Where: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis (turf, indoors)
When: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (CBS)
Spread: Texans by 7
Records: Colts (10-5, AFC South 3-2); Texans (12-3, AFC South 5-0)
Past results: Two most recent meetings -- Dec. 16, 2012: Texans 29, Colts 17; Dec. 22, 2011: Colts 19, Texans 16. Series record: Colts lead 17-4.
What matters: This one is merely a tuneup for the Colts, since they can't move in either direction from the No. 5 seed no matter what happens Sunday. However, since Houston is playing for home field advantage throughout the playoffs, the Texans won't roll over. Indy isn't either, apparently, as both coaches and players expect to go full bore Sunday. Additionally, Sunday will be an opportunity for Colts coach Chuck Pagano to reorient himself with coaching from the sideline. Pagano has been out since Week 5 while receiving cancer treatments.
Who matters: QB Andrew Luck. Despite throwing two touchdown passes in Houston the first time these teams met, Luck hardly was effective. He only completed 13 of the 27 passes he attempted for a season-low 186 yards. Sunday will provide an opportunity for the rookie to prove that he can put up big numbers against a defense of the Texans' caliber.
Key matchups: Colts O-line vs. J.J. Watt. The Colts' offensive line is banged up -- as it was in the first meeting -- and Watt lived in the Indy backfield, racking up 10 tackles, three sacks, and three tackles for losses. Colts secondary vs. Andre Johnson. Colts DBs have struggled all year against big-name wide receivers, and Johnson shredded the Indy secondary two weeks ago for 151 yards and a score. Colts front vs. Arian Foster. Like Watt and Johnson, Foster had a day against Indianapolis in the first meeting, going for 165 yards on 27 carries. Though Foster was taken to the hospital with an irregular heartbeat, Texans coach Gary Kubiak expects him to play.
Injuries of note: Running back Delone Carter and center Samson Satele will be out again Sunday, while defensive end Cory Redding, linebacker Kavell Conner, and nose tackle Antonio Johnson are questionable.
Connections: Colts defensive coordinator Greg Manusky and Texans defensive coordinator Wade Phillips coached together in San Diego. Manusky also coached with Texans defensive backs coach Vance Joseph in San Francisco.
Stat you should know: The Colts have won five straight games at home, though none by more than seven points. Houston has never won in Indianapolis, going 0-11.
Record watch: With two touchdown passes, Andrew Luck will have the second-most scoring passes by a rookie in NFL history. He needs six touchdown passes to break Peyton Manning's all-time record. Probably won't get that, but he will pass Manning in most completions by a rookie (326) in franchise history with just two Sunday.
Looking ahead: The Colts will likely be facing the Ravens next week in Baltimore in the wild card round. The Texans could have a bye before playing in the divisional round.
Prediction: Colts 30, Texans 27
For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis from Colts blogger Evan Hilbert, follow @CBSColts.
