Texans vs. Colts: Indianapolis Won't Suck for Andrew Luck on Thursday Night

The Indianapolis Colts (1-13) will be competitive for the second week in a row on Thursday night against the division rival Houston Texans (10-4), who have already locked up the AFC South.

Despite the fact that the No. 1 pick in the 2012 NFL draft and highly-praised Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck's future NFL destination is still up in the air, the Colts will put their best foot forward and look to give their fans a reason to cheer now, and not in April. 

Indianapolis finally got in the win column in Week 15 against the Tennessee Titans, with a 27-13 victory that nearly topped the Green Bay Packers' first loss in the Monday morning headlines.

Don't be surprised when the Peyton Manning-less Colts run that win streak to two games at primetime on Thursday night at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Despite posing little offensive or defensive threat to the Texans, Indianapolis will spoil Houston's bid for a first-round bye and home-field advantage in the AFC playoffs, much like how the Kansas City Chiefs upset the Packers' undefeated season last Sunday.

The Colts' ragged defense will rise up at home and play much better than the rankings would lead one to believe. Indianapolis ranks 24th against the pass and 28th versus the run in 2011, but held Chris Johnson and the Titans to just 66 rushing yards on 19 attempts last week. 

On average, the Colts are allowing nearly 139 yards on the ground per game this season, which means Week 15's performance likely suggests the D is making a turn for the better late in the season.

Houston's second-ranked rushing attack is the team's go-to on offense, and that will play right into the hands of the Colts in Week 16's first game.

Texans running back Arian Foster has only rushed for 100-plus yards in two of his past five games, and Thursday night will make that two of six. 

Third-string QB T.J. Yates finally looked like a rookie last weekend, throwing two interceptions at home to help the Panthers drop the Texans. 

The combination of a struggling Yates and an inconsistent Foster will be just enough for the make-shift Colts to edge their used-to-be little brother in the division.

Houston has clinched its first ever playoff berth, but the same old Texans aren't ready to take the AFC over quite yet. Expect the Colts to prove it on Thursday night, despite the draft potential a loss would secure.