Mallett will (or at least should) be playing for his job this week. OB said he's keeping him as the starter in part because of the short week. If he remains ineffective and OB wants to switch back to Hoyer, it'll be easier to do with the longer break.
Just to bring some confidence amongst all you posters that "don't matter"…I will do some bobbythegreat analysis. The Colts are bottom 10 in the league in offense, and they've been even worse at rushing the ball. Therefore, the Texans front 7 will shut down their running game, forcing the terrible Andrew Luck to have to make plays. He's been pressured quite a bit this year, so expect Watt and Clowney to have their way. Luck is a worse QB than Mallett (check the stats), so we have that edge as well. As far as the Colts defense is concerned, they are 28th in the league in sacks. Therefore, the OLine will give Mallett the time necessary for him to make some plays. The Colts pass defense AND run defense are among the bottom tier of the league. Foster and Blue will make an incredible 1-2 punch that will be exciting to witness…and once the running game is established, Mallett will pick them apart with his arm. Dont really see this as much of a contest, Luck and the Colts are terrible. 31-14 Texans -------- How'd I do?
If Luck plays then it will be the usual results Colts 27 Texans 13 NRG Turf catches 20 passes from Mallet
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Colts practice is underway. Non participants today include Vontae Davis (foot), David Anderson (foot), Jalil Brown (groin).</p>— Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) <a href="https://twitter.com/HolderStephen/status/651453011416457216">October 6, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Well there's certainly no excuse in not passing the ball against the Colts patchwork secondary, but we'll see if Mallett can start throwing the ball a bit slower so that people paid to catch footballs can manage to catch footballs that hit them in the hands. As to this game, if the Texans don't win, it really doesn't matter what they do at QB, the season is over. So I'd fully support going back with Hoyer after this if the Texans lose in an effort to tank the rest of the season.
Gore fumbles. Luck throws picks. This is the game where the defense HAS to step up. I'm more disappointed in the defense than the QB. The defense has way too much talent. Hopkins and Brown are the only 1st round picks on offense. Watt, Clowney, Wilfork, Cushing, Mercilus, Joseph, Kareem were all 1st round picks. If the Texans wins, it'll be because the defense does their job.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Pagano says Luck did indeed throw during Tuesday’s practice. “There are no setbacks."</p>— Kevin Bowen (@KBowenColts) <a href="https://twitter.com/KBowenColts/status/651478818818031616">October 6, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Andre Johnson on leaving the Texans: 'If you look back I was released from the Texans, get that straight.'</p>— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/AaronWilson_NFL/status/651475549097955328">October 6, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Not to mention, if Luck plays the defense has the chance to knock him out of the game and REALLY screw the Colts. They haven't gotten to the QB as much as they should have so far this season but this game is where that has to end. Put Luck down hard a few times and I'd bet he either goes out or at a minimum it greatly affects his throwing ability.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">"<a href="https://twitter.com/ChronBrianSmith">@ChronBrianSmith</a>: Andre Johnson emphasized that he was released by the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Texans?src=hash">#Texans</a>. "Get that straight." <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Colts?src=hash">#Colts</a>" <a href="http://t.co/5FuBWClw5K">pic.twitter.com/5FuBWClw5K</a></p>— Lance Zierlein (@LanceZierlein) <a href="https://twitter.com/LanceZierlein/status/651480752350212096">October 6, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Something smells fishy with Indy and Luck and Pagano. I think Luck is not as ready as they're making it seem