Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Texans set to do something for first time all season in Week 18 vs. Colts

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 1/2/24

The Houston Texans (9-7) control their playoff destiny, as a victory against the Indianapolis Colts (9-7) in Week 18 will give them a spot in the postseason. Furthermore, if the Jacksonville Jaguars (9-7) were to lose to the Tennessee Titans (5-11) on Sunday afternoon, then the winner of the Colts-Texans showdown would clinch the AFC South division.

When Houston travels to face Indianapolis at 8:15 p.m. ET on Saturday, they'll be doing something that they haven't done all season.

I just revealed this fact on @GMFB and am double and triple checking it.

The @HoustonTexans have played only 1 pm EST games this season. 16 of them.

Saturday will not only be their first primetime game, but there first game played outside of the 1 pm EST window.
— Peter Schrager (@PSchrags) January 2, 2024

The Texans had nine home games during the 2023 regular season, all taking place at NRG Stadium in Houston, which is in the Central time zone. Of their seven road games thus far, the only time that the Texans weren't playing in the Eastern time zone was in Week 15 when the group took on the Titans, who play in the Central time zone.

From Weeks 11-13, Houston had a pair of games against teams in the Mountain time zone (Week 11 vs. the Arizona Cardinals and Week 13 vs. the Denver Broncos), so schedule-makers could've had one of those kick off in the 4 p.m. EST window. However, the Texans also had a rare stretch where all three of the Week 11-13 games were home contests.

Although it is understandable why the team didn't get any primetime games or have any of their tilts flexed late in the campaign.

Coming into the fall, Houston was not only featuring a first-year head coach in DeMeco Ryans and a rookie quarterback with C.J. Stroud but was fresh off of a 3-13-1 season in 2022. That's not exactly primetime material.

The Texans also haven't made it to the playoffs since the 2019 campaign. Ryans, Stroud and company will look to end the drought with a victory against the Colts on Saturday night.

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