sacramento, CA
A: I think that for as good as the Buckeyes played the Badgers this weekend, they may not play that well again this season. The reason I’m saying this is because they have a young QB in Braxton Miller who is still learning and that doesn’t bode well for them in the area of consistency.

Q: Who do you have for the upcoming “Nick Saban” bowl this weekend?
-Kareem H., Nashville, TN

A: I think I’m gonna have to say Alabama. Both teams have incredible defenses, but one team has Trent Richardson. The other doesn’t. He’s the difference.

Q: Is the University of Tennessee recruiting in Tennessee I see a lot of 4 star prospects committing to other SEC schools?
-James R., Nashville, TN

A: They are. Trust me. Just not having great results. They have got C James Stone from in-state and also mammoth lineman Antonio Richardson from as well last year. Its still early. It wouldn’t surprise me if they get one of the big-time recruits in the end.

Q: Now that Patriots defense has been exposed, can they still stay on top of the ranks this season?
-Angie B., Elmont, NY

A: I think the Patriots are an interesting case. With the team they have, they depend on Brady. Brady has to be great for them to win. And usually, Brady is great, so expect him to keep them in the race. Also, each team in the AFC East has holes. The Bills aren’t consistent getting pressure on QBs. The Jets are inconsistent offensively. So, with that being said and looking at the rest of their schedule, they can stay atop the rankings in the NFL.

Thanks for all the questions this week! And remember, if you have sports questions, I have answers.

Mike Patton is a member of the Sports Blog Movement. You can find the Sports Blog Movement at http://www.sportsblogmovement.com or you can go find us on Twitter by putting “#SportsblogMovement” in the search section.