Texans vs. Colts: TV Schedule, Live Stream, Spread Info, Game Time and More

Who would have thought these two teams would meet in Week 17 under these circumstances?

Not many.

OK, that's not entirely true. Almost everyone projected the Houston Texans to take the AFC South. But no one outside of Indianapolis picked the Colts, the worst team in football a year ago, to make the playoffs.

But, thanks to Andrew Luck and a little "Chuckstrong" belief, that's where the Colts sit today.

The Texans are locked into a top-three seed in the AFC, but with a win, the Texans can secure home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

Adding to the intrigue of this game is the return of Chuck Pagano, who will be on the sidelines this weekend after a battle with leukemia.

It is sure to be an emotional showdown in Indy as the Texans battle for the No. 1 seed and the Colts play for Chuck.

Where: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Ind.

When: Sunday, Dec. 30 at 1 p.m. ET

Watch: CBS

Live Stream: NFL.com

Betting Line: Houston -4.5 (via Football Locks)

Houston Injury Report as of 12/25 (via NFL.com)

Tyler Clutts	RB	Abdominal	Full Participation in Practice	Probable
Derek Newton	T	Knee	Limited Participation in Practice	Probable
Barrett Ruud	LB	Knee	Full Participation in Practice	Probable
Johnathan Joseph	CB	Groin	Limited Participation in Practice	Probable
Shaun Cody	DT	Back	Limited Participation in Practice	Probable
Antonio Smith	DE	Ankle	Limited Participation in Practice	Probable
Ben Tate	RB	Hamstring	Full Participation in Practice	Probable
Wade Smith	G	Knee	Limited Participation in Practice	Probable
Owen Daniels	TE	Hamstring	Full Participation in Practice	Probable
Alan Ball	CB	Foot	Did Not Participate In Practice	Out
Justin Forsett	RB	Knee	Full Participation in Practice	Probable
Darryl Sharpton	LB	Toe	Limited Participation in Practice	Probable
Glover Quin	S	Hip	Limited Participation in Practice	Probable
Jared Crick	DE	Neck	Full Participation in Practice	Probable
Tim Dobbins	LB	Shoulder	Limited Participation in Practice	Probable
T.J. Yates	QB	right Elbow	Full Participation in Practice	Probable
Brooks Reed	LB	Groin	Limited Participation in Practice	Probable
Bryan Braman	LB	Knee	Full Participation in Practice	Probable

Indianapolis Injury Report as of 12/25 (via NFL.com)

Kavell Conner	LB	Hamstring	Did Not Participate In Practice	Out
A.Q. Shipley	C	Knee	Full Participation in Practice	Questionable
Samson Satele	C	Ankle	Did Not Participate In Practice	Out
Martin Tevaseu	DT	Illness	Full Participation in Practice	Probable
Robert Mathis	LB	--	Full Participation in Practice	--
Andrew Luck	QB	Knee	Full Participation in Practice	Probable
Reggie Wayne	WR	--	Did Not Participate In Practice	--
Delone Carter	RB	Ankle	Did Not Participate In Practice	Out
Tom Zbikowski	S	Knee	Limited Participation in Practice	Out
Winston Justice	T	Biceps	Full Participation in Practice	Questionable
Teddy Williams	CB	Knee	Full Participation in Practice	Probable
Joe Lefeged	S	Calf	Full Participation in Practice	Probable
Antonio Johnson	DT	Ankle	Did Not Participate In Practice	Questionable
Jerrell Freeman	LB	Thumb	Full Participation in Practice	Probable
Dwight Freeney	LB	Ankle	Full Participation in Practice	Probable

What's at Stake

For Houston, a lot.

With a win, the Texans clinch home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. A huge boost when taking on highly capable teams like their potential matchups with the Ravens or Bengals.

For Indy, not so much.

The Colts are already locked into the No. 5 seed in the AFC, and they simply await the revel of their opponent, likely the winner of the AFC North.

Still, expect the Colts to play as hard as they have all year to honor the amazing return of their head coach.

Fantasy Plays

Houston RB: Ben Tate

Yes, you read that correctly. Ben Tate, not Arian Foster.

Foster, who left last Sunday's game against the Vikings with an irregular heartbeat, is fine, according to a tweet by Foster after last Sunday's game.

However, with the division title already secure, you can bet the Texans ease Foster's workload a bit against the Colts, which leaves the carries to Tate.

And boy is it a heck of a matchup for him. The Colts are 30th in the NFL against the run and are only a week removed from Jamaal Charles rushing for 226 yards against them.

Tate isn't Foster, but on Sunday, his production might approach that level.

Indianapolis QB: Andrew Luck

Honestly, who else on this team is a better fantasy start than Luck?

Luck has been a top-10 fantasy QB all season, and the Colts will be forced to throw against the Texans' stout rush defense.

The No. 1 overall pick in last year's draft has eclipsed double-digit fantasy points in all but three games this year. Don't expect that to change on Sunday.

Plus, it won't hurt that the whole team will receive a little emotional boost from the return of Pagano.

What They're Saying

The talk of the nation is surrounding the return of Pagano.

The sports world is abuzz with the great news, and ESPN's Trey Wingo had this to say after Pagano's press conference on Christmas Eve:

"

"

A year ago, the Colts were on the clock. Now? They're in the playoffs and today welcome back Head Coach Chuck Pagano. Not bad..#chuckstrong

— trey wingo (@wingoz) December 24, 2012"

"

Chuckstrong is right. This team has been the best story in the NFL this season.

Luck has totally changed the attitude in Indy and has almost made Colts fans forget about that other quarterback.

You know, Peyton Manning.

As good as Luck has been, though, the season is about Pagano. He's the epicenter of this comeback, and his inspirational story has defined the Colt's season.

Key Matchup: J.J. Watt vs. Colts O-line

Usually this would be the Houston defensive line versus the Indy O-line, but last time around Watt almost single-handedly beat the Colts.

In the pair's last matchup only two weeks ago, Watt was a monster. He had three sacks, 10 tackles and was in the Colts backfield almost as much as Luck.

He was nothing short of a force.

And if he manages to repeat his three-sack performance on Sunday, he would break Michael Strahan's single-season sack record of 22.5. Actually, Watt only needs 2.5 sacks to make that happen.

The Colts offensive line will have to play much better this time around to not only ensure that Watt doesn't enter the record books, but more importantly, to make sure their quarterback stays 100 percent entering the playoffs.

Prediction

Pagano is back on the sidelines, and it's sure to give the Colts a huge boost at home.

But that won't prevent the Texans from taking this game. They're the more talented team, and more importantly, they need this game with home-field advantage on the line.

It will be closer than these teams' last matchup, but the Texans will walk away from this game with the No. 1 seed in the AFC.

Houston 27, Indianapolis 21